Dave Rivello - -DRE I RED!
Sep
14
8:00 PM20:00

Dave Rivello - -DRE I RED!

What happens when the 13-member Dave Rivello Ensemble plugs in? DRE I RED! Sharp angles contrasted with smooth textures and combined with dynamic solos make for an evening of continuous color. This is an extension of the Dave Rivello Ensemble, and continues to be Dave Rivello's vehicle for his original work, and his main orchestral voice. From the beginning, this ensemble has blurred lines, and crossed genres - come get lost in DRE|RED!

 

View Event →
FRINGE EVENT - Kirk Knuffke with Ray Anderson and special guest Harold Danko
Sep
15
8:00 PM20:00

FRINGE EVENT - Kirk Knuffke with Ray Anderson and special guest Harold Danko

Cornetist Kirk Knuffke aims to make beautiful, emotionally resonant music—even in avant-garde settings. A prolific artist, he’s released about 20 albums as leader/co-leader. His 2022 album Gravity Without Airs, with Matthew Shipp and Michael Bisio, earned 4½ stars from DownBeat and praise from The New York Times. A sought-after sideman, he’s worked with Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mary Halvorson, Matt Wilson, and James Brandon Lewis. All About Jazz hails him as a master of balancing freedom and swing.

Harold Danko is a distinguished jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader whose career spans over 50 years. He has collaborated with iconic artists such as Chet Baker, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, and James Moody, performing at major jazz venues around the world. Danko’s artistry is well documented across numerous acclaimed recordings, television appearances, and popular video clips—including Baker’s 1987 Tokyo concert, which has garnered over five million views on YouTube. His legacy reflects both depth and versatility in jazz.

Ray Anderson, a leading voice in the proud Trombone Tribe, has innovated and honored jazz tradition for over four decades. With boundless creativity, he bridges swing, bop, free jazz, blues, gospel, and New Orleans funk, carrying forward the expressive legacy of trombone legends with flair and soul.

View Event →
FRINGE EVENT - The Hank Roberts Trio
Sep
16
8:00 PM20:00

FRINGE EVENT - The Hank Roberts Trio

With a career spanning over 50 years, Hank Roberts has performed at prestigious venues worldwide alongside celebrated artists such as Bill Frisell, Petra Haden, Rudy Royston, Aurora Nealand, Tim Berne, Gordon Grdina, Mark Dresser, Mark Feldman, as well as with the Hank Roberts Sextet and the Italian-based group "Pipe Dream." His extensive discography includes more than a dozen albums as a leader, and his album Green (featuring Jim Black and Marc Ducret) won the 2008 German Recording Critics’ Award in the Jazz category. Roberts was also named “Rising Star” in the Miscellaneous Instrument (cello) category in Downbeat Magazine’s 2022 Critics' Awards.

Drummer Ashley Ickes brings a highly developed sense of rhythmic complexity, stylistic diversity, and excitement to every group she performs with, including regional favorites like the funk band The Comb Down and the hip hop group Felix Free & the Rxcketeers. Since her arrival in 2016, she has been a vibrant central figure in the Ithaca music scene.

Pianist Chad Lieberman, influenced by traditional Cuban music and the University of Miami’s renowned Jazz program, studied music composition and electronic music at Ithaca College. He has performed both locally and internationally and is a founding member of the MAQ ensemble and the Strong Maybe experimental music trio.

What the writers are saying

“Roberts’s approach to the cello is a treasure to be cherished… ‘has long been a master at shaping the envelope of his sound to tell organic stories”

— Gary Chapin - Free Jazz Collective

View Event →
FRINGE EVENT - The Ricky Ford Quartet
Sep
19
8:00 PM20:00
In-Store Concerts

FRINGE EVENT - The Ricky Ford Quartet

Tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford studied at the New England Conservatory, with, among others, Gunther Schuller and Ran Blake; while still in his early 20s, he toured with both the Duke Ellington Orchestra (under Mercer Ellington's leadership) and Charles Mingus. By the 1980s, he was considered one of the leading tenor saxophonists of his generation. He worked with Dannie Richmond's Quintet, Lionel Hampton, Mal Waldron, Beaver Harris and Abdullah Ibrahim’s Ekaya, and also more than a dozen albums as a leader. He has lived in France since the 1990s.

Thurman Barker Grew up in Chicago in the 1950s, Thurman Barker was exposed to the city’s rich musical heritage, regularly hearing R&B, doo-wop, soul, jazz, and blues. Accordingly, he began his professional career at age 17 by anchoring the rhythm section for blues legend Mighty Joe Young. He then attended the American Conservatory of Music and later Roosevelt University, where he received classical training. While serving as percussionist for the city’s Shubert Theatre throughout much of the 1960s, Barker played for numerous national touring productions, including Hair, The Wiz, Grease, One Mo’ Time, and Ain’t Misbehavin’. A versatile drummer and percussionist, he also performed with singers Billy Eckstine, Marvin Gaye, Bette Midler, and Vicki Carr, and worked with classical groups like the Chicago Chamber Players and the New York City Opera. Perhaps Barker’s most notable musical experience has been with the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), an organization founded in the 1960s to promote innovative music and its players. A charter member of the group, Barker first appeared in AACM productions with Joseph Jarman’s pioneering ensemble. He then went on to play with many other members, including Muhal Richard Abrams, Amina Claudine Meyers, Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins, Roscoe Mitchell, and Henry Threadgill. In the 1970s and ’80s, after moving to New York, Barker worked with jazz giants Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers and Billy Bang, touring with their groups and recording numerous albums with them. Most recently, he has performed with trombonist and composer George Lewis at the Festival International Musique Actuelle in Victoriaville, Quebec. Since creating Uptee Records in the late 1980s, Barker has released five recordings as a leader, including Voyage (1987), The Way I Hear It (1999), Time Factor (2001), Strike Force (2004), and Rediscovered (2008). In 1994, his work “Dialogue,” commissioned by Mutable Music, premiered at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra premiered Barker’s chamber piece “Expansions” in May 1999, and that same year he became a lecturer at Smolny University in St. Petersburg, Russia. Barker has taught jazz history and performance at Bard College since 1993. Through his efforts to develop the program, he was appointed professor of jazz studies in June 2016.

Jerome Harris Electric guitarist and bassist Jerome Harris is best known for his work as a sideman with Sonny Rollins, and for his later work in groups led by drummer Bobby Previte and by trombonist Ray Anderson, among others. Harris was already a skilled musician when he went to Harvard with the intent of becoming a psychiatrist. During his college years, he became known as a guitarist on campus who played in a variety of bands, from R&B to free jazz, including a fusion band with fellow student, drummer Akira Tana. After graduation, Harris decided to focus on music full-time and first began appearing on recordings during the late '70s, such as Sonny Rollins' Don't Stop the Carnival (Milestone, 1978). In addition to continuing his work with Rollins throughout the 1980s, Harris worked with Oliver Lake and Bill Frisell, among others. The second half of the decade also found him playing with Bob Moses and Marty Ehrlich, while much of his work during the 1990s was with Bobby Previte and Ray Anderson. Harris has toured internationally in various ensembles, including trips to Japan with Rollins, tours of the Middle East and India with Jay Hoggard, of Africa with Oliver Lake, the U.S. with Previte's Latin for Travelers, and more. Some of the other renowned musicians that he has worked with include Don Byron, Ned Rothenberg (Sync on Intuition, 1999), Mark Helias, Pheeroan AkLaff and Kenny Werner. In addition to his work as a sideman, Jerome Harris has led several recording dates of his own, including Algorithms (Minor Music, 1986), Hidden in Plain View (New World, 1995) and Rendezvous (Stereophile, 1999). In 1999, Harris also played a large role in a July concert in New York City that was a tribute to Joni Mitchell, in which he wrote many of the transcriptions and arrangements, in addition to performing. As of the late '90s, Harris was based out of Brooklyn.

