Bunny Brunel Fusion

Bunny Brunel Fusion

Fri, Apr 04

When it comes to the bass, 2-time Grammy-nominated Bunny Brunel is the master and a musician's musician! From defining his signature style on fretless, upright, and electric basses, to authoring numerous instructional books on bass technique and theory, there is no end to Brunel’s musical mind. But how many legendary virtuoso instrumentalists do you know who not only design their instruments, but build them, too? Having designed for Carvin for over 25 years, Brunel is now a designer for ESP Guitars. He also created and custom built the Rolls Royce of basses—the Bunny Brunel Electric Upright Bass (BBEUB). As if that weren’t enough, Bunny has composed music with lush arrangements on his releases from the start of his career on his first album Touch (1978) to his two latest, titled Invent Your Future (2015) and the historical CD Bass Ball (2017) that features bass players is a co-production with Stanley Clarke; and somewhere in the middle, his Band CAB earned a Grammy nomination for CAB 2 Best Contemporary Jazz Album. He also scores films, and collaborated and performed the theme for Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning masterpiece The Unforgiven. But most importantly, Bunny is known around the world as one of the four great bassists who started the jazz-fusion bass movement (with Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, and Jeff Berlin). Born in the South of France, Bernard Bunny Brunel’s first instrument was the piano, and because his mother was a huge jazz fan, he was exposed to jazz at a very young age. He was able to play jazz chords by ear. "While I was attending a specialized college for hotels, I found a classical guitar, where the headstock was broken. I had it remade by a cabinetmaker friend of mine and played guitar in a band. I was about 15 years old at the time. I knew about 3 or 4 chords and that’s how it started. I was asked to rent a bass for a new bass player who never showed up for rehearsal and ended up playing the bass. That was the day I became a bass player—and I loved it!” Bunny attended the Classical Conservatory in Nice, France, to learn bowing technique, but was mostly a self taught bass player who drew his influences from Sam Jones, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Eddy Gomez, Miroslav Vitous, and Stanley Clarke. In his early 20s, while playing at the world famous Ronnie Scott’s Club in London with Tania Maria, Yes/ Moody Blues keyboardist Patrick Moraz introduced Bunny to fusion keyboardist Chick Corea. Once Chick heard Bunny play, a few months later he hired him to record on his Grammy-nominated album Secret Agent . Bunny played with Chick Corea for almost a decade, and has since played with Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Jarreau, Stevie Wonder, Ziggy Marley, Gloria Estefan, Jack De Johnette, Natalie Cole, Stanley Clarke, Milt Jackson, Steve Grossman, and countless more. Having graced the covers of popular magazines, including(PN'P) Plug N Play, Bass Musician, Bassics; and numerous features inBass Player, No Treble, Bassiste, For Bass Players Only, Abstract Logix, Fretless Bass, Guitar 9, Jazztimes, Global Bass Online, Talk Bass, just to name a few, Bunny Brunel also enjoys being the Editor at Large of Virtuoso Bass, the premier lifestyle magazine for bassists.This rare musician is a melodic writer; he creates memorable music with modal changes and dexterous playing. His creations transcend most recordings from the fusion genre simply because . . .even with Brunel's mind-blowing execution and profound changes —as complex as his music is—you walk away humming his tunes. But you are cheating yourself if you haven’t seen him in concert. Experiencing Bunny Brunel LIVE is transformative. And nothing compares to the auditory, sensory fulfillment, when you're drinking in a performance by this masterful bass legend! 

Freddie Ravel All Star Band

Freddie Ravel All Star Band

Sat, Apr 05

Grammy-nominated performer, communication expert and business visionary With an unparalleled career that has consistently transcended the boundaries of music, culture and thought leadership, Freddie Ravel toured with Brazilian master Sergio Mendes, directed the legendary band that bridged black and white America - Earth, Wind and Fire, performed on the silver screen with the Queen of Pop - Madonna, rocked stadiums with Afro-Latin-Blues-Rock icon Carlos Santana, performed the Grammys with Prince, cut tracks with Kanye and led the teams behind J. Lo, Jimmy Kimmel and Lady GaGa to become the “Expert’s Expert” on multi-generational integration. Piano and Vocals: Freddie Ravel Drums and Percussion and Vocals: Tiki Pasillas Guitar and Vocals: Michael O'Neill Bass and Vocals: Hussain Jiffry Vocals: Kia 

