Throughout September, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola hosts the fifth annual Coca-Cola Generations in Jazz Festival. The festival kicks off on Labor Day, September 1 as dynamic vocalist Michael Mwenso showcases the compositions of innovator Fats Waller.
In keeping with tradition, this year’s festival, which runs through September 30, features extraordinary artists spanning three generations with programming that honors both iconic musicians and composers alongside emerging artists of today.
“We are excited to present the Coca-Cola Generations in Jazz Festival festival for the fifth year running. Jazz at Lincoln Center is extremely grateful to Coca-Cola for their continuous and generous support of the festival,” said Jason Olaine, Director of Programming for Jazz at Lincoln Center. “From Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong to Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, we have it all on stage at the club during the month of September. The talented musicians you will hear during this year’s festival range from Generation Y standouts like Charles Turner to 89-year old jazz icon Roy Haynes. Regardless of their generation, all of these artists speak the common language of swing.”
“The fact that this festival continues for the fifth year in a row, and seems to only increase in popularity each year, is a testament to the quality and vitality of the ever-evolving art form that is jazz,” said vocalist and JALC Curator & Programming Associate Michael Mwenso. “I am looking forward to kicking off the festival with a tribute to Fats Waller during the 110th anniversary of his birth. Whether you join us for the early set, Late Night Session, or both, we hope that you will be filled with the spirit of jazz during the festival.”
The opening week also includes concerts by the Mason Brothers Quartet featuring JCLO’s very own Eliot Mason, as well as a one-night-only performance by up and coming multi-instrumentalist Bria Skonberg. Joe Temperley, a founding member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) and one of the music’s most revered saxophonists, celebrates his 85th birthday during the opening festival weekend, with concerts that find him supported by the Jonathan Batiste Trio, trumpeter Bruce Harris, and vocalist Brianna Thomas.
The GRAMMY®-nominated ensemble Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band is set to perform for four nights and will feature Haynes himself along with Jaleel Shaw on alto saxophone; Martin Bejerano on piano; and David Wong on bass. Other festival highlights include the sounds of the Caribbean brought to the club’s stage by Monty Alexander, and jazz masters The Heath Brothers schooling listeners in the traditions of hard-bop. The Peter & Will Anderson Quintet returns to the Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola stage, bringing the music of The Dorsey Brothers to life for a remarkable two-night run.
Peter Bernstein’s quartet will include his longtime bassist John Webber and NEA Jazz Master drummer Jimmy Cobb. The Ladybugs Jazz Band perform favorites from the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s. Vocalist Charles Turner makes a much-anticipated return to Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola after a successful debut in 2013. Bob Stewart’s double-quartet performance features both PUBLIQuartet and his own ensemble of 25 years that includes well-known jazz players like Jerome Harris and Matt Wilson. Saxophonist Sharel Cassity, a member of the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars, performs with one of her personal influences, outstanding multi-reedist Gary Bartz. Finally, pianist-composer Donal Fox offers up his unique amalgamation of jazz, Latin American, and classical music.
Tuesday through Saturday during the festival, the popular Late Night Session will also feature some of jazz’s most talented up and coming artists, including ensembles led by Julian Lee, Riley Mulherkar, Frank Basile/Steve Fishwik featuring Osian Roberts, and Sammy Miller. Select Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola performances will be available via live web stream. Click here for the schedule and more information on Jazz at Lincoln Center’s live webcasts.
2014 Coca-Cola Generations in Jazz Festival Complete Lineup:
Monday, September 1
Michael Mwenso & Brianna Thomas Celebrate 110 Years of Fats Waller
Michael Mwenso, host of Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola’s Late Night Sessions, and outstanding vocalist Brianna Thomas perform sets of freshly arranged classics, with at least a wink and a nod towards jazz’s long tradition of innuendo. In addition to Fats Waller tunes, tonight’s main feature, the show will also feature selections from Michael Mwenso’s Downtown Speakeasy: The Prohibited Jazz Age. With arrangements full of smart surprises, and a young band comprised of New York’s most impressive rising stars, these sets will leave audiences – once again – begging for more.
Cover: $25
Student Cover: $15
Tuesday – Wednesday, September 2 – 3
Mason Brothers Quintet
Brothers Brad and Elliot Mason share a truly unique musical bond and vision when performing together. Having been described as “one of the most important trombone voices of today’s generation,” Elliot is currently a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Brad has proven himself as one of New York’s highly respected trumpet players and educators. Their Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola shows in April 2014 generated glowing reviews and high demand for a follow-up.