John Kordalewski is the leader, arranger and pianist for the Makanda Project, a 13-piece group performing previously unrecorded Makanda Ken McIntyre compositions. He has performed with musicians such as Charlie Rouse, Cab Calloway, Julius Hemphill, Odean Pope, Ricky Ford, Carl Grubbs, Webster Young, Byard Lancaster and Oliver Lake. For many years, he led a trio featuring Boston drummer Bobby Ward. He has conducted clinics and workshops at many colleges and universities, most recently at the University of KwaZulu Natal in Durban, South Africa, where his arrangements of compositions by pianist Ndikho Xaba and trumpeter Feya Faku have been performed. He is also currently collaborating with saxophonist Chico Freeman, writing first-ever big band arrangements of Freeman’s compositions.

Tickets: $30

View Event →
AMY RIGBY
Sep
23
8:00 PM20:00

AMY RIGBY

Amy Rigby has established herself as one of America’s enduring underground/cult/indie artists, combining the insight and humor of country and folk songwriting with classic rock craftsmanship and punk DIY spirit. Raised in Pittsburgh, schooled in late 70s lower Manhattan, she formed pre-Americana country band Last Roundup and Richard Hell’s favorite girl group the Shams in NYC's East Village before launching a solo career with 90s classic album Diary Of A Mod Housewife. 

Amy’s honest, kinetic songwriting has earned her praise from critics (“pithy wisdom, acerbic pen and sterling American guitar classicism” MOJO) and other artists: “Think Randy Newman and Loudon Wainwright, at their best,” says Steve Earle. Her songs have been covered by Laura Cantrell, Ronnie Spector and John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants. Her 2019 memoir GIRL TO CITY was called “an instant classic” by The Big Takeover. “You can smell the damp, see the clothes, hear the guitars!” says Goldmine. The follow up, GIRL TO COUNTRY, comes out later this year.

New album Hang In There With Me (2024), eleven up to the minute songs written by Amy and recorded by husband Wreckless Eric, is a bracing look at mortality, aging and youthful missteps, refracted through Amy’s insightful lyricism. Some people turn to the moon and stars for inspiration while Amy Rigby looks to creative heroes like Bob Dylan and Mike Leigh. She finds poetry in haircuts and live chat boxes. Her music is the sound of everyday people getting by, just like the classic country artists she loved and learned to write songs from.

Amy performs solo in the US and UK Autumn 2025, with stories/songs from Girl To Country + new and old classics. New book is out september 23rd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW5PavtxGKQ

Dylan In Dubuque https://youtu.be/D9iTxYcrB5A?si=hoKTWFY8FpepjvZZ

The Farewell Tour https://youtu.be/wEYeOUdSZIU?si=FoOLIiplKTnTh_0_

Bricks https://youtu.be/nUSYvN9TYa0?si=J9KCb9NBdAbQIyAt

View Event →
Joe Policastro Trio
Sep
28
8:00 PM20:00

Joe Policastro Trio

Joe Policastro, bass
Dave Miller, guitar
Mikel Avery, drums

Hailed by Downbeat for its “deft analysis of choice repertoire,” and by the Chicago Reader for its “diversity of approaches to all kinds of source material,” the JOE POLICASTRO TRIO is a forward-thinking, Chicago-based jazz trio led by bassist Joe Policastro featuring guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Mikel Avery. While firmly rooted in jazz, the band’s open-minded, inclusive nature draws upon a wide array of musical styles and sources while still keeping the aesthetic of an acoustic trio intact.  

The band is releasing its seventh album, Mending Wall, this fall. Through highly personal readings of music from Italy and Hong Kong, movie scores and symphonic themes, pop tunes, and even a cowboy song written by a Russian classical composer, the trio explores the nature of identity, boundaries, and borders. Their diverse catalog - Ceremony (2023), Sounds Unheard (2022), Nothing Here Belongs (2019), Screen Sounds (2017), POPS! (2016), and West Side Story Suite (2013) - captures the band’s progressive, forward-thinking, non-hierarchical approach whether showcasing their original music or their ability to remake unlikely songs in a characteristically raw, idiosyncratic fashion. 

True bands are a rarity in jazz these days, especially ones hone their craft as consistently as this one does. The band held court thrice-weekly at Pops for Champagne in downtown Chicago for over a decade. Beyond Chicago, the trio has been extensively playing together at clubs and festivals throughout the US and Canada having even performed for President Barack Obama.

“…a cohesive unit with an extraordinarily flexible mindset…at every step of the way, this band breathes and bends as one.” (Dan Billawsky, All About Jazz)

“Unpredictable and sometimes eccentric…each listen…reveals more surprises.” (Scott Yanow, JAZZIZ)

“The trio have refined their layered blend of the familiar and faintly far out, playing three nights a week at Chicago’s Pops For Champagne and through extensive roadwork. Their deep understanding of each other and deft analysis of choice repertoire repays repeat and close listening.” (Michael Jackson, Downbeat)

The Joe Policastro Trio is a band that can turn “pop tart into Jazz art” (Travis Rogers, Jazz Owl) and one that “should have wide appeal among both jazz fans and listeners of other genres.” (Hrayr Attarian, Chicago Jazz Magazine)

Official Website:
http://www.thejptrio.com

Tickets $20 in advance on-line or at the door.
SHOWS START AT 8PM, DOORS AT 7PM
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC CAN BE FOUND ON https://bopshop.com/events

View Event →
CHARLIE BALLANTINE TRIO play the music of BOB DYLAN
Oct
22
8:00 PM20:00

CHARLIE BALLANTINE TRIO play the music of BOB DYLAN

Charlie Ballantine - guitar
Quinn Sternberg - Bass
Brendan Brady - Drums

Named as one of the top 200 living guitarists by All About Jazz Magazine and a Rising Star in the Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll, Charlie Ballantine is acclaimed as one of the finest and most versatile  young guitarists on the scene today. JAZZ TIMES MAGAZINE hails his playing as “teeming with intricate grooves and maniacal precision his guitar work is both beautiful and complex” and VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE described his style by stating “Jazz, rock, and folk music peacefully coexist in Charlie Ballantine’s world”. 

   Equipped with an impressive body of original compositions on albums like “Vonnegut” and “Cold Coffee”, Ballantine also displays a great reverence for the jazz tradition through the inclusion of standards like ‘My One and Only Love’, ‘East of the Sun’ and an entire double album dedicated to the music of Thelonious Monk released September 2021.  “In the vein of fellow guitarists like John Scofield, Bill Frisell and Julian Lage, Ballantine reconciles his educational background in jazz with the stylistic background of his instrument. He approaches the gratifying tonal and harmonic language of rock/roots with the groove, ambition and improvisational focus of a jazz musician” - (JAZZIZ MAGAZINE)

   After graduating from the Jacobs School of Music under the direction of David Baker, Ballantine relocated to Indianapolis and quickly developed a name for himself with a string of high energy performances at clubs like the Jazz Kitchen and Chatterbox Jazz Club. After releasing two solo albums Ballantine was able to attain global recognition with his award winning third album “Life is Brief: The Music of Bob Dylan” which ALL ABOUT JAZZ named in their top ten jazz albums of the year. “From the opening bars of "The Times They Are a-Changin'" it is clear that something special is happening” - (ALL ABOUT JAZZ) 

   Although primarily a front man for his own projects with tours and frequent appearances throughout the US and Canada at venues and festivals such as the Detroit Jazz Festival, Indianapolis Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, The Winnipeg International Jazz Festival and The Elkhart Jazz Festival, Ballantine also has an extensive list of side man credits having performed with names like Rob Dixon, Emmett Cohen, and Amanda Gardier helping to further solidify him as a creative force and  put him in the highest of ranks as a performer.  