Barrelhouse Wailers

Barrelhouse Wailers

Sat, Apr 12

Swing Dancing! The Barrelhouse Wailers are an 8-piece powerhouse collective from Ventura, California that seamlessly blend traditional style hot jazz and vintage blues with original compositions to create a sound that's as timeless as it is electrifying. With their roots deeply embedded in the rich soil of American musical traditions, this dynamic ensemble has been captivating audiences since 2013 with their high-energy performances and masterful musicianship. Driven by their passion for authenticity and innovation, The Barrelhouse Wailers deliver a sonic experience that pays homage to the classics while pushing the boundaries of contemporary music. Their infectious energy and tight-knit chemistry on stage promise an evening of entertainment that will have you on your feet and moving to the rhythm. They have released 2 albums featuring original music and standards, “Day In, Day Out” 2019 and “Never Look Back” 2023 Both albums are available for digital download on Bandcamp and on all major streaming platforms. Karen Parkhouse - Vocals/Percussion Todd Temanson - Banjo David Leoncavallo - Bass Jim Wade – Tuba John C. Webb - Clarinet/Saxophones/Flute/Vocals "Skabone" Stan Middleton- trombone/vocals Max O'leary- trumpet TBA - drums For more information, music, videos, and upcoming shows, please visit http://www.thebarrelhousewailers.com/. Follow us on : Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBarrelHouseWailers Instagram: @barrelhousewailers YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BarrelhouseWailers 

Ronnie Foster Organ Trio

Ronnie Foster Organ Trio

Thu, Apr 17

A celebrated soul-jazz organist, Ronnie Foster is known for his groove-based, funk- and R&B-influenced style. Foster initially grabbed ears for his work with guitarist Grant Green before releasing a string of organically funky, '70s Blue Note albums, including Two Headed Freap, On the Avenue, and Cheshire Cat, many of which became cult items influential to hip-hop and acid jazz artists. Along the way, he cultivated a successful career as a session player, working with George Benson, Roberta Flack, Stanley Turrentine, Chaka Khan, and many others. He also found success as a producer, helming Top 30 contemporary jazz albums like Roger Smith's Both Sides and Will Downing and Gerald Albright's Pleasures of the Night. Following decades behind the scenes, Foster returned to the spotlight with his sixth Blue Note album, 2022's Reboot. A native of Buffalo, New York, Foster learned to play piano as a child and was taught in the traditional classical style. However, jazz intrigued him more, and when he was a teenager, he began to pursue that direction. Eventually, he attended a jam session where there was an organ in addition to a piano. After trying the organ, he decided to concentrate on the instrument. He listened to Jimmy Smith, gradually making his way to more adventurous players like Larry Young. A local Buffalo organist, Joe Madison, gave him advice, and Foster practiced regularly at a studio where he would rent a room with an organ for 60 cents an hour. Eventually, Foster began playing local and New York clubs. He slowly built a following, playing with such musicians as Stanley Turrentine, Grant Green, and George Benson. By the early '70s, he had formed a group called Energy II. Grant Green had Foster play on his Alive album, and the organist's performance impressed the label's Dr. George Butler, who offered Foster a contract. Ronnie Foster recorded The Two Headed Freap, his first album for Blue Note, in January of 1972. A funky set of soul-jazz, the album featured his own compositions, including "Mystic Brew," along with covers of tunes like Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" and the Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff song "Drowning in the Sea of Love." The similarly funky Sweet Revival was recorded in December of that year and featured more covers as well as musical contributions by legendary funk drummer Bernard Purdie. He cut Live at Montreux in July of 1973, which was followed in 1974 by On the Avenue, and by Cheshire Cat in 1975 -- his final album for Blue Note. He then moved to Columbia, where he released Love Satellite in 1978 and Delight in 1979. A session for Pro Jazz entitled The Racer followed a few years later, but Foster effectively retired from leading groups in the early '80s in order to concentrate on session work. During the '70s, he had played on numerous George Benson records as well as records by Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Earl Klugh, Jimmy Ponder, Stanley Clarke, and Lalo Schifrin. Throughout the '80s, Foster continued to play on a wide variety of sessions and eventually moved into production. Among the musicians he worked with that decade were Jimmy Smith, Klugh, Flack, Harvey Mason, Stanley Turrentine, David Sanborn, Djavan, and Grover Washington, Jr. Foster continued the same path in the '90s, playing with many of the same musicians as well as Lee Ritenour, Roland Vazquez, and the Temptations, among others. Many of the albums he produced earned chart success, including Will Downing and Gerald Albright's 1998 album Pleasures Of The Night, which topped Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. The following year, he helmed Tower of Power organist Roger Smith's Both Sides, which reached number 24. Around the same time, his own records were rediscovered by a new generation of listeners, with several of his recordings used as source material for sample-heavy acid jazz and hip-hop records. Most notably, A Tribe Called Quest sampled his song "Mystic Brew" off 1972's Two Headed Freap, using it as the basis for their track "Electric Relaxation" from their classic 1994 album Midnight Marauders. Foster continued his production work in the 2000s, contributing to further albums by George Benson and Will Downing in addition to recordings with Najee, Chayanne and others. In 2022, he returned to Blue Note with Reboot, his first solo outing in over 30 years. It found him embracing his classic soul-jazz sound with a trio featuring his son, drummer Chris Foster, guitarist Michael O'Neill, and conga player Lenny Castro, and others. 

