One of the New York nightclub and cabaret scene's most talented couples -- vocalist/actress Nina Hennessey and drummer Ray Marchica -- will appear at Birdland in NYC for a special set of jazz standards along with Sean Harkness on guitar, Tom Hubbard on bass, and Bob Quaranta on piano. The show will also feature Award-Winning vocalist Marissa Mulder and pianist Ian Herman as special guests.
Sunday, August 2 at 6 pm (doors 5 pm)at Birdland, 315 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036. 212-581-3080. Tickets: www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/919343

Otonowa ("Sound Circle") was formed originally to showcase traditional Japanese songs and pop through jazz arrangements. But 2011’s terrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan were to become a crucible for Otonowa, which launched this brotherhood of Japanese-American jazz luminaries into a program of touring and recording to raise both funds and spirits for the survivors. Otonowa will conduct workshops for youth and perform jazz interpretations of Japanese folk and pop melodies, employing traditional Japanese instruments to compliment the standard jazz quartet instrumentation.

TOUR SCHEDULE
8/20/15 THU Iwaki, Fukushima, Kamata Saal Hall
8/21/15 FRI Minami Soma, Fukushima
8/22/15 SAT Fukushima-shi, Channel Square
8/23/15 SUN Otsuchi, Iwate
8/24/15 MON Otsuchi, Iwate
8/25/15 TUE Ofunato, Iwate
8/26/15 WED RikuzenTakata
8/27/15 THU Karakuwa (KesenNuma), Miyagi, Tunakan
8/28/15 FRI Ishinomaki
8/29/15 SAT Ishinomaki
8/30/15 SUN Natori, Miyagi, Yuriage Harbor & Victory Café

Tax deductible donations for the tour may be made by sending a check payable to ‘SJ Jazz’ with Otonowa in memo section to:
San Jose Jazz, 38 W Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95113

This tour is made possible by:
Tsuchioto Project / Yamaha Drums / San Jose Jazz / Time After 5 / Otonowa USA / Volunteers

Akira Tana and Otonowa (Art Hirahara, piano; Masaru Koga, woodwinds; Noriyuki “Ken” Okada, bass) will be appearing at the 2015 Stanford Jazz Festival at the Campbell Recital Hall on Friday, July 10th at 8PM. Tickets are $15/$45 and may be purchased here.

[ Read Ken Vermes review of this performance at Jazz Police]

Jodi Stevens (Girl Talk) will be appearing in the Summer Theatre of New Canaan production of "Legally Blonde" through August 9th.

"…the real highlights come from Jodi Stevens as Paulette, the warmly humorous hairdresser… Jodi shows her versatility, commanding the stage with hilarious timing…" -- Susan Grainger

"Especially marvelous is Jodi Stevens as Paulette, the zany hairdresser with a heart of gold and an odd obsession with Ireland’s supposedly romantic ways. Stevens, her beauty all but hidden beneath Paulette’s clown-like make-up, has the large features and silly-putty expressions of the best comics. Making intelligent use of her mobile face, height and long limbs, stage presence and terrific voice, she creates a gorgeously unique character and nearly steals every one of her scenes." -- Brooks Applebaum

Otonowa Fundraiser for Japan Tour 2015, powered by San Jose Jazz
Sunday, July 12, 2015 7:30PM at Piedmont Piano in Oakland, CA
RSVP: +1-510-547-8188

Having toured Northern Japan in aid of the earthquake and tsunami relief efforts there, Otonowa (Sound Circle) is raising funds to return to Japan in 2015 in continuation of the group's relief mission. Otonowa will be performing jazz interpretations of Japanese folk and pop melodies, employing traditional Japanese instruments to compliment the standard jazz quartet orchestration as documented on their most recent recording, Otonowa. It will be an evening of music, discussion of the group's ongoing mission, light snacks and beverages highlighted by an "open cash sushi bar" by Ao of Sushi Zone with proceeds being donated to this endeavor.

Admission is free but donations are welcome. Please make your tax deductible checks payable to San Jose Jazz (a 501(c)(3) NPO). Please add "Otonowa" on the memo line.

Even if you cannot attend the fundraiser, please consider supporting the effort through our campaign on Indiegogo.

The Gene Bertoncini/Clay Jenkins Trio returns to Kitano (66 Park Avenue New York, NY 10016) on Saturday, June 13th for two sets beginning at 8PM. With Ike Strum on bass. Get Tickets here.

Friday, June 12th and Saturday, June 13th, Mike Holober will be conducting concerts with the HR Big Band and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. Mike wrote the arrangements for their first collaboration in October 2013.

The June 12th concert will be streamed live from Frankfurt, Germany at 8:00 PM local time (2:00 PM ET). Please tune in here.

Concert info:
June 12 HR Sendesaal, Frankfurt, Germany 8:00 PM
June 13 Halber Mond, Heppenheim, Germany 8:00 PM
For additional information, head to he HR web site.

The Jay Leonhart Trio at Birdland
featuring Tomoko Ohno on piano and Avi Rothbard on guitar
Saturday, April 11th at 6PM
Saturday, April 18th at 6PM
Saturday, April 25th at 6PM
Saturday, May 2nd at 6PM

Sons of Sound recording artist Jay Leonhart will appear with his trio in another of their Saturday early set appearances at Birdland. Jay's Birdland set is a perfect way to start off your Saturday evening, as Jay will perform his own light-hearted and often amusing songs accompanied by the brilliant Ms. Ohno and Mr. Rothbard.

Birdland
315 West 44th Street NYC 10036
between 8th and 9th Avenues on the west side of midtown Manhattan.
For phone reservations & information, please call (212) 581-3080

Bond girls Annie Sellick (vocals) and Akiko Tsuruga (organ) join Akira Tana (drums), James Mahone (saxophones) and Jeff Massanari (guitar) for three days of not-so-covert operations in northern California. Their mission: to perform music from the 007 songbook as captured on the recording Kiss Kiss Bang Bang:

Friday, May 15th at 8pm ($20)
The Sound Room, Oakland CA
2147 Broadway, Oakland CA 510-496-4180

Saturday, May 16th at 6:30 and 8:30pm ($10 plus food and beverage minimum)
The Sequoia Room at North Coast Brewery
444 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 707-964-3400

Sunday, May 17th at 3pm
Satsuki Festival, Berkeley Buddhist Church, Berkeley, CA
2121 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 510-841-1356

Master guitarist Gene Bertoncini will perform a solo guitar recital on Sunday, April 12th, 2015 at Mezzrow, a Greenwich Village listening room and lounge. Please come out to discover this lyrical master of the American Songbook.

Mezzrow
163 West 10th Street – Basement
New York, NY 10014

Sets from 7:30 to 9PM
$15 advanced seats or $20 at the door