Cover: $35
Student Cover: $20
Thursday, September 4
Bria Skonberg & Her Compatriots: Satch Plays Fats
Bria Skonberg has earned acclaim as a singer, trumpeter, songwriter, and bandleader, and in 2013 was recognized as a Rising Star in critics’ polls by DownBeat and the Jazz Journalists Association. With a style that combines old-school hot jazz with soul, eclectic world percussion, and pop songwriting, Skonberg’s original work has attracted world-class players as sidemen, including Victor Goines, Wycliffe Gordon, John Pizzarelli, and Ulysses Owens. Tonight, she returns to her roots and performs material from Satch Plays Fats, Louis Armstrong’s 1955 tribute to Fats Waller.
Cover: $30
Student Cover: $20
Friday – Sunday, September 5 – 7
Joe Temperley and Friends
With the Jonathan Batiste Trio, Brianna Thomas, and Bruce Harris
Join us for a very special weekend with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s elder statesman, Joe Temperley, right before his 85th birthday. One of the best saxophonists in the world, Temperley has seen it all during a career with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Joe Henderson, and many more. This weekend, he celebrates with a top-notch band of young talent, including the Jonathan Batiste Trio, vocalist Brianna Thomas, and Bruce Harris, all of whom are favorites at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to catch an essential part of music history in the intimate setting of Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola.
Cover: Friday, $40, Saturday $45, Sunday $35
Student Cover: $25
Monday, September 8
The Ladybugs Jazz Band
The Ladybugs is a traditional jazz harmony group known for intricate vocal harmonies and experimental arrangements. Lead by Martina DaSilva, all members of the band sing while playing ukulele, guitar, trumpet, bass, and drums. The Ladybugs’ repertoire includes favorites from the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, infused with old-school swing and blues, plus a dash of klezmer flavor. Popular among audiences that range from lindy hoppers to modern jazz aficionados, the Ladybugs effortlessly keep audiences smiling and moving.
Cover: $25
Student Cover: $10
Tuesday, September 9
Peter & Will Anderson Quintet Plays the Dorsey Brothers
Will and Peter Anderson are a pair of twin woodwind virtuosos. They have recently performed series of shows in tribute to Artie Shaw and the Dorsey brothers, the latter of which ran for an incredible 30 consecutive sold-out shows. The popularity is no surprise, however; what’s not to like about 1920s and 1930s swing performed by a couple of virtuosic soloists and some of New York’s favorite rhythm players? Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola is now offering music lovers another chance to catch this wildly successful combination of young talent and timeless music.
Cover: $25
Student Cover: $10
Wednesday, September 10
Charles Turner
A 2010 graduate of Berklee College of Music, Charles Turner III has played in New York City’s premier jazz clubs and at international festivals and competitions. Tonight, he makes an anticipated return to Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola after a successful debut in 2013. Having performed alongside Dee Dee Bridgewater, Patrice Rushen, Terri Lyne Carrington, and more, Turner’s experience and maturity as a performer reach far beyond his years. His silky tone, high-energy delivery, smart song selection, and exceptional ability as a scat soloist ensure that he and his group will light up the stage.
Cover: $30
Student Cover: $15
Thursday – Sunday, September 11 – 14
Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band
Roy Haynes, legendary jazz drummer and GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award winner, brings his GRAMMY®-nominated “Fountain of Youth” band to Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. Since becoming a professional musician in the 1940s, he has worked with artists such as Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Bud Powell, Sarah Vaughan, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Pat Metheny. Join us at the club to witness an incomparable artist, along with his hand-picked group of master musicians in the making.
Cover: Thursday, Friday, and Sunday $40, Saturday $45
Student Cover: $25
Monday, September 15
Michela Marino Lerman
The Songs of the Great Hoofers
Having studied with Buster Brown, Gregory Hines, Leroy Myers and Marion Coles, Michela Marino Lerman is a star within the tap dancing community. She runs the only weekly tap jam in New York City at the great Smalls Jazz Club and monthly sessions at Fat Cat. She has performed and collaborated with such musical greats as Benny Golson, Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, Ravi Coltrane, Rasheed Ali, Frank Lacy, Joe Sanders, Ben Williams, Reggie Workman, Jennifer Holliday, and Theo Hill, to name just a few. She explores The Songs of the Great Hoofers at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola for one night only, joined by pianist Takeshi Ohbayashi, bassist Russell Hall, and drummer Kyle Poole.
Cover: $25
Student Cover: $10
Tuesday, September 16
Donal Fox Innovations Duo
Groundbreaking pianist, composer, and improviser Donal Fox has forged a unique amalgam of jazz, Latin American, and classical music. Piano and vibraphone engage in a fluid, improvisatory dialogue, combining deep grooves with sophisticated contrapuntal lines. Fox and Jazz at Lincoln Center regular Warren Wolf create a striking musical collage of new sounds, at once mesmerizing, stirring, visceral, and poetic.
