Valentine’s day with Gerri

Looking for a place to take your honey for Valentine’s day? Well, what could be more romantic than dinner while listening to one of Madison’s most popular jazz vocalists? Gerri DiMaggio performs with her trio every Thursday at the Fountain, and this Thursday is Valentine’s day. Here’s a note from Gerri:

Thursday, February 14th 6:30 to 9:00 at The Fountain, 122 State Street in the back bar.  Hearts, flowers, champagne and love songs…. Join us for a special Valentines show this Thursday with Paul Hastil, piano and Matt Heredia, bass and be My Funny Valentine!

Madison Jazz highlights the week of Nov 27, 2012

As the weather cools down the Madison jazz scene is heating up. This next week is loaded with great jazz. Let’s take a look at the highlights:

Tuesday

Hanah Jon Taylor

• Cardinal Bar 5:30pm. A few weeks ago the Cardinal began a jazz happy hour every Tues from 5:30 to 8. They’re bringing in great players and this week it’s sax/flute musician Hanah Jon Taylor.
• Cardinal Bar 9pm. The New Breed Jazz Jam  is now in its second decade and going strong. Rub shoulders with Madison’s best jazz musicians as they mix it up with developing players and the great New Breed.

Wednesday

• 

  Johannes Wallmann

  Mills Concert Hall, UW Humanities Bldg, 7:30-9pm. The UW Jazz Orchestra under the direction of new Professor of Jazz Studies Johannes Wallmann.

Thursday

• The Fountain 6:30 – 9pm, Gerri DiMaggio, Paul Hastil, Nick Moran. Vocalist Gerri DiMaggio has been charming the Madison area for a long time. This Thursday she’ll feature holiday songs from her most recent recording.
  

  Gerri DiMaggio

• UW Music Hall, Ninety Miles Project 8pm. Not many tickets remain, this will probably be a sellout. Previewed here.

Friday

• Memorial Union Rathskellar 5-7pm, The Composers Quartet. This one is rare; a local jazz band, not a pick-up group, doing all original jazz. See the calendar for details.
• The Majestic 8pm, Meschell Ndegeocello. Previewed here.

Saturday

• Madison Memorial High School 6pm, Second Annual Madison High School Jazz Festival. This all-day festival wraps up with an evening concert featuring student jazz ensembles from Madison East, La Follette, Memorial and West High Schools and Middleton High School, along with the UW Jazz Orchestra.

Sunday

• 

  Rob Dz and The New Breed

  Brink Lounge, 3:30. Rob Dz and the New Breed. Spoken word poet Rob Dz  composes spontaneously using words instead of music. He usually does one tune on Tuesdays with the New Breed. This is your chance to hear a full length show.  Details here.

• The Fountain, 4-7pm. Since moving to the Fountain the Madison Jazz Jam has been packing em in. Developing musicians and pros take turns playing with the house band. This week Dan Wallach is joined by the Rand Moore Trio. See the calendar for details.

Second Chance to See Jazz Vocalist Cheryl Bentyne: Thursday, September 6th at The Brink

As if it weren’t enough of a treat to see Manhattan Transfer vocalist Cheryl Bentyne for free at Jazz at Five’s final 2012 program on Wednesday, 9/5, the Brink Lounge will present her and her singing partner Mark Winkler in an intimate concert the next night.

Jazz vocalists Cheryl Bentyne and Mark Winkler present their “West Coast Cool” program at the Brink on 9/6

The duo, backed by Madison’s great pianist Dave Stoler and his trio, will perform their “West Coast Cool” program which explores “west coast style,” the more lyrical, mellower style of jazz as opposed to the harder-edged “bop” that tended to be favored on the East Coast.  Illuminating the evolution of this style from its beginnings in the ‘50s through today, Bentyne and Winkler will spotlight the work of jazz luminaries like Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Chris Connor, June Christy and more.