Clayton Cameron

Clayton Cameron

Sat, Apr 19

Clayton Cameron- drums Jacob Scesney- saxophone Andy Langham- piano Edwin Livingston- bass Grant Geissman- guitar Clayton Cameron is known as a dynamic drummer who has also experimented with and perfected the art of brush technique. Cameron has toured with Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett, as well as other legends of the jazz world including George Shearing, Joe Pass, and Joe Williams. During Cameron’s time with Tony Bennett the group performed with many great artists including Frank Sinatra, Billie Joel, Sting, Mariah Carey, Brandy, the Back Street Boys, James Taylor, K.D. Lang, Elvis Costello, and Ricky Martin. In 1990, after the release of his video, The Living Art of Brushes, Clayton was given the honorary title “Brush Master.” Born in Los Angeles, California, Cameron received a degree in music from California State University at Northridge. During college, he played in clubs around L.A behind artists such as O.C Smith, Ernie Andrews, Jimmy Weatherspoon, instrumentalist Teddy Edwards, Larry Gails (of Thelonious Monk fame) and Gerald Wilson. After graduating from college, Clayton moved to Las Vegas to perform nightly with a jazz group called the Kirk Stuart trio. While in Las Vegas Cameron experimented with brush techniques. It was during this time that some of the rough ideas for his future videos and books were developed. In addition to his video, Cameron has created a ground-breaking book on the elusive art of brush playing, entitled Brushworks. You can hear his masterful work on his 2012 CD Here’s to the Messengers: A Tribute to Art Blakey. 

TD Lind & The Aviators

TD Lind & The Aviators

Wed, Apr 23

TD Lind & The Aviators is an indie rock band out of Southern California driven by old-soul storytelling, brawny vocals, and larger-than-life sound. Born in England, TD Lind signed a record deal at 19 years old and has since toured America and Europe for the last 30 years, sharing the stage with Sting, Bad Company, Wilco and many others. He has 4 critically-acclaimed albums, the last being produced by legendary producer Glyn Johns. In 2022, TD Lind joined up with producer and bassist David Franz (Iyeoka, Underground Sun), saxophonist Karl Hunter (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), drummer Greg Weiser (Danny McGaw), and guitarist Sam Kulchin (The Caverns). They are known for their unforgettable live shows, as featured on their “Into the Light” album, recorded and released in 2023. Their debut studio album “Golden” was released on August 21, 2024. 