Watch the last time charlie was here, awesome show. This tour will focus on his Bob Dylan recording.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bneyxW44R_k

View Event →
HEY MAVIS
Oct
24
8:00 PM20:00

HEY MAVIS

For more than thirteen years, Northcoast Americana band Hey Mavis has been weaving a musical tapestry and igniting a following of dedicated fans. With heartfelt vocals, honest songwriting, blazing instrumental solos, and an undeniable onstage musical chemistry, this quartet is the definition of great Americana music. 

Banjoist/songwriter Laurie Michelle Caner and violinist/fiddler Eddie Caner formed Hey Mavis while serving as artists-in-residence in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Producer Don Dixon (REM/Smithereens/Red Clay Ramblers) “discovered” the group on a local Christmas compilation CD and went on to produce their first two albums, both of which hit the top 10 on the national Folk DJ-L radio charts and amassed favorable reviews across the globe. Hey Mavis’s third release, produced by Yonder Mountain String Band’s Adam Aijala, features a title track co-written by Chuck Auerbach, who has written lyrics to several Black Keys songs. Hey Mavis's fourth release, Silver Ribbon Dream—Songs & Stories of the Ohio & Erie Canal, was funded by John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.  Reviews have ranged from "unconventionally beautiful" to "startlingly original." Hey Mavis has performed the work in cities throughout the East and Midwest, including appearances with several symphony orchestras. 

Hey Mavis has appeared on NPR’s Mountain Stage, NPR’s Whad'ya Know?, PBS’s Applause and PBS's Songs from the Center. The group has performed standing-room-only shows at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival as well as countless sell-out concerts in Northeast Ohio and Michigan. In 2018, Melissa Etheridge hand-picked Hey Mavis to be one of the headliners for her music cruise. 

 

“Wrapped in original songs whose styles range from old timey to jazzy to blistering alt rock, Laurie's voice turns from cold steel to melted butter in the time it takes your heart to break." - Don Dixon

Band Members 

Laurie Michelle Caner (vocals, banjo, songwriting) is a homeschooling mom, a songwriter, visual artist and Ms. May in the 2015 Banjo Babes Calendar. She continuously strives to honor her own artistic vision while simultaneously raising a healthy family. Her banjo playing is of curious origin, but beautifully serves as a foundation for her lyrics. Laurie’s songwriting tells the story of life—with all of it’s beauty, heartache, disappointment and joy—weaving a musical tapestry that speaks the truth of love, life and the human condition. 

Eddie Caner (violin, viola profunda) spent a dozen years performing as a sideman in national touring bands and orchestras, including Page & Plant, Luciano Pavarotti, Smokey Robinson, and Natalie Cole. Eddie always amazes the audience with his Hendrix-like tone and precision—he can soar beautifully over Laurie’s vocals or play a raucous, dirgy groove. He was once labeled by the legendary music critic Jane Scott as “the most versatile musician on the planet”. Eddie spends his free time as a physics instructor at Case Western Reserve University. 

Bryan Thomas (bass) comes from a background of classical and jazz bass traditions and has sought out musical interactions in as many cultures as possible. His many first-hand experiences and lessons with giants of the double bass, notably soloists Gary Karr, François Rabbath, Cleveland Orchestra bassists Anthony Knight, Scott Haigh, and Mark Atherton, jazz legend Ray Brown, and great Cuban bassist, Carlos del Puerto, shape his approach to the instrument. After earning his BM in Music Performance at Kent State University, he spent many years as a road musician, touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, as a staff musician on Norwegian Cruise Lines, and as a freelance copyist and musician in Germany. In addition to being a sought-after sideman for decades, Bryan has been expanding his roles as an arranger, music director, composer and recording artist.

Anthony Taddeo, endorsed by “Out of the Drawer Percussion” and “Byrne Cymbals” as a performing artist, is a percussionist, composer, and performer residing in Cleveland, Ohio. He has studied with world-renowned percussionist Jamey Haddad and at The New School’s School for Jazz and holds an MFA in composition from Youngstown State University. Featured on over 30 albums, Taddeo has toured North America and Europe at festivals such as Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Ciclo 1906 Jazz Fest in Spain, and Cleveland’s Tri-C Jazz Festival. His film score for Making Montgomery Clift recently debuted at the LA Film Festival. Currently, Taddeo leads and composes for his groups AlbaTrio and Alla Boara. 

View Event →
STEW CUTLER TRIO
Oct
26
8:00 PM20:00

STEW CUTLER TRIO

STEW CUTLER - GUITAR
BILL McCLELLAN - DRUMS
ETIENNE LYTLE - KEYS

In a career spanning over 4 decades, jazz/blues/gospel guitarist/composer Stew Cutler has established himself as a bandleader and composer . With 8 record releases to his credit as a  leader and playing on countless recordings as a sideman, Cutler’s prolific career is a walk through musical history. 

Over the years Cutler honed his craft through collaborations with an illustrious  array  of artists including; Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd, Wilson Pickett, Fontella Bass (featured on Bass' Grammy nominated album No Ways Tired), Lester Chambers, Earl King, Jimmy Castor and many more. Cutler has also worked with jazz greats David Sanborn, Bill Frisell, Lester Bowie, Charlie Hunter, and Wayne Horvitz to name a few, as well as artists as diverse as Meatloaf, Jeb Loy Nichols, David Fanshawe, Sweet Georgia Brown, and Jimmy Dale Gilmore.

Cutler was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. His father was a classical violinist but his parents divorced when he was quite young.  Cutler had no contact from his father for many years but he still found muisc, the guitar.  In his early teens Cutler dove  into his instrument and at just 19 years old  he landed his first touring  job with blues legend Z.Z. Hill.   Cutler immersed himself in studying music and was mentored by master guitarist James Clark. Soon thereafter, he began calloborating  with instrumental  artists such as  Bobby Previte and Eliott Sharp. Not long after that Cutler moved to Woodstock, NY and began working with bassist Harvey Brooks { Bob Dylan, Miles Davis etc.} along with many well-known artists that were  part of that musical kaleidoscope. 

 In more recent years Cutler has been keeping himself busy playing his own music in and around New York City and going on tour regularly with his own group.   He has also found time to work with Alexis P Suter, John Lloyd Young  Garland Jefferies, and Tina Fabrique. Cutler also has also been going to Europe fairly regularly with The Harlem Gospel Singers .

Cutler can be found on the soundtrack of Martin Scorsese's film "The Irishman''. he is performing the standard "How High The Moon".  Cutler was also cast as part of the soundtrack for the streaming Amazon TV series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, an American comedy/drama set in the late 1950's.  You can hear Cutler's playing on the soundtrack of the series over the years. In season 4  Cutler was on camera as well as the soundtrack, featured in the  bulesque club house band, “The Wolford Band."

Cutlers  last recording, "*The Blues From Another Angle*." is a critically acclaimed eclectic mix of originals and a few covers featuring legendary guitarist Mike Stern and master harmonica player, James Montgomery. *The Blues From Another Angle* showcases a room full of top-notch musicians including drummer Bill McClellan, keyboardist Tom Wilson, bassists Booker King and Chulo Gatewood, saxophonist Steve Elson plus vocalists Bobby Harden and Mary Jean Cutler.   Showcasing their prowess on the album  guest artists Mike Stern, blazing through a guitar solo on “Blews” and James Montgomery making the harmonic sing on “Say What You Mean.”

As a guitarist composer and storyteller, Stew Cutler's journey is a testament to the tranformative power of music, bridging genres with his unmistakable soulful sound.

stewcutler.com

View Event →
Keigo Hirakawa Quartet featuring Stacy Dillard
Nov
1
8:00 PM20:00

Keigo Hirakawa Quartet featuring Stacy Dillard

Keigo Hirakawa Quartet featuring Stacy Dillard

On Saturday, November 1, 2025, Bop Shop Records welcomes the return of visionary jazz pianist Keigo Hirakawa, leading a powerhouse quartet featuring acclaimed tenor saxophonist Stacy Dillard. The concert marks a rare upstate New York appearance for pianist and composer Keigo Hirakawa,whose deeply personal voice on the instrument reflects his musical upbringing in the Midwest and his current life in New York City.