This show would easily be a $20-25 ticket, plus a 1 or 2 drink minimum, in a big city venue but you can see this show for $10 in advance (or $12 at the door).  The show begins at 7:00 PM with a set by Madison’s own star vocalist Gerri DiMaggio and her trio.  Advance tickets are now available at www.thebrinklounge.com/September.html.  And overflow parking will be available in the MG&E lots around the corner on East   Main Street.

For jazz writer Scott Yanow’s review of Ms. Bentyne’s career, visit http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cheryl-bentyne-mn0000108223.  To learn more about Ms. Bentyne and Manhattan Transfer, visit: www.manhattantransfer.net

Gerri DiMaggio’s Annual Benefit Concert this Tuesday at the Cardinal

This year, proceeds from Gerri DiMaggio’s annual benefit concert will support the local nonprofit, Madison Music Makers, a wonderful program that provides music lessons and performance opportunities for low-income kids in our community.  The show precedes next Tuesday’s New Breed Jam at the Cardinal.

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TUESDAY, DEC. 6

“JAZZ ON A WINTER NIGHT”

A Very Special Happy Hour • 5- 8 pm at THE CARDINAL BAR

BENEFIT FOR MADISON MUSIC MAKERS

Hosted by GERRI DIMAGGIO
with PAUL HASTIL, NICK MORAN, LOUKA PATENAUDE, MICHAEL BRENNEIS (The New Breed), JEFF & ANA PAULA (Samba Novistas), JIM DOHERTY (UW Jazz Orchestra), CHARLIE BROOKS, MEGAN MORAN, LYNETTE MARGULIES, KYLE TRASKA, PETE ROSS and more…..

Free Appetizers! • $10 Suggested Donation

Co-Sponsored by: Bella Productions,  Isthmus  Publishing,  Madison Music Collective, A-1 furniture,  Aniu,  Culinary Connection

THE CARDINAL

MADISON’S CLASSIC DANCE BAR

Gerri’s new Christmas CD

Just in time for the holidays Gerri DiMaggio has released a Christmas-themed CD. You can listen to samples and buy it at CD Baby. Here’s Gerri:

This THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1st 6:30 to 9:00 at “The Cove” in The Edgewater Hotel we will be celebrating the Holiday’s with the release of the new CD, “It’s Coming On Christmas”.

Join me, Paul Hastil on piano, and Nick Moran on bass and have a cocktail around the fire with your friends!

We wish you great joy and peace in this holiday season!

Best,
Gerri

Local jazz stars to play Jazz at Five Fundraiser

I have a friend who sees something like 16 movies in 4 days whenever the Wisconsin Film Fest comes around. I can only sit through 3 or 4 movies before I’ve had my fill; by Sunday of that weekend I’m itching to do something else. This year I already know what that’ll be: the Jazz at Five Fundraiser at the Brink Lounge. Here’s the information they sent in:

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Jazz at Five to Host Annual Fundraiser April 3 at the Brink Lounge

Jazz at Five, the Midwest’s premier free live jazz concert series, is hosting its annual fundraiser on Sunday, April 3 at the Brink Lounge in Madison, Wisconsin. Featured performers include the New Breed led by saxophonist Patrick Breiner, the Tony Castaneda Sextet, and the Jazz Diva Ladies led by Gerri DiMaggio and featuring Lynnette and Sally DeBroux.

Jazz at Five is a unique, free cultural event that attracts thousands of live music fans to downtown Madison each year. The 2011 series, which will feature five nights of top regional and local jazz talent, will take place every Wednesday night from August 10 through September 7.

Jazz at Five’s annual fundraiser will be held from noon to 5:00pm at the Brink Lounge (701 East Washington Ave., Madison). Guests will enjoy live jazz music from some of Madison’s most popular jazz artists and food from the Brink Lounge’s terrific menu. There will also be a silent auction of a number of unique and valuable items, including a reserved table at a Jazz at Five 2011 performance

Advanced tickets are available for $17 and can be purchased at the Brink Lounge or from the Jazz at Five website (www.jazzatfive.org). Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $20. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to support the 2011 season of Jazz at Five.

For more information about Jazz at Five and the 2011 season, please visit www.jazzatfive.org. You can also subscribe to our email list or fan us on Facebook.