Lynne Arriale Trio Ft. Alon Near and Alon Benjamini

Lynne Arriale Trio Ft. Alon Near and Alon Benjamini

Sat, Apr 26

Being recognized as “one of the most exciting pianists in contemporary jazz,” (The Guardian, UK) pianist Lynne Arriale has performed on the most prestigious international concert stages over the past 30 years. Jazz Police called her “the poet laureate of her generation.” JazzTimes said of her, “Lynne Arriale’s music lies at the synaptic intersection where brain meets heart, where body meets soul. She is one of jazzdom’s most intensely unique voices.” Jazz Journal commented, “Arriale is clearly one of the best contemporary jazz pianists. “ Lynne won the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. Her 17 critically acclaimed albums have topped the Jazzweek Radio Charts and have received “Best of” honors in major publications. Being Human, pianist-composer Lynne Arriale’s 17th release as a leader, addresses a troubled, divided world with an exquisite suite of optimistic, deeply felt compositions, which celebrate some of the ways that all of our lives are enriched by acts of passion, courage, love, persistence, heart, soul, curiosity, faith and joy. Being Human explores these life-affirming facets of humankind. Many of the songs are dedicated to people who’ve inspired Arriale, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai. Being Human received four-star reviews from DownBeat, BBC Magazine, All About Jazz, Jazzwise, and Marlbank, UK. It was also featured on “Best of 2024” lists: DownBeat, Textura, All About Jazz, and the ArtsFuse. Additionally, it ranked #5 on Jazz Week and #26 on the Jazz Week Year-End Chart for 2024. Lynne’s performances radiate optimism and passion. She has enthralled audiences for over three decades with her powerful performances. In these times of significant division, her timely message of hope and unity strikes a resonant chord with listeners. Lynne has performed at major international festivals including Montreux, Burghausen, Gilmore, Spoleto Arts, Montreal, Monterey, North Sea, Stuttgart, Pori, San Francisco, Ottawa, Zagreb, Perth, Brisbane, Rouen, Sardinia, Rochester, Wigan, Poznan, Estoril, Inverness, Cork, San Javier and has given five performances at the Kennedy Center “I wrote this suite in response to the division and turmoil in our world,” Arriale says. “The music focuses on qualities we all share, that define our humanity. I hope this album will be uplifting and convey a sense of unity and optimism. “ “This is music that is born of body and soul…an album with so many heart-on-the sleeve moments that you will find yourself catching your breath in absolute awe of Arriale’s introspective artistry…an artist of the first order…... we have an album to absolutely die for.” That Canadian Magazine “She is clearly one of the best contemporary jazz pianists.“ Jazz Journal “She remains a force of nature.” All About Jazz “Lynne Arriale has been one of the great poets on the piano for decades.” Jazzthing Being Human link to all platforms: https://orcd.co/qbpqpno The Lynne Arriale Trio: Journey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4J8lBLOtQ 

Gregg Karukas GK Soul/Jazz Party

Gregg Karukas GK Soul/Jazz Party

Fri, May 02

GK - Hammond Organ Thom Rotella-guitar Kevin Winard-drums Kevin Ricard-percussion Grammy winning keyboardist Gregg Karukas adds another ultra-cool Live Performance project to his melodic, piano centered career as he tames the vintage "beast", the Hammond B3, playing Soul/Jazz classics with a rotating cast of all-stars. Fans of all things groovy will love The GK Soul Jazz Party as Gregg invites listeners to recall classic songs - tributes to the masters, Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Charles Earland, Lou Donaldson and some of our recently departed favorite contemporary artists. Soul/Jazz and Brazilian for the 21st century with a rotating cast of all-stars. "...trying new things is what it's all about. Most all of my recordings have featured grand piano or Fender Rhodes; but recently, I have had so much fun jamming on my vintage Hammond organ, and have made it a personal challenge to work towards developing my own sound on this beast." Organic, funky, and melodic: the essential qualities that have defined Grammy winning keyboardist/composer/producer Gregg Karukas' 13 solo CD's over a three decade career, with many #1 radio hits, both sophisticated and accessible. A prolific, genre-crossing veteran of the Contemporary Jazz scene, Gregg was a founding member of The Rippingtons in 1986 and has toured with Boney James, Dave Koz, Larry Carlton, Sergio Mendes, Dori Caymmi, Ricardo Silveira, Peter White, Rick Braun, Shelby Flint, Melissa Manchester, Alphonse Mouzon, Brenda Russell and Jeffrey Osborne.