Sultry chanteuse Lavay Smith evokes a sensuous era of glamorous Jazz divas and sexy pinups adding a modern, feminist twist. Whether singing her own compositions or drawing on a large repertoire of classics, Lavay and her all-star 8-piece band bake up an instant recipe for good times.
An accomplished pianist in both classical and jazz styles, Shelly Berg is a recording artist for Concord Music Group, and a Steinway piano artist. He has arranged and recorded with many award-winning artists. In 2007, Berg was appointed as Dean of the University of Miami’s Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music where he teaches both privately, in the Frost Experiential Music Curriculum, and administers the academic, musical and research pursuits of over 700 music students and 100 faculty. He was formerly the McCoy/Sample endowed music professor at USC Thornton School of Music where he taught for 16 years.
“The band swings with pulsating energy propelled by exemplary charts and arrangements that showcase brassy instrumentals, divine solos and elegant vocals –more than sixty-five minutes of scintillating big band jazz by a world-class orchestra you’ve not heard until now. Listen and enjoy!” Edward Blanco, All About Jazz/ WDNA FM
Between them, the two groups boast a remarkable 20 Grammy Awards, and a range of styles that covers nearly every genre of popular music; from jazz to swing, from gospel to R&B. As The Manhattan Transfer mark the 45th Anniversary of their debut recording on Atlantic Records ~ Janis Siegel, Alan Paul, and Cheryl Bentyne will honor founding member, Tim Hauser, as they continue to tour with their newest member, Trist Curless.
Each of these legendary acts has 10 Grammy Awards to their credit amongst a host of other recognitions. The two groups are known for their ability to move effortlessly among a wide range of styles from jazz to swing, pop and gospel to R&B. The Manhattan Transfer marks the 45th anniversary of their debut recording this year while Take 6 recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Manhattan Transfer remains a cornerstone for great jazz and pop hits that earned them induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Their first hit, “Operator,” was followed by the history making “The Boy From New York City” making them the first group to win Grammy Awards in both Pop and Jazz categories in the same year. The 12 Grammy nominations they received for their album Vocalese in 1985 made it the second only to Michael Jackson’s Thriller as most nominated album in one year, and cemented the group’s status as one of the most important and innovative vocal groups in the history of popular music. “Route 66” and their rendition of “Birdland” are yet more memorable classics of their 19 singles and 29 albums over their stellar career. With worldwide record sales in the millions, their melodic and jazz infused vocals continue to bring audiences back year after year spanning generations.
Take 6 has been recognized as the quintessential a capella group in virtually every genre. They were inducted last year into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, from whom they have received 10 Dove Awards in addition to their Soul Train Music Award, BRE (Black Radio Exclusive) Vocal Group of the Year and more. Heralded by Quincy Jones as the “Baddest vocal cats on the planet!” Take 6 (Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley), captivates the audience wherever they perform. They earned performances on Saturday Night Live, the Oscars, the Grammys, and have had the honor of performing for four sitting U.S. Presidents, and at the Democratic National Convention. “Believe,” their sixteenth album, is Take 6’s most recent recording. Upon release, the album took high positions on 6 different Billboard charts.
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Diva Power
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
7:45pm
ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY is one of the leading champions of the great American Songbook, having made her mark as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host and producer. Voted recently by Broadwayworld.com as "Performer of the Year" Ann is born entertainer. Her unique singing style that blends jazz and traditional pop, making her a mainstay in concert halls, theaters and jazz clubs as well as in the recording studio, on television, and in film. She is best known for Tony-nominated performance in the hit Broadway musical Swing! and for writing and singing the theme song to the hit TV series The Nanny. Callaway is a Platinum Award winning writer whose songs are featured on seven of Barbra Streisand's recent CD's. The only composer to have collaborated with Cole Porter, she has also written songs with Carole King, Rolf Lovland and Barbara Carroll to name a few.
Catch a Rising Star
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
7:45pm
Cyrille Aimée was primarily raised in France by a French-Dominican parentage. As a curious child in Samoissur-Seine, she would sneak out of her bedroom window to wander into the nearby gypsy encampments filled with those attending the annual Django Reinhardt Festival. She quickly fell in love with the gypsy music and way of life and in the years later she would sing on street corners with musician friends while traveling across Europe. While in the midst of one such odyssey, she found herself at the Montreux Jazz Festival, where she won first prize in the 2007 vocal competition—which included the financing of her first self-produced album.
An Evening with the Four Freshmen
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
7:45pm
The Four Freshmen are America’s most enduring vocal group. One might think that after 69 years, a multitude of recordings, 6 Grammy nominations to their credit, they would just ride the wave of success through nostalgic renderings of hits like “It’s A Blue World” and “Graduation Day”, but you would be sorely mistaken. One thing THE FOUR FRESHMEN do as the celebrated vocal group has done since its inception in 1948 has been to forge ahead; constantly redefining their sound all the while maintaining the core integrity of their unique and innovative vocal harmonies that have inspired such iconic groups as The Manhattan Transfer, The Lettermen, and the legendary Beach Boys.
