February 22nd, Saturday
Global Harmony and Fred Adler Presents Jazz in the Foyer – Jamie Davis : Great Bluesy Baritone Vocalist Accompanied by Larry Vuckovich & Doug Miller @ Gualala Arts Center
Vocalist Jamie Davis was recently nominated for a Grammy along with the Count Basie orchestra for the recording of " All About That Basie ". He has a rich baritone voice equally suited for romantic ballads, swinging blues, jazz classics, special standards & more. Jamie will sing some swinging standards, blues, plus some beautiful romantic ballads from the Johnny Hartman/John Coltrane recording,. Pianist Larry Vuckovich has accompanying numerous jazz great vocalists such as Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, Jon Hendricks, Mel Torme, Irene Kral, Anita O'Day, Helen Humes, and many more. Bassist Doug Miller, at an early age of 20 had the honor to perform with the Count Basie orchestra – the Count himself on piano, and Freddie Green on guitar. That was a major accomplishment. Since then, Doug has performed with many famous names in jazz. Don't miss this special performance in the beautiful Mendocino coast area!
Venue: Gualala Arts Center 46501 Old State Highway, Gualala, CA 95445
Admission: $29 advance, $5 more day of
Time: 6:30 PM
Tickets: BrownPaperTickets.com or call them at 1-800-838-3006.
Featuring: Jamie Davis, vocals/ Larry Vuckovich, piano /Doug Miller, bass
March 1st, Sunday Afternoon
International Jazz Trio – International Art of Jazz featuring Akira Tana, drums (USA/Japan); Noriyuki Ken Okada, bass (Japan/Brazil); Larry Vuckovich, piano (Yugoslavia/Montenegro) @ Wunderman House in Mountain View, Sunday afternoon 3 PM
Today's theme is International Art of Jazz – International Jazz Trio. The language of jazz is universal. Musicians from faraway places, who are tuned into the jazz language, interpret and play the music just as authentically as the ones who live in the US. This will be the case this afternoon, March 1st. I came from the state of Montenegro, (in the former Yugoslavia) Drummer Akira Tana was born in the US, but has performed throughout the world and in Japan regularly. Japanese bassist Noriyuki Ken Okada, Akira's partner, was born in New York to Japanese parents, and also lived in São Paulo, Brazil as well as in Japan. This will be an interesting jazz concert that will mainly include authentic American swinging, groovy, jazz, but also present diverse world music materials in a comfortable residential home which is an excellent acoustical concert venue. Refreshments, including various wines and cheeses are available. You don’t want to miss this unique, special concert!
Venue: Wunderman House 655 Eunice Avenue Mountain View, CA 94040
Admission: $25 donation suggested
Time: 3PM-5PM
Tickets/Information: Ilona Obrien- konailona@gmail.com
Featuring: Larry Vuckovich, piano /Ken Okada, bass / Akira Tana, drums
March 21st, Saturday Afternoon Jazz in Calistoga
Calistoga Jazz: Alvon Johnson – Masterful, Swinging Blues Guitarist/Vocalist - Extra Feature: Romantic Ballads with Larry Vuckovich Powerhouse Trio, Saturday afternoon, March 21, 4 p.m. @ Tucker Farm Center, Calistoga, CA
Renowned, soulful master blues vocalist , guitarist Alvon Johnson, makes his first appearance at the Tucker Farm Center in Calistoga. Alvon tours internationally, having successful concerts all over the world. Besides exciting blues guitar playing, his vocals of authentic blues are unmatched. So is his singing of great Johnny Hartman style ballads. With his beautiful rich, deep baritone voice, his ballad interpretations project a warm, romantic sound not often heard today. Don’t miss this! Various wines/cheeses available for purchase.
Venue: Tucker Farm Center 1201 Tucker Road Calistoga, CA 94515
Admission: Tickets: $25
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets 707.774-1672
Featuring: Alvon Johnson, guitar, vocals / Larry Vuckovich, piano /Jeff Chambers, bass /Akira Tana, drums
April 5th, Sunday Afternoon
Blockbuster Janice King Presentation: Two Finest Male Baritone Blues/Ballads Interpreters in the US – Jamie Davis & Alvon Johnson with the Larry Vuckovich All-Star Quartet, April 5th @ Vintage House, Sonoma, CA
Two of the finest vocalists on the jazz scene today and anywhere else in the world, Jamie Davis and Alvon Johnson, present a diverse program of swinging standards, soulful blues, plus romantic ballads. Alvon Johnson is also a masterful guitarist who makes his first appearance for the Sonoma Jazz Society. Alvon and Jamie both tour internationally on their own, having successful concerts all over the world. Besides exciting blues singing, both of these vocalists sing beautiful/romantic Johnny Hartman style ballads. They will be featured separately in two different sets, concluding the evening by singing together at the end. A new major discovery on the guitar, the young 24 year old , Kai Lyons, will be featured in Larry Vuckovich’s All Star Quartet – opening the show. Don’t miss this Blockbuster, unique performance – a Bay Area first!
Venue: Vintage House 264 1st Street East, Sonoma, CA
Admission: Tickets: $35 Members; $50 Non-Members
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Doors open at 3:00 p.m.
Featuring: Larry Vuckovich, piano / Jamie Davis, vocals / Alvon Johnson, vocals, guitar / Kai Lyons, guitar / Jeff Chambers, bass /Jason Lewis, drums
May 20th, Wednesday
Year 2020 marks the 40th Anniversary of Larry Vuckovich’s Landmark LP 1980 recording of Blue Balkan, featuring Bobby Hutcherson & Eric Golub . The Blue Balkan Ensemble, now renamed Crosswinds: Global Jazz Journey comes to Yoshi’s on Wednesday, May 20th Celebrating this Pioneering Release, 8 PM @ Yoshi's Jack London Square
Original LP Release received ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ½ Stars in Down Beat; "Most convincing, most integrated combinations ever of ethnic music and straight ahead Jazz." Cadence magazine ; 2002 re-release in CD format with new music was praised as " being ahead of its time " prefiguring the releases of John Zorn and Dave Douglas. Additionally, esteemed New York critic, Gary Giddins chose this CD for his top list of 2002 in Village Voice.
Larry Vuckovich is recognized as a pioneer, being the first in America to fuse Balkan ethnic with American jazz in 1980. The frontline instrumentation of marimba and violin, creates a unique, original sound. Bobby Hutcherson's playing on the Blue Balkan LP is considered as some of his best playing in the 1980s decade. Master violinist Eric Golub is still around, performing in top form. The current, renamed crosswinds: global jazz journey ensemble includes the master Middle Eastern percussionist Vince Delgado on dumbek/Egyptian tambourine/bongos and his wife, Coralie Russo on oud. Veterans Jeff Chambers on bass and Akira Tana on drums will round out the rhythm section. Going beyond Balkan and Middle Eastern material, this new ensemble presents swinging contemporary jazz – Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Randy Weston & more. Also, the ensemble plays Afro-Cuban Latin, Brazilian, tango jazz, funky Boogaloo rhythms, boleros & more. This is a concert not to be missed!
Venue: Yoshi's Jack London Square 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland, CA
Admission: $23 – $49 (meet and greet the artists)
Time: 8 PM
Tickets: Info coming soon
Featuring: Larry Vuckovich, piano /Eric Golub, violin/Tommy Kesecker, marimba/Coralie Russo, oud/Vince Delgado, dumbek, Egyptian tambourine, bongos/ Jeff Chambers, bass / Akira Tana, drums