Cover: $35
Student Cover: $20
Wednesday – Sunday, September 17 – 21
Monty Alexander: Jazz Around the West Indies
In a career spanning five decades, pianist Monty Alexander has built a reputation exploring and bridging the worlds of American jazz, popular song, and the music of his native Jamaica. In the process, he has performed and recorded with artists from every corner of the musical universe and entertainment world, including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Quincy Jones, Ernest Ranglin, Barbara Hendricks, Bill Cosby, Bobby McFerrin, Sly Dunbar, and Robbie Shakespeare. Tonight, Alexander and his award-winning group will keep the club moving for Jazz Around the West Indies, a unique showcase of genre- and culture-blending music.
Cover: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday $40, Saturday $45
Student Cover: $25
Monday – Tuesday, September 22 – 23
Peter Bernstein Quartet
Peter Bernstein is one of the top guitarists (and DownBeat’s 2014 #1 Rising Star Guitarist), a real musician’s guitarist with maturity, impeccable feel, with a sound comparable to straight-ahead favorites like Jim Hall and Wes Montgomery. He seems to be everyone’s favorite sideman these days, and he is also increasingly renowned as a leader and composer. Tonight, Bernstein’s quartet will include his longtime bassist John Webber and NEA Jazz Master drummer Jimmy Cobb, who has worked with musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie and Billie Holiday and is known for such classic recordings as Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue and John Coltrane’s Giant Steps.
Cover: Monday $30, Tuesday $35
Student Cover: Monday $20, Tuesday $25
Wednesday, September 24
Sharel Cassity and Gary Bartz: Generations in Jazz
Saxophonist Sharel Cassity (36), voted Rising Star Alto Saxophonist in the DownBeat critics’ poll from 2010-2013, has been performing in the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars with one of her personal influences, Gary Bartz (73). Bartz is a GRAMMY® Award-winning saxophonist who has played with legends like Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, and McCoy Tyner, and he continues to record on his own label, OYO Recordings. Tonight, the two make their debut as co-headliners to showcase their abilities with a smaller group.
Cover: $30
Student Cover: $15
Thursday – Sunday, September 25 – 28
The Heath Brothers
Saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath is a living legend who has made essential contributions to jazz and played with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Wynton Marsalis. Joined on the drums by his equally revered brother, Albert “Tootie” Heath, [[and their recording band comprised of Jeb Patton and David Wong]], this show will exemplify bebop, hard bop, and straight-ahead jazz of the highest caliber. Jazz fanatics should not miss these masters, and anyone interested in learning more about the tradition should consider this a perfect opportunity.
Cover: Thursday, Friday, and Sunday $40, Saturday $45
Student Cover: $25
Monday, September 29
Monday Nights with WBGO
Bob Stewart’s Double Quartet
Mind the Gap CD Release
Tuba mastermind Bob Stewart has made a name for himself in numerous eclectic settings, from the blues of Taj Mahal, to Charles Mingus’ demanding compositions and the free explorations of Arthur Blythe. On his new recording, Mind The Gap, Stewart bridges original arrangements of his peers’ compositions with movements from a special chamber piece commissioned for the renowned PUBLIQuartet string ensemble. This one-of-a-kind double-quartet performance features both PUBLIQuartet and his own ensemble of 25 years, which includes well-known jazz players like Jerome Harris and Matt Wilson. This project will be a unique musical statement within the world of jazz.
Cover: $30
Student Cover: $15
Late Night Session Schedule:
Scheduled at 11:30pm every Tuesday through Saturday, Late Night Session features some of jazz’s most talented up and coming artists, with a special invited jam session. Hosted by vocalist Michael Mwenso, on Thursday and Saturday nights only. Full Price: Tuesdays and Wednesdays $5; Thursdays and Fridays $10; and Saturdays $20. Student Price: Tuesday – Friday $5; and Saturday $10.
Tuesday – Saturday, September 2 – 5
Late Night Session: Stephen Riley
Tuesday – Saturday, September 9 – 13
Late Night Session: Riley Mulherkar
Tuesday – Saturday, September 16 – 20
Late Night Session: Frank Basile/Steve Fishwick featuring Osian Roberts
Tuesday – Saturday, September 23 – 27
Late Night Session: Sammy Miller
WHERE:
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, 5th floor, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, on Broadway at 60th Street, New York City.
HOW:
Call or visit www.jazz.org/dizzys.
Prices vary. Dinner served nightly.
General Admission: $20-$45 (unless noted otherwise);
Students: $5-$25 with valid student ID (selected sets only);
Late Night Session: $5-$20.
Minimum of $10 applies to all.
WHEN:
Headliner sets are 7:30pm, 9:30pm (unless noted otherwise).
SPECIAL OFFERS:
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola continues the Hot Fives Special — $5 cover — during the Late Night Session sets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays — a great way for patrons to hear some of the most talented young jazz performers while enjoying spectacular views of Manhattan.