November 17th, Sunday Afternoon
World-Class New York guitarist Joshua Breakstone with Larry Vuckovich and Jeff Chambers @ Wunderman House in Mountain View
Joshua Breakstone, New York world-class guitarist, recorded and performed with some of the greatest names in jazz including Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Pepper Adams, Jack McDuff, Al Harewood & many more. He has a number of acclaimed recordings that gained rave reviews. He performed and traveled all the way from New York City to Brazil, to Europe, and is currently living in Japan. This is a rare Bay Area performance for him, being the first at the Wunderman House. Larry Vuckovich and