Hirakawa, a long-standing fixture of the Midwest jazz scene and now an active member of New York’s vibrant creative community, brings together a formidable quartet for this special performance. His critically praised 2023 album, "Pixel" on Origin Records showcases his inventive vision and sophisticated interplay through original compositions, and the harmonic and rhythmic complexity of his collaborators, affirming his place among today’s leading voices in contemporary jazz piano.  

For this special engagement, Hirakawa expands his ensemble with the addition of Stacy Dillard, a New York-based saxophonist hailed as “ A young saxophonist of serious promise" (New York Times). Known for his fiery sound with an original voice who has appeared on stage with Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller, Clark Terry, Wycliffe Gordon and Johnny O'neal, Dillard’s presence promises to ignite fresh dimensions in the group’s performance.

Joining Hirakawa and Dillard will be frequent collaborators Diallo House on bass and Hamir Atwal on drums—veterans of the New York jazz circuit whose rhythmic drive and improvisational prowess form the quartet’s dynamic foundation. House leads House of Sextet, an in-demand group that explores creative voices of Brooklyn. Known for seamlessly shifting between the creative music circuit and the modern jazz scene, Atwal is a versatile drummer who blends many influences in every performance.

View Event →
The DAN BRUCE TRIO
Nov
16
8:00 PM20:00

The DAN BRUCE TRIO

Dan Bruce is a recent transplant to Ohio after spending a decade as an important member of Chicago’s jazz community. He is active throughout the Midwest and nationally as a performer, recording artist, composer and educator. He has performed on more than twenty albums as a sideman, and is releasing his second album as a leader this summer. As a performer and recording artist, Bruce has had the opportunity to work with a number of eminent musicians including Seamus Blake, Ali Jackson, Dan Wall, Lynn Seaton, and The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra.
"...without a doubt one of the finest of today's young jazz guitarists. He plays with great creativity, soul, and intelligence." -William Piburn, Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine

View Event →
Phil Haynes 2 HORNS & WHAT?
Nov
22
8:00 PM20:00

Phil Haynes 2 HORNS & WHAT?

Peyton Pleninger, saxes
Jonathan Ragonese, saxes
Phil Haynes, tunes and drums

A concert + recording debut by 2 HORNS & WHAT? - presenting nearly 50 years of original compositions by Haynes in a spirit driven  setting with next gen saxophone whizzes Pleninger & Ragonese - a raw jazz SAXrUS 'Colossus' unearthed for us all, HEAR & NOW

Phil Haynes (b. June 15, 1961, OR) is a 25 year veteran New York based artist/author now teaching at Pennsylvania’s Bucknell University. Haynes is featured on more than 100 LP, CD and video releases by numerous American and European record labels. The international media have compared his drumming to masters Jack DeJohnette, Roy Haynes and Elvin Jones, and his compositions to Duke Ellington, Charles Ives, Charles Mingus and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. 

"The perfect middle between tradition and avant-garde, between power and sophistication, between accessibility and adventure."

~ Stef, www.freejazzblog.org

Haynes' recording credentials include many of the seminal musicians of this generation, notably saxophonists Anthony Braxton, Ellery Eskelin, and David Liebman; trumpeters Dave Douglas, Herb Robertson, and Paul Smoker; bassists Mark Dresser, Ken Filiano, and Drew Gress; pianists David Kikoski, Denman Maroney, and Michelle Rosewoman; guitarists Ben Monder, Steve Salerno, and Jim Yanda; vocalists Theo Bleckman, Nicholas Horner, and Hank Roberts; violinist Mark Feldman, and the composers collective Joint Venture.

Contemporary Haynes ensembles include: his Americana string band, Free Country, featuring vocalist/cellist Hank Roberts; Two Brass Hit, w/trumpeters Thomas Heberer, Nate Wooley, and bassist Ken Filiano; Terra with guitarist Ben Monder and saxophonist Peyton Plenninger; his new originals trio, 2 Horns & What?, as well as the romantic piano trio, Day Dream, featuring Yamaha artist Steve Rudolph and bassist Drew Gress.   

philhaynesmusic.bandcamp.com/music

www.chasingthemasters.com

Peyton Pleninger (b. April 7, 1996,  NJ) is a saxophonist, improviser, bandleader, astrologer and guerilla contractor(!), forging a personal path that challenges the boundaries of what it means to be a musician. Pleninger’s experience involves a variety of disciplines centered around music, which also includes astrology, painting and sculpture, botany, construction, massage and medical inquiry.

Pleninger worked as a mentee of artist/musician Milford Graves, from spring 2019 until Graves’ passing in early 2021, helping Graves prepare artwork and archival materials for his retrospective exhibit A Mind Body Deal at the ICA Philadelphia; Heart Harmonics: Sound, Energy and Natural Healing Phenomena at the Fridman Gallery; as well as Fundamental Frequency at Artist's Space.

Pleninger leads his group, Biotonic, which has recorded the live album alive (2019), plus 2 EPs. He has also released two solo saxophone recordings Post Human Folk Dances (2022) and Wind Music (2023). Pleninger has performed with Henry Threadgill’s "One" and "The Other One", which resulted in the recording The Other One (2023); drummer Phil Haynes’ Terra, with guitarist Ben Monder; John Benitez’ Latin-Bop; Roy Ben Yosef's Moringa; Colin Hinton’s Glassbath; Michel Maurer’s Meridian and Quinn Bachand’s Brishen, among numerous others.

www.peytonpleninger.com

Composer-arranger-saxophonist, Jonathan Ragonese is the Director of Jazz Studies and Saxophone Professor at the Wells School of Music at West Chester University. As a saxophonist he has performed and recorded with a wide array of musicians including Steve Wilson, David Liebman, Jon Faddis, The Sirius Quartet, Gideon Alorwoyie, the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Tim Warfield, Tin Can Buddha and Steve Rudolph. 

As a composer his works have been commissioned and premiered by The New York Film Festival, saxophonist Steve Wilson, Jazz@Lincoln Center, The Museum of Modern Art, the Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra, the Harrisburg Symphony, the The Righteous Girls, Bucknell University, Messiah University, West Chester University and the Harrisburg Youth Symphony. Pandora’s Box, a new film score for G.W. Pabst’s iconic film, was commissioned by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and premiered at Alice Tully Hall in October of 2017, with Jonathan conducting a 17-piece ensemble. In 2014 Ragonese premiered his ‘Not-this’ for two saxophones, at Carnegie Hall. His Concerto for Saxophone and Wind Ensemble was premiered in 2021, and in April of 2022 portions of letters from an unknown woman to an unknown people, a double concerto for Trumpet and Marimba was premiered by William Stowman and the Messiah University Symphony Orchestra. 

Active educational endeavors include lectures, writings, and the development of Music Before Words, a music program for infants with educator Renee Bock. His first recording, Ardent Marigolds, was released in 2013, a duo with musical father Steve Rudolph. He has many other recordings to his name since that time, including pale blue flowers and two men singing, with four new recordings released in the past year. 

www.jonathanragonese.com

View Event →
Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holida
Dec
1
7:00 PM19:00
Lovin' Cup Concerts

Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holida

For a real taste of seasonal cheer, nothing says joy to the world like Bill Kirchen singing "Daddy's Drinkin' Up Our Christmas!" 

Bill Kirchen and his Silent Knights will make a stop on their annual Honky Tonk Holiday Tour at Lovin' Cup on Monday 12/2,  Featured is a sleigh-full of rarely heard holiday numbers from the blues, rock 'n' roll and honky tonk bags: "Silent Surfin' Night," "Truckin' Trees for Christmas," "Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin," and more. But be ye not afraid, there'll be so much more than holiday songs of questionable taste; you can count on a truckload of dieselbilly classics, rockers, and country weepers to take the edge off the holiday fuss. So mark your calendars and check 'em twice - Santa Claus is back in town! Kirchen is touring with his all-star Texas guys - Jack Saunders on bass and Rick Richards on drums.