Honoring the Great Ladies of Jazz
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
7:45pm
Gold Coast Jazz Society Band
Formed in 1994 by past artistic director of the Gold Coast Jazz Society, the late Lee Amlie, and Simon Salz, the band is now led by Martin Hand. Band members are South Florida resident musicians, many with international reputations and credits, who share in their desire to perform and thereby preserve America’s musical heritage of jazz. The band has performed each year as a part of the Society’s jazz concert series and for audiences in Sarasota, West Palm Beach and Miami, with such jazz greats as Dick Hyman, Howard Alden, Frank Vignola, Bucky Pizzarelli, Shelly Berg, Richie Cole and Jiggs Whigham. They have performed at the Kravis Center, The Amaturo Theater at the Broward Performing Arts Center, the Bonnet House JazzFest, the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society’s and annually at the SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch in Fort Lauderdale. The group also performs numerous education concerts in regional schools, libraries and museums for the Gold Coast Jazz Society.
Loston Harris Plays the Great American Songbook
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
7:45pm
For more than a decade Loston Harris has headlined at a “home” that shares his passion for timeless music, the legendary Bemelmans Bar located in The Carlyle in Manhattan’s storied Upper East Side. Bemelmans has hosted cabaret and jazz greats for decades from the likes of Bobby Short, Eartha Kitt, Elaine Stritch, John Pizzarelli and the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ).
Rim Shots – An Evening with the Jeff Hamilton Trio
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
7:45pm
Jeff Hamilton, Drummer
Born in Richmond, Indiana, Jeff Hamilton grew up listening to his parent’s big band records and at the age of eight began playing drums along with Oscar Peterson records. He attended Indiana University and later studied with John Avon Ohlen. Jeff was influenced by Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Mel Lewis, “Philly” Joe Jones and Shelly Manne. In 1974, he got his first big break playing with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He then joined Lionel Hampton’s Band until 1975 when he, along with bassist John Clayton, became members of the Monty Alexander Trio. He attained a childhood goal in 1977 when he joined Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd, with whom he made several recordings. In 1978, he was offered the position vacated by Shelly Manne in the L.A.4 with Ray Brown, Bud Shank and Laurindo Almeida. He recorded six records with the L.A.4, some of which featured his own arrangements and compositions. From 1983 to 1987, Jeff performed with Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney and Monty Alexander. Jeff began his association with the Ray Brown Trio in 1988 and left in March 1995 to concentrate on his own trio. From 1999-2001, the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was named the in-residence ensemble for the Hollywood Bowl Jazz series. The Los Angeles Jazz Society named Jeff and his musical partner, John Clayton, musicians of the year for 2006. Jeff is currently touring with his own Trio, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and Diana Krall.
In addition to his many recordings with Ray Brown, Jeff has been on nearly 200 recordings with artists such as Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Milt Jackson, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Streisand, Mel Tormé, John Pizzarelli, Benny Carter, Lalo Schifrin, George Shearing, Dr. John, Clark Terry, Gene Harris, Toshiko Akioshi, Scott Hamilton, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Keely Smith, Bill Holman, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel and Mark Murphy. Jeff is a frequent guest of the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany. He also appeared in Natalie Cole’s Great Performances PBS special, Unforgettable and an Oscar Peterson documentary, Life in the Key of Oscar.
Tamir Hendelman, Pianist
The award-winning jazz pianist has performed with Teddy Edwards, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Harry Allen, Tierney Sutton, Phil Upchurch, Jeff Clayton, Rickey Woodard, Sandra Booker, Barbara Morrison and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. He has recorded with Oscar Brashear, Bob Sheppard and Jeff Clayton. He can also be heard on Brasil Brazil’s self-titled 1999 release as well as vibraphonist’s Eldad Tarmu’s CD, Aluminum Forest. In demand as both a pianist and arranger, his accomplishments include: receiving awards from ASCAP and the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, musical director for Lovewell Institute for Creative Arts and clinician for the Thelonious Monk Institute. In March of 2000, Tamir joined the Jeff Hamilton Trio and in January of 2001, became the pianist with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. He was a recent guest soloist with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.
Christoph Luty, Bassist
Christoph currently lives in the Los Angeles area, and maintains a busy concert schedule, appearing in concert halls, clubs, and festivals throughout the United States, Japan, and Europe. He is presently a member of the Jeff Hamilton Trio, which performs concerts, club dates and workshops nationally and internationally. As the longtime bassist of the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra he has collaborated on concerts with artists like Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Diana Krall, Clark Terry, Dave Brubeck, James Moody and Shirley Horn, to name only a few. He has recorded with the likes of Milt Jackson, John Pizzarelli, Diana Krall and more; and has appeared nationally with artists such as Dena DeRose, Harry Allen, Warren Vache, Curtis Stigers, Bill Watrous, Anthony Wilson, Jeff Clayton, Bill Cunliffe, Howlett Smith and many others.
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