Newburgh resident Neil Alexander and his stellar Jazz-Fusion trio NAIL will bring a one of a kind performance to the Newburgh Free Library on September 13th at 2 pm. Entitled “A 400 Year Musical Journey”, the performance will feature Keyboardist/Composer Neil Alexander, drummer Nadav Snir-Zelniker and bassist Dan Asher with guest musicians violinist Zach Brock and woodwind master Premik Russel Tubbs. The ensemble will perform music from each century (1609, 1709, 1809) and a group of selections from the 20th Century. The show culminates with Neil’s forward-looking 21st century original compositions, a hi-tech blend of Jazz, World, Funk and Electronica. Learn more at their official website.

13 September 2009, 2p

Newburgh Free Public Library
124 Grand Street Newburgh, NY

Filled with jazz, blues and big band swing, this concert sensation is held every Wednesday and Thursday in July and August at 6:30 to 8:30 pm on the Newburgh waterfront. This years’ schedule is exceptionally dynamic and diverse. It features Grammy award winners “The Reese Project” and acclaimed jazz artists Ali Jackson, drummer extraordinaire from Jazz at Lincoln Center. There will also be a new component to the series this year to help salute the Quadricenttenial celebration. The concerts are a “bring your own chair event.” They are free and open to the public. In the event of rain the concert will relocate to the City of Newburgh’s Activity Center at 401 Washington Street. For schedule changes and other details visit www.NewburghJazzSeries.com.. And without further ado the Newburgh Jazz Series 2009 performers are:

July 29 Judi Silvano’s All Women Band

July 30 Jazz Pioneers

Aug 5 Taeko

Aug 6 STRING OF PEARLS

Aug 12 Sweet Plantain String Quartet

Aug 13 Swingin’ Jive Patrol

Aug 19 Neil Alexander with Nail

Aug 20 Matt Jordan’ Big Band

Aug 26 The Rodriguez Brothers

Aug 27 Ali Jackson

All shows begin at 6.30 pm and are located on Liberty St on the Newburgh Waterfront.

As always the Newburgh Jazz Series offers a blend of musical styles and embraces the total jazz and big band experience. With more than 36 concert hours of musical performances the Newburgh Jazz Series 2009 will deliver a full-range of concert experiences in a relaxing intimate setting, making it the best hot spot of the Hudson Valley.

Vision Community Church
103 Newport Bridge Rd
Warwick, NY

A trio of musicians who have shared the stage with some music’s biggest names.

Jeff Ciampa – Guitar

Nonpareil among superb artists deserving wider recognition, has recorded and toured with some of the most demanding practitioners, including Harry Belafonte, Jon Lucien, Dave Matthews, Mark Egan, Bill Evans, Al MacDowell, Ornette Coleman, Lew Solof, to name a few. His fluid melodic style, steeped in the jazz tradition, continues to inspire fellow musicians and listeners worldwide.

Dave Edwards – Bass

Over the past 25 years, Dave has shared the stage or studio platform with Maynard Ferguson, Roy Hargrove, Bill Cosby, Cab Calloway, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Lionel Hampton, Rufus Reid, Richie Havens, Pete Seger, the Trenton Symphony, Wayne Chamber Orchestra, Smithsonian Chamber Players, Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, and many others. He appears on over 30 CD’s, and has been heard on WBGO/Jazz 88, Fox Prime Time TV, QVC, TBN, Star99.1, and Good Morning America. Dave lives in Warwick NY, with his wife Julie, and 5-year-old daughter, Zoe.

Karl Latham – Drums

A NY-based and internationally recognized drummer. He is known for his exceptional ability to dig into a variety of musical styles, playing straight-ahead jazz, avant-garde, funk, rock, Latin, and more. John Lee, bassist and director of the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, says that “Karl’s greatest strength is in his versatility. In this respect, he is something of a phenomenon, having mastered every style of music he has attempted to play.”
“Karl Latham is an inventive powerhouse whose influences are many but whose ideas are his own.” – Jeff Tamarkin AllAboutmusic.com

July 1 Chiku Awali African Dancers & Drummers; A Perfect Gift; All That Jazz

July 2 The Big Band Sound

July8 Patti Grieco’s Quartet

July 9 Big Blue Big Band

July 15 Sam “Magic Man” Waymon and the Magic Band

July 16 The Reese Project

July 22 Dangling Success

July 23 Swing Shift Orchestra

July 29 Judi Silvano’s All Women Band

July 30 Jazz Pioneers

Aug 5 Taeko

Aug 6 STRING OF PEARLS

Aug 12 Sweet Plantain String Quartet

Aug 13 Swingin’ Jive Patrol

Aug 19 Neil Alexander with Nail

Aug 20 Matt Jordan’ Big Band

Aug 26 The Rodriguez Brothers

Aug 27 Ali Jackson

As always the Newburgh Jazz Series offers a blend of musical styles and embraces the total jazz and big band experience. With more than 36 concert hours of musical performances the Newburgh Jazz Series 2009 will deliver a full-range of concert experiences in a relaxing intimate setting, making it the best hot spot of the Hudson Valley.

They’re looking for “innovative uses of new technologies towards audience development, communications, distribution, marketing, and network building” by the jazz community.  It’s really a fascinating opportunity whose shole aim is to change the jazz community and prepare it for future ways of reaching an audience.  For those interested in bridging the gap between the jazz community and how its current and potential audiances are interacting with music, you should look into this opportunity.

