Blues Alley Celebrates 50 Years w/Larry Coryell & Strings Attached
Blues Alley Celebrates 50 Years w/Larry Coryell & Strings Attached
Soulcial Hour is a Smooth Jazz, R&B, and Soul band from the Washington DC Metropolitan Area, as smooth and funky as George Benson and Brian Culbertson, as soulful as the Average White Band, Luther Vandross, and Chaka Kahn, having the pizzazz of Jill Scott and Ledisi, and the ingenuity of Earth, Wind & Fire. A musical group committed to offering a diversity of quality compositions of classic and modern era selections-giving you good music that you can enjoy, all for your listening pleasure!
NYC flutist/composer/recording artist/clinician, Jamie Baum, has toured the US, and over 28 countries performing at major festivals and concert halls including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Sedutirol, Braga, Oeiras, Bermuda, Edinburgh, Friehoffer, Winter JazzFest and JVC Festivals. She has performed with artists as renown and diverse as George Russell, Randy Brecker, Donald Brown, Mick Goodrick, Tom Harrell and Kenny Barron to Dave Douglas, Fred Hersch, Uri Caine, Ralph Alessi, Leni Stern, David Binney, V.M Bhatt, Anthony Braxton and Wadada Leo Smith. Saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk is an internationally respected jazz composer and musician. His recordings and performances are consistently well received by critics. The artistic director of the Maryland Summer Jazz Festival, Antoniuk has been a featured performer and teaching artist at the Edmonton International Jazz Festival and the National Music Center.
Anissa is a native Washingtonian “born to perform.” Her love for singing developed at the age of 6. She comes from a long line of performers and entertainers. She was influenced by Natalie Cole, Chaka Kahn and Whitney Houston. Known for her perfect pitch, creativity and soulful sound, she is true to form on stage, allows everyone to get close to her and become totally uninhibited. Her debut album, Still I Rise is available on all digital outlets and her single Love is featured on Music Choice and other stations across the country. Anissa is currently a background vocalist for the legendary, disco diva, Gloria Gaynor and Shirley Jones of the Jones Girls. When it comes to performing, originals or covers, Anissa pours her heart into each note she sings touching each soul! “Music you can feel” has often been the description from concert goers.
As one of the pioneers of jazz-rock — perhaps the pioneer in the ears of some — Larry Coryell deserves a special place in the history books. He brought what amounted to a nearly alien sensibility to jazz electric guitar playing in the 1960s, a hard-edged, cutting tone, phrasing and note-bending that owed as much to blues, rock and even country as it did to earlier, smoother bop influences. Yet as a true eclectic, armed with a brilliant technique, he is comfortable in almost every style, covering almost every base from the most decibel-heavy, distortion-laden electric work to the most delicate, soothing, intricate lines on acoustic guitar. Featuring Larry Coryell, Jack Wilkins, Jimmy Bruno, Joe Cohn and Vic Juris. Five leading jazz guitarists whose combined credits represent a Who’s Who in Jazz will share the stage in a special “Stings Attached” program.
As one of the pioneers of jazz-rock — perhaps the pioneer in the ears of some — Larry Coryell deserves a special place in the history books. He brought what amounted to a nearly alien sensibility to jazz electric guitar playing in the 1960s, a hard-edged, cutting tone, phrasing and note-bending that owed as much to blues, rock and even country as it did to earlier, smoother bop influences. Yet as a true eclectic, armed with a brilliant technique, he is comfortable in almost every style, covering almost every base from the most decibel-heavy, distortion-laden electric work to the most delicate, soothing, intricate lines on acoustic guitar.
Formerly known as Linda Williams, Aziza Miller released her first solo album-City Living (1979) on Arista Records. She was the 1st female musical director for major recording artist, Natalie Cole for over 5 years and Alicia Keys high school music teacher for 3 yrs in NYC. Aziza wrote the platinum hit-La Costa, recorded by Natalie Cole and Ahmad Jamal. Aziza’s music is a blend of urban jazz, latin/soul & Poetry. Next Week at Blues Alley!
The Fairfax Wind Symphony Jazz Ensemble is in its second season now. The Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Anthony W. Aversano was formed as an extension of the Fairfax Wind Symphony, founded by and under the baton of director Stan Schoonover in the fall of 1999. In addition to presenting local concerts, the FWS Jazz Ensemble has been featured at the 2013 “National Jazz Workshop” hosted by Shenandoah University, and will be the featured Jazz Ensemble at the 2014 James Madison University Summer Music Camp for aspiring musicians, educators and future jazz audiences. As a special treat for the Blues Alley performance, the FWS Jazz will feature the one of our country’s foremost woodwind artist – Chris Vadala!
William Mcmillan hails from the city of Baltimore, MD. He has made a transition from being one of Baltimore’s most sought after musicians to becoming the DMV’s fresh new face in music. He’s been spotted playing on stage with nationally acclaimed gospel artists like Jonathan Nelson, and Norman Hutchins, along with many others. McMillan has landed placement on Earnest Pugh’s most recent album Earnestly yours, by writing the song “Wait…All the Day”. He is already spreading the message of God’s love through his music as his songs pierce the heart of today’s generation. He has been requested to perform at various churches, colleges, and concert halls on the east coast. His warm unique tone combined with his compelling praise and worship melodies are sure to deem him as one of the best new artist on the music scene today.
Drummer and Composer Nasar Abadey is the founder, leader and driving force of SUPERNOVA. They perform music from the threshold of Jazz to beyond space and time, while having an artistic license to express their compositions through traditional African rhythms, bebop, fusion, Afro-Cuban, Afro Brazilian, and free form. Based in Washington, DC Abadey has also built a solid reputation as a sideman with several groups, and has recorded and/or performed with many national artists throughout his career. Abadey began playing drums at age five. Drawing influences from powerhouse drummers such as Tony Williams, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones and his cousin Frankie Dunlop, Nasar Abadey creates jazz music steeped in modal, free form fusion and avant-garde styles.
Sophisticated, soulful and fun, Nicole Henry has won praise from both critics and audiences worldwide for her powerful ability to truly touch and inspire people with her beautiful voice and stunning presence. She has released three international TOP 10-selling jazz CDs within the past six years and has toured in over fourteen countries. Jazz Improv writes, “beautiful, emotionally evocative – terrific voice and a sensitive way with a lyric.” It’s with that same sensitivity that Nicole Henry mesmerizes audiences wherever she goes. Uplifting and captivating, her voice embraces jazz, pop and soulful nuances with a spirited ‘joie de vivre.”
Roy Haynes has been a major player since the 1940s. He worked early on with the Sabby Lewis big band, Frankie Newton, Luis Russell, and Lester Young. After some engagements with Kai Winding, Haynes was a member of the Charlie Parker Quintet; he also recorded during this era with Bud Powell, Wardell Gray, and Stan Getz. Haynes toured the world with Sarah Vaughan; played with Thelonious Monk; led his own group; and gigged with George Shearing, Lennie Tristano, Eric Dolphy, and Getz. He was Elvin Jones’ occasional substitute with John Coltrane’s classic quartet, toured with Stan Getz, and was with Gary Burton. In addition to touring with Chick Corea and Pat Metheny, Haynes has led his own Hip Ensemble on and off during the past several decades. AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER |
Monday, July 20 
Tuesday, July 21 
Wednesday, July 22 
Thursday, July 23 & Friday, July 24 
Saturday, July 25 
Sunday, 26 
Monday, July 27 
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Wednesday, July 29 
Thursday, July 30 
Saturday, July 31 & Sunday, August 1 