Bill Kirchen is one of the fortunate few who can step on any stage, play those trademark guitar licks which he created for the seminal Commander Cody classic, "Hot Rod Lincoln," and elicit immediate recognition.

As a founding father of the proto-Americana group Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, Kirchen wrought a diesel-fueled guitar hook that drove their Hot Rod Lincoln into the Top 10 nationwide. Kirchen went on to the Grammys where he was nominated for Best Country Instrumental in 2001. 

He has recorded with Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Dan Hicks, Maria Muldaur, Hoyt Axton, Hazel Dickens, Gene Vincent and Link Wray, and  has toured the world as guitarist with Cody, Nick Lowe, Hoyt Axton and Emmylou Harris. 

Bill Kirchen was inducted into the Hall Of Fame of the Washington DC Wammie Music Awards in 2001, alongside Dave Grohl and John Phillip Sousa. He joined a remarkable list of prior inductees including Bo Diddly, Duke Ellington, Ruth Brown, Marvin Gaye, Patsy Cline, Shirley Horn, Emmylou Harris, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady.

His recent disc, Transatlanticana, entered the Americana Radio Chart Top 10 in 2018, joining his extensive catalogue of over 2 dozen albums, from the Commander Cody discs on through his current 12 releases on the Proper and Last Music Company labels. Bill’s latest releases are Back from the Ozone, a Lost Planet Airmen reunion CD out in October 2023 and, from 2021,  the LPs Waxworks and Tombstone Every Mile, along with The Proper Years and Tombstone on CD and in all digital formats, all on the Last Music Company label.

Washington Post:  "Seldom has traveling across the rock and country landscape been this much fun"

Guitar Player magazine: “The Titan of the Telecaster...cuts loose with some of the fattest, gnarliest low-down twang imaginable”

Rolling Stone: “A musical treasure, a fantastic player, and, in these roots-conscious times, very much a pioneer, Bill Kirchen is one of our best.”

Tickets: $30 advance / $35 at door

tickets on sale now!

View Event →
RAFAEL ENCISO
Dec
7
8:00 PM20:00

RAFAEL ENCISO

Rafael Enciso is a bassist and composer based in NYC, orginally from Ithaca, New York. Rafael has worked individually with Larry Grenadier, Matt Brewer, Linda Oh, Gary Versace, Nicholas Walker, Michael Formanek, and numerous others. He has played at numerous venues in Rochester, New York, both playing as a sideman and leading his own groups, including bringing his quintet to Kodak Hall in 2018. Notably, in 2019 Rafael played in the Rochester Jazz Festival, and separately in Aaron Staebell’s quartet at the UUU Art Gallery. He’s a recent graduate of Eastman School of Music with a degree in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media.

https://www.facebook.com/rafaeltheinvadermusic/

View Event →
Jim Yanda solo guitar (Copy)
Aug
24
8:00 PM20:00

Jim Yanda solo guitar (Copy)

A Stereo Field Recordings event

Guitarist Jim Yanda creates music at the nexus of Jazz, New Music, Free Improvisation, Blues, Country and Folk traditions.

He grew up the youngest son of a dairy farming family near Anamosa, Iowa. His earliest professional experience included performing western swing music in regional dance halls. In high school, gigging garage Rock bands added to his stylistic influences, as Yanda fell in love with guitarists Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.

He attended Coe College where he was introduced to jazz and avant garde 20th Century music by maverick trumpeter & university mentor, Paul Smoker. Yanda then spent several years on Chicago’s jazz scene before moving to New York to work with longtime collaborator Phil Haynes. Since then, Yanda has recorded his own music on Regional Cookin’ and Home Road and released recordings with Phil Haynes & Free Country, Damon Short, and Herb Robertson.

Tickets $20 in advance on-line or at the door. A $20 tickets will get you into both shows too!
Free for students with valid ID

View Event →
Jim Yanda solo guitar
Aug
23
8:00 PM20:00

Jim Yanda solo guitar

A Stereo Field Recordings event

Guitarist Jim Yanda creates music at the nexus of Jazz, New Music, Free Improvisation, Blues, Country and Folk traditions.

He grew up the youngest son of a dairy farming family near Anamosa, Iowa. His earliest professional experience included performing western swing music in regional dance halls. In high school, gigging garage Rock bands added to his stylistic influences, as Yanda fell in love with guitarists Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.

He attended Coe College where he was introduced to jazz and avant garde 20th Century music by maverick trumpeter & university mentor, Paul Smoker. Yanda then spent several years on Chicago’s jazz scene before moving to New York to work with longtime collaborator Phil Haynes. Since then, Yanda has recorded his own music on Regional Cookin’ and Home Road and released recordings with Phil Haynes & Free Country, Damon Short, and Herb Robertson.

Tickets $20 in advance on-line or at the door. A $20 tickets will get you into both shows too!
Free for students with valid ID

View Event →
AARON LIPP solo in concert
Jul
31
8:00 PM20:00

AARON LIPP solo in concert

Aaron Lipp is from Naples, NY and has been a professional musician since age 16. From performing on stage, recording in the studio and teaching lessons, he has found his place in music . Throughout a multitude of different genre adventures and instrumentation, he has found home in songwriting with genre-defying sounds and lyrics.

Aaron is releasing his new album, "We Must Build Fire" at the store. He'll have vinyl records for sale, naturally!

This is a rare Rochester appearance for Aaron; don't miss the chance to see this incredible musician in a solo setting!

Tickets are $20 at the door, or online.

Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 8pm.

View Event →
I'm Spinning 45s at Skylark Lounge
Jul
25
6:00 PM18:00

I'm Spinning 45s at Skylark Lounge

I’ll be spinning some of my favorite 45s at the Skylark Lounge (40 North Union St., Rochester) on July 25th and August 22nd 6-9pm. I’ll be digging deep into the crates and pulling out gems from my stash — think funk, punk, twang, garage, and the just plain weird. Expect the unexpected — and come hang out!

View Event →
CHARLIE PARR (Copy)
Jul
14
8:00 PM20:00

CHARLIE PARR (Copy)

 In the music of Charlie Parr, there is a sincere conviction and earnest drive to create. The Minnesota-born guitarist, songwriter, and interpreter of traditional music has released 19 albums over two decades and has been known to perform up to 275 shows a year. Parr is a folk troubadour in the truest sense: taking to the road between shows, writing and rewriting songs as he plays, fueled by a belief that music is eternal and cannot be claimed or adequately explained. The bluesman poet pulls closely from the sights and sounds around him, his lyrical craftsmanship built by his influences. The sounds from his working-class upbringing—including Folkways legends such as Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie—imbue Parr’s music with stylistic echoes of blues and folk icons of decades past. Parr sees himself merely as a continuer of a folk tradition: “I feel like I stand on a lot of big shoulders,” he said in an interview. “I hope that I’ve brought a little bit of myself to the music.” 

With a discography simultaneously transcendental in nature and grounded in roots music, Charlie Parr is the humble master of the 21st century folk tradition. Parr started recording in Duluth in 2002, where he lives today. Life in the port town on Lake Superior has a way of bleeding into his work the same way his childhood in Austin, Minnesota does. Parr self-released his debut album, Criminals and Sinners, and did the same for his sophomore album 1922 (2002). With growing popularity abroad, Parr signed with Red House Records in 2015, where he recorded break-out albums Stumpjumper (2015) and Dog (2017). Parr’s music has an overwhelming sense of being present and mindful, and his sound is timeless.

Parr’s mastery of his craft is only more apparent when contextualized within the history of folk tradition of which Parr has dedicated his practice The land and lives around and intersecting with Parr have always influenced him, from the hills and valleys of Hollandale, Minnesota to the Depression-era stories from his father. Parr strives to listen to everything: “I don’t see that I’d ever be capable of creating anything if it weren’t for these inspirations and influences, books and music as well as the weather and random interactions with strangers and animals. So, the well never runs dry as long as my eyes and ears are open,” Parr said in a 2020 interview. Before he was even 10 years old Parr was rummaging through his father’s record collection—sometimes drawing dinosaurs on the vinyl sleeves—and listening to country, folk, and blues legends, many of whom are staples in the Folkways catalog. When Parr sings and plays his resonator or 12-string, you can hear influences like Mance Lipscomb, Charley Patton, Spinder John Koerner, Rev. Gary Davis, and Dock Boggs. This is especially true in his playing, when, after a diagnosis of focal dystonia, Parr turned to greats like Davis, Doc Watson, and Booker White for two-finger picking inspiration. Gifted a 1965 Gibson B-45 12-string by his father, Parr has never had a formal lesson and learned by to listening records and watching musicians he admired. 

Parr’s first album with Smithsonian Folkways, Last of Better Days Head (2021), foregrounded his lyrical craftsmanship and sophisticated bluesman confidence, with spare production highlighting Parr’s mastery of guitar and elevating his poetry. Last of Better Days Ahead is a portrait of how Parr saw the world in that moment, reflecting on time and memories that have past while holding an enduring desire to be present. In his 2024 release, Little Sun, Parr weaves together stories celebrating music, community, and communing with nature. Putting forth an ambitious and raw album that exemplifies the best of Parr's sound: a blend of the blues and folk traditions he continues to carry with him and the steadfast originality of a poet. 

Get a little taste of Charlie Parr here from the last time he was here, enjoy!

View Event →
CHARLIE PARR
Jul
13
8:00 PM20:00

CHARLIE PARR

 In the music of Charlie Parr, there is a sincere conviction and earnest drive to create. The Minnesota-born guitarist, songwriter, and interpreter of traditional music has released 19 albums over two decades and has been known to perform up to 275 shows a year. Parr is a folk troubadour in the truest sense: taking to the road between shows, writing and rewriting songs as he plays, fueled by a belief that music is eternal and cannot be claimed or adequately explained. The bluesman poet pulls closely from the sights and sounds around him, his lyrical craftsmanship built by his influences. The sounds from his working-class upbringing—including Folkways legends such as Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie—imbue Parr’s music with stylistic echoes of blues and folk icons of decades past. Parr sees himself merely as a continuer of a folk tradition: “I feel like I stand on a lot of big shoulders,” he said in an interview. “I hope that I’ve brought a little bit of myself to the music.” 

With a discography simultaneously transcendental in nature and grounded in roots music, Charlie Parr is the humble master of the 21st century folk tradition. Parr started recording in Duluth in 2002, where he lives today. Life in the port town on Lake Superior has a way of bleeding into his work the same way his childhood in Austin, Minnesota does. Parr self-released his debut album, Criminals and Sinners, and did the same for his sophomore album 1922 (2002). With growing popularity abroad, Parr signed with Red House Records in 2015, where he recorded break-out albums Stumpjumper (2015) and Dog (2017). Parr’s music has an overwhelming sense of being present and mindful, and his sound is timeless.

Parr’s mastery of his craft is only more apparent when contextualized within the history of folk tradition of which Parr has dedicated his practice The land and lives around and intersecting with Parr have always influenced him, from the hills and valleys of Hollandale, Minnesota to the Depression-era stories from his father. Parr strives to listen to everything: “I don’t see that I’d ever be capable of creating anything if it weren’t for these inspirations and influences, books and music as well as the weather and random interactions with strangers and animals. So, the well never runs dry as long as my eyes and ears are open,” Parr said in a 2020 interview. Before he was even 10 years old Parr was rummaging through his father’s record collection—sometimes drawing dinosaurs on the vinyl sleeves—and listening to country, folk, and blues legends, many of whom are staples in the Folkways catalog. When Parr sings and plays his resonator or 12-string, you can hear influences like Mance Lipscomb, Charley Patton, Spinder John Koerner, Rev. Gary Davis, and Dock Boggs. This is especially true in his playing, when, after a diagnosis of focal dystonia, Parr turned to greats like Davis, Doc Watson, and Booker White for two-finger picking inspiration. Gifted a 1965 Gibson B-45 12-string by his father, Parr has never had a formal lesson and learned by to listening records and watching musicians he admired. 

Parr’s first album with Smithsonian Folkways, Last of Better Days Head (2021), foregrounded his lyrical craftsmanship and sophisticated bluesman confidence, with spare production highlighting Parr’s mastery of guitar and elevating his poetry. Last of Better Days Ahead is a portrait of how Parr saw the world in that moment, reflecting on time and memories that have past while holding an enduring desire to be present. In his 2024 release, Little Sun, Parr weaves together stories celebrating music, community, and communing with nature. Putting forth an ambitious and raw album that exemplifies the best of Parr's sound: a blend of the blues and folk traditions he continues to carry with him and the steadfast originality of a poet. 

Get a little taste of Charlie Parr here from the last time he was here, enjoy!

View Event →
PAKT
Jul
12
7:00 PM19:00
Lovin' Cup Concerts

PAKT

PAKT
with
PERCY JONES - bass
ALEX SKOLNICK - guitar
KENNY GROHOWSKI - drums
TIM MOTZER - guitars, electronics

It's the PAKT time with four extraordinary musicians: Percy Jones (Brand X, Brian Eno, David Sylvian, Suzanne Vega), Alex Skolnick (Testament, Alex Skolnick Trio, Metal Allegiance, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Kenny Grohowski (John Zorn, Brand X, Imperial Triumphant, Hipster Assassins), Tim Motzer (Bandit65, Jaki Liebezeit, David Sylvian, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, ORION TANGO).

PAKT recalls the fearless attitude and daring approach that originally defined progressive music: where the magic of the moment always triumphed over preconception. Templates be damned ... this music blazes its own path! This is truly exquisite fare, serving as a reminder to aficionados of what initially drew them to this most creative, visionary of genres.

"This is not simply a group of virtuosos flexing their chops — it is a collective, its members deeply attuned to one another, creating music that is alive and electric in the moment. The album is an invitation to throw out the rulebook and embrace the unknown, with PAKT as a fearless guide. In a world of predictability, No Steps Left to Trace is a refreshing reminder of what happens when musicians abandon the script and simply play. It is challenging, adventurous and thrillingly free. In addition, this is a production that affords the listener more discoveries on subsequent listens.” - All About Jazz

“..an authentic powerhouse of virtuoso musicians blending and intersecting innovative sounds within the realms of avant-garde rock, electrifying jazz, experimental, atmospheric, psychedelic, and more, is an immersive encounter as much as a musical endeavor.” - Hi-Res Edition

Discography:

• PAKT (2021, MoonJune Records)

• No Steps Left To Trace (2024, MoonJune Records)

https://pakt-moonjune.bandcamp.com

Video links:

https://youtu.be/ErSSbGrle9E

https://youtu.be/zJQExCrCvrUT

tickets: $25 advance / $30 at door
Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm
Tickets on sale now!

View Event →
Remedy Trio
Jul
6
8:00 PM20:00
In-Store Concerts

Remedy Trio

The debut of “Remedy” on the Polish label FSR was voted among the “Best Releases of 2021” in New York City Jazz Record’s annual poll. The trio includes trumpeter Thomas Heberer, bassist Joe Fonda, and drummer Joe Hertenstein, who all contribute compositions to the repertoire.

The band was founded during the early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic in the summer of 2020 in Brooklyn and is currently in the process of finalizing their second album. The trio draws on influences from World music, jazz, and contemporary classical music.