There are two grant opportunities at the moment – planning grants and implementing grants – and two rounds of grant awards.

Planning grants are based on ideas, to “fully develop the most interesting concepts being proposed; identify necessary resources, expertise, and partnerships (when applicable); and compile detailed financial plans for project implementation.”  They are only offering planning grants in this first round, and are willing to award up to $25,000 to help research ideas.

Implementation grants are based on actions.  These are to use “new technologies developed either through a Jazz.NEXT planning grant or conceived outside of the program, but deemed ready for immediate implementation.”  Implementation grants range from $10,000 to $75,000 and you can apply for them in either round of the grant process.

Nothing is more exciting then a group willing to stick their neck out there and try to foster a community of change.  If you think you have something credible to bring to the table, go to their web site for more information, and download their PDF of guidelines.

The first round has a deadline of NEXT WEEK (had I known about these earlier I would have posted, my apologies for the short notice).

Steve Rubin
drummer.  Jazz, world, blues, R&B, soul
www.musicianspage.com/musicians/1139/

What is your favorite word?
Louise

What is your least favorite word?
No

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Natural improvisation.  A moment arising from honest inspiration. Shared connection of sympathetic minds and souls

Tell us about your earliest memory that led you to becoming an artist.
A drummer, winking at my cousin Marsha’s wedding many years ago.

What kind of space do you like to exist in when you are working?
One – Ideal space would be a semi rustic natural product designed loft space.   Two – One in Warwick where I now live, another in the West Village , NYC, where I  lived for many years.   The setting would have a visual aesthetic that promoted calm focus coupled with the energy of inspiration.

What inspirations do you draw on in Orange County or the Hudson Valley?
The visual of the landscape

What have you learned from other artists in the area?
The ongoing ability to be a better listener.

What profession outside of the arts would you like to attempt?
I would love to get involved in politics or be a psycologist.

If you could no longer work in your discipline, how else do you think you would express yourself?
Speaking, also my lighting designer side business.

What are you working on this year?
Promoting my  group, The Skye Jazz Trio to expand it’s performance venues.

Steve Rubin has been a musician for over 38 years. Steve’s worked in jazz, rock, soul, classic R&B and blues groups over the years, as well as playing electronic percussion, ( the Roland Handsonic). Steve continues to appreciate all music from classic rock to funk, old school R&B, disco, reggae, blues and that which falls outside definition. Having lived in Greenwich Village, NYC for 24 years, and he and his wife moved to Warwick in 2005. In NYC he worked as a player and drum teacher . Music for Steve is like a buffet of possibilities to enjoy and present for the right setting and venue. Musical influences in jazz range from Louis Armstrong’s hot house days to big band drummers to the great modern bop and post bop players inclusive of Philly Joe Jones, Joe Morello, Mel Lewis, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, and modern players such as Brian Blade and Jeff Ballard. Whether it’s Miles , Coltrane, Cole Porter or Keith Jarrett, Steve always looks to the lead instrument in form of piano , guitar or horn to establish melody and to lead the music, and sees his role as a supporting one. In the past 3 years he’s been leading his own group, The Skye Jazz Trio, and is thankful for having a terrific supporting cast of players including, Joe Vincent Tranchina (jovita.com), Steve Ash, Dave Smith, keyboards, piano, Bill McCrossen, Eric Lemon, J. Brunka and Jeremy Goldberg on bass. Warren Sirota, Ed Littman, Marc Daine on guitar and a host of other musicians that have come by to sit in or play sax, flute and vocals. The Skye Jazz Trio is a rotating ensemble of experienced jazz players and they have been in performance from all events from bookstores to NYC restaurants, jazz clubs, private parties, libraries and town events. The Skye Jazz Trio can be reached at (917)903-4380 and skyejazztrio@yahoo.com for CD, performance calendar and additional information.

Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson
2009 Bandstand Concert Schedule
Tuesday June 2 7:00 PM Johnny Jake 50’s Rock & Roll
Wednesday June 3 7:00 PM Allegro Orchestra Classical Youth Orchestra
Tuesday June 9 7:00 PM CCMS Jazz Band Middle School Concert
Tuesday June 16 7:00 PM Groovy Tuesday 60s, 70s & 80s Hits
Tuesday June 23 7:00 PM The Skyliners 40s Era Swing Band
Tuesday June 30 7:00 PM Lydia Adams Davis Original & Standard Tunes
Tuesday July 7 7:00 PM Ortz Celtic Irish Rock Band
Tuesday July 14 7:00 PM Panama Express Classic Blues Band
Tuesday July 21 7:00 PM The Greyhounds Good Time Rock & Roll
Tuesday July 28 7:00 PM Judith Tulloch Jazz & Pop Standards (also here)
Tuesday August 4 7:00 PM Sharp 9 Rock band with Horns
Tuesday August 11* 7:00 PM Schempf & Faxon, with Lydia Adams Davis – Hudson River Concert
Tuesday August 18 7:00 PM Johnny Jake 50’s Rock & Roll
Tuesday August 25 7:00 PM KJ Denhert Urban Folk & Jazz
Rain Dates are the following evening. Rain cancellations will be posted at the Bandstand by 5:30 PM. Please call 534-5402 for concert and scheduling information.
Parents: Please encourage your children to enjoy the concerts without disturbing others.

* The Hudson River Concert by Ruthanne Schempf and Emily Faxon is sponsored by the Friends of the Cornwall Public Library and State Grant Funds. The concert is to include a song made of words written by students of the JR. Historians class.