Tickets: $20

View Event →
BIRTH
Jun
29
8:00 PM20:00

BIRTH

Joshua Smith, sax/electronics
Joe Tomino, drums/electronics
Jeremy Bleich, bass/electronics

Formed in 1998, BIRTH, the Cleveland-bred saxophone, electric bass, drums trio, carved a musical niche with the sound of their no-holds-barred creative music. Bringing together elements of free jazz, electro-acoustic improvisation, rock and melodic balladeering, this group defies convention, and executes its music with precision, and emotive mastery.

“So good that it's scary." - Harvey Pekar

Tickets are $20 in advance or at the door
doors at 7pm, show at 8pm

View Event →
JOE FONDA AND BASS OF OPERATION
Jun
18
8:00 PM20:00

JOE FONDA AND BASS OF OPERATION

Featuring:
Joe Fonda - bass & compositions
Harvey Sorgen - drums
Jeff Lederer - clarinet
Michael Rabinowitz - bassoon

How we found this sound?

I hired this group of musicians to do a weeklong tour in the USA in 2022. I had written and organized the music months prior to the tour and sent it to everyone so they could check it out and look it over before the first rehearsal. So, when we got together for the first rehearsal everyone had had a chance to work on the music.

I had thought that it would be Tenor Saxophone and Bassoon as the front line, but at the first rehearsal, Jeff Lederer who I had hired to play Saxophone said, Joe do really want saxophone and he went on to explain how when he was practicing the music he was not hearing it played on saxophone but on clarinet and Flute and on one piece piccolo. I was not so sure, but Jeff was persistent. He said that to him the written material sounded like Stravinsky or something more classical.

So, we tried it and we all really liked the sound of the Bassoon with Jeff's clarinets and flutes. The sound became less jazz and more like a chamber Ensemble.

Jeff was right, it sounded great.

While we were on tour playing 7 nights in a row the sound of the quartet developed into something quite unique.

So sit back and enjoy the sound of something you most likely have never heard before.

Tickets are $20 at the door, or online.
Half price for students with valid ID!
Doors open at 7pm, and concert will begin at 8pm.

View Event →
10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)
Jun
8
12:00 PM12:00

10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

From now on, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our store every Sunday. Yes, you heard that right—everything is included in this special promotion. This is a fantastic opportunity to snag some of our rarest and most sought-after records at a reduced price. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome oppertunity!

View Event →
P.V. Nunes Band
Jun
7
8:00 PM20:00

P.V. Nunes Band

A Stereo Field Recordings event:

Please join us for a special recording event; a live and intimate live set featuring local favorites The P.V. Nunes Band.

The P. V. Nunes Band is just different.  “Think Harry Chapin meets the Grateful Dead” said one club owner. The songs (written by Paul Vincent Nunes) are smart, funny, passionate, personal…  and way too true.  They are driven by a jamming North Coast Americana groove of dobro and electric guitar (Bernie Heveron), acoustic guitar (Paul), washboard (Dave Paprocki) and bass (Greg Franklin).

 Band members have an esoteric history of playing in (or with) The Color Blind James Experience, Bat McGrath (Bernie),  The Chesterfield Kings, The Occasional Saints (Paul),  Chanka-Chank, The Crawdiddies (Dave), Marjorie Thompson, and The Dave North Trio (Greg).

 Fan favorites include, “New Guitar”, “Drive All Night”, “My Daughter’s Diary”, “I’m Gonna Walk”, “The Diner”,  “Mama Loves the Reverb”, and “Some of Us Rise, But We Don’t Shine”. 

 Their new EP, “The P.V. Nunes Band “ was released on the independent label Lighthouse Records, and is available on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and YouTube. Also, you can listen at https://pvnunes.hearnow.com/the-p-v-nunes-band 

 “We’re a cover band,” says Paul, “that covers ourselves really well. We even look like us.”

 FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/PVNunesBand/

 tickets are $10 in advance and at the door. Free for students
Doors are ay 7pm, show starts at 8pm

View Event →
Jonathan Reisin Trio
Jun
6
8:00 PM20:00

Jonathan Reisin Trio

Jonathan Reisin: Saxophonist, Composer, and Improviser

Saxophonist and composer Jonathan Reisin presents Too Good X Unreality, a project that explores the connection between complexity and simplicity in music. Each composition reflects this balance, with thoughtful ideas that highlight the importance of this relationship. Following his debut album Option B (2022, Habitable Records) and the collaborative release Earthquake (2023, 577 Records) with drummer Francisco Mela, Too Good X Unreality marks a new chapter in Reisin’s evolving sound. Together with pianist Shinya Lin and drummer Jarred Chase, Reisin shaped the album over two years through sound exploration and dynamic interplay, blending prepared piano, intricate drumming, and expressive saxophone into a cohesive yet unpredictable work.

Jonathan Reisin - Tenor & Soprano saxophone

Alvaro Torres - Piano

Jarred Chase - Drums

Jonathan Reisin is a Brooklyn-based saxophonist, composer, and improviser . His artistic vision revolves around crafting original music deeply influenced by contemporary music, jazz, and the avant-garde. Throughout his career, Jonathan has collaborated with notable artists such as Francisco Mela, Kris Davis, Anat Fort, Val Jeanty, and Cooper Moore, performing at the Vermont Jazz Festival, Forward Festival (Brooklyn), M3 Festival (NY) , Gangneung International Art Festival (South Korea), and venues worldwide. Jonathan’s debut album, Option B (2022, Habitable Records), and his collaboration with drummer Francisco Mela on Earthquake (2023, 577 Records), both received critical acclaim, establishing him as an innovative voice in contemporary jazz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LElog_XOg0

Tickets are $20 at the door, or online.
Half price for students with valid ID!
Doors open at 7pm, and concert will begin at 8pm.

View Event →
"Bill Does Bob" - Bill Kirchen Live A Special Evening of Bill Kirchen and Bob Dylan Songs
Jun
5
7:00 PM19:00

"Bill Does Bob" - Bill Kirchen Live A Special Evening of Bill Kirchen and Bob Dylan Songs

60 years ago, a teenaged Bill Kirchen saw Bob Dylan go electric at Newport and was “ruined for normal work”.

Join Bill for an evening of songs and stories featuring some of Dylan’s 1964 – 1965 Newport sets with favorites from Bill’s own catalog – from the Commander Cody years until now.

View Event →
10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)
Jun
1
12:00 PM12:00

10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

From now on, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our store every Sunday. Yes, you heard that right—everything is included in this special promotion. This is a fantastic opportunity to snag some of our rarest and most sought-after records at a reduced price. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome oppertunity!

View Event →
Richard Manuel Book Release Party
May
31
2:00 PM14:00

Richard Manuel Book Release Party

Celebrate the launch of the new rock biography, Richard Manuel: His Life and Music from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to the Band, by Stephen Lewis.

Join us for conversation with the author, light refreshments, and the chance to pick up a copy of the book (and maybe a record while you’re there!). Let’s honor the incredible legacy of Richard Manuel and The Band together. We’d love to see you!

View Event →
10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)
May
25
12:00 PM12:00

10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

From now on, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our store every Sunday. Yes, you heard that right—everything is included in this special promotion. This is a fantastic opportunity to snag some of our rarest and most sought-after records at a reduced price. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome oppertunity!

View Event →
The LEVIN BROTHERS
May
19
8:00 PM20:00

The LEVIN BROTHERS

The Levin Brothers was founded by Pete and Tony Levin in 2013, After 5 decades of glorious career playing with virtually who is who in all genres of music – jazz, fusion, rock, pop and world music, and after guesting on each other’s projects, two brothers finally decided to have their own jazz band. Levin Brothers released 2 albums: the self-titled first album in 2014, and the follow up live album ’Special Delivery’ in 2017. The band has toured all over the USA, and has performed also internationally in Mexico, El Salvador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Japan.

Doors @ 7pm | $30 advance / $35 day of show
Show @ 8-10pm

View Event →
10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy)
May
18
12:00 PM12:00

10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy)

From now on, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our store every Sunday. Yes, you heard that right—everything is included in this special promotion. This is a fantastic opportunity to snag some of our rarest and most sought-after records at a reduced price. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome oppertunity!

We are ALSO excited to announce that we will be having a fantastic CD sale throughout the entire month of November. Our inventory is overflowing with an impressive selection of great CDs, and we need to thin the herd in order to make room for even more (as we currently have pallets full of them in the basement). To make this event even more enticing, we are offering 50% off all used CDs and a delightful 25% off all new CDs. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your collection!

View Event →
Mark McGrain's "NOROC" Quartet
May
16
8:00 PM20:00
In-Store Concerts

Mark McGrain's "NOROC" Quartet

New Orleans trombonist and composer Mark McGrain (originally from Rochester) joins forces with Western New York jazz stalwarts Mike Kaupa (trumpet), Dave Arenius (bass), and Rob Varon (guitar) to form the NOROC (New Orleans/Rochester) quartet. NOROC performs original compositions and improvisations.

Mark McGrain is a New Orleans based trombonist, composer, and educator. He is the leader of the critically acclaimed trio Plunge and a busy instrumentalist and arranger for many New Orleans artists, including backing singer John Boutté (since 2006) and frequently in duo with pianist Matt Lemmler. Formerly on the faculty of Berklee College of Music, Mr. McGrain is the author of the text book Music Notation (Hal Leonard pub.)

Tickets are $15 at the door, or online.

Half price for students with valid ID!

Doors open at 7pm, and concert will begin at 8pm.

View Event →
The Dave Rivello Ensemble
May
11
7:00 PM19:00

The Dave Rivello Ensemble

A Stereo Field Recordings event

There will be two sets for the purposes of recording—one at 7:00 PM and another at 8:30 PM.
Both sets will feature essentially the same material, but as is the nature of jazz each performance will differ in feel and interpretation. This approach allows us to capture the best takes for a future release.

You're more than welcome to stay for both performances if you'd like. It promises to be an engaging and memorable evening.

Dave Rivello is an American-born composer, arranger, conductor and bandleader working primarily in Jazz, Contemporary Media, and Modern Classical idioms. He apprenticed with Rayburn Wright, Bob Brookmeyer, Manny Albam, Bill Holman, and Sam D’Angelo.

He leads a 12- piece ensemble (The Dave Rivello Ensemble) that is his main orchestral voice. He is also the author of the book, Bob Brookmeyer in Conversation with Dave Rivello (ArtistShare).His debut recording, Facing The Mirror, received strong praise from reviewers in the United States, Italy and Ireland. The Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll chose Facing The Mirror as the Debut Release of that year.

He co-produced the Gil Evans Project live recording, Lines of Color – with leader Ryan Truesdell, which was nominated for a Grammy. He also recently co-produced Jennifer Bellor’s recording, Reflections at Dusk, on Innova Recordings.

He has served as composer-in-residence at a number of schools, writing for their ensembles, giving clinics as well as private lessons. His residencies have been sponsored by Meet The Composer, Harvard Project Zero, and The New York Council of the Arts. He has written for and been commissioned by: The Smithsonian Institute, The United States Air Forces in Europe Band, The University of North Carolina-Wilmington, The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, The Penfield Symphony Orchestra, The Eastman Wind Ensemble, Bobby McFerrin, David Taylor, Phil Woods, Randy Brecker, Regina Carter, the Airmen of Note, The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and many others. His music has been widely performed throughout the U.S. as well as in Germany and Spain. He is also on the faculty at the world-renowned Eastman School of Music.

Read a review of the Dave Rivello Ensemble’s CD, Facing The Mirror, here.

Tickets $20 in advance on-line or at the door
Free for students with valid ID

View Event →
10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)
May
11
12:00 PM12:00

10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

From now on, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our store every Sunday. Yes, you heard that right—everything is included in this special promotion. This is a fantastic opportunity to snag some of our rarest and most sought-after records at a reduced price. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome oppertunity!

View Event →
The Joshua Smith Quartet
May
10
8:00 PM20:00

The Joshua Smith Quartet

The Joshua Smith Quartet

leading a jazz quartet is a natural calling for a modern saxophonist, and for Joshua Smith, it has been a way of life since his teenage years in Cleveland, Ohio, in the mid-1990s. With the saxophone and rhythm section as his trusted companions, Smith has cultivated a dynamic interplay that captures the essence of jazz: swinging, cohesive, and alive with communicative energy. Over the years, he has collaborated with some of the most notable players in jazz, bringing depth and skill to every performance.

Last November, The Joshua Smith Quartet delivered a blistering set to a packed house at the Jazz Museum of New Orleans for the Jazz Foundation of America. Their more recent performance in Oakland, California, electrified the Bay Area, earning rapturous applause from a captivated audience.

The upcoming tour will reunite Smith with three longtime collaborators, each a master in their own right:

  • Kim Cass (bass): Known for his work with John Zorn, Bill McHenry, and Noah Preminger, Cass brings inimitable energy and precision.

  • Keigo Hirakawa (piano): An exceptional talent who has performed with Robert Hurst and whose touch on the keys brings life to any tune.

  • Jeff Mellott (drums): A versatile force in jazz (Tuneyards) with over a decade of history performing alongside Smith.

This quartet promises a performance overflowing with musicality, versatility, and the unbridled communicative power of jazz. Whether reinterpreting standards or delivering Smith’s original compositions, the group strikes a balance between reverence for tradition and bold exploration, appealing to casual listeners and seasoned jazz aficionados alike.

About Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith is a saxophonist whose music bridges worlds. From his roots in Cleveland’s jazz culture to his avant-garde experiments, Smith embodies the spirit of jazz evolution. A co-founder of the avant-jazz trio Birth in 1998, he’s equally at home playing straight-ahead jazz as he is delving into highly refined improvisational landscapes.

Smith’s musical pedigree is undeniable. He’s performed with luminaries like Joe Lovano, experimental innovators such as Nels Cline and Nate Wooley, and creative music giants like Cuong Vu and Ben Goldberg. His collaborations span decades and genres, with a rich history of work in Cleveland, New York, the Bay Area, and his current home in New Orleans.

Joshua spent 16 years in the Bay Area, where he was a core member of The Scott Amendola Quartet and played with a who’s who of the local music scene. Since relocating to New Orleans in 2020, Smith has continued to lead and innovate, performing with New Orleans stalwarts such as Johnny Vidacovich, Papa Mali, and Quinn Sternberg.

Smith’s forthcoming tour with The Joshua Smith Quartet in May 2025 will showcase a cross-section of his musical universe: original works that highlight the breadth of his influences, from the tonal richness of classic jazz to the adventurous spirit of creative improvisation.

Smith’s career is a testament to his versatility and dedication to the craft. Whether leading his quartet, collaborating with legends, or exploring new musical horizons, Joshua Smith remains a saxophone trailblazer and an essential voice in the jazz world.

Tickets are $20 at the door, or online.

Half price for students with valid ID!

Doors open at 7pm, and concert will begin at 8pm.

View Event →
10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)
May
4
12:00 PM12:00

10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

From now on, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our store every Sunday. Yes, you heard that right—everything is included in this special promotion. This is a fantastic opportunity to snag some of our rarest and most sought-after records at a reduced price. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome oppertunity!

View Event →
10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy)
Apr
27
12:00 PM12:00

10% SUNDAYS (Copy) (Copy)

From now on, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering a 10% discount on everything in our store every Sunday. Yes, you heard that right—everything is included in this special promotion. This is a fantastic opportunity to snag some of our rarest and most sought-after records at a reduced price. Be sure to take advantage of this awesome oppertunity!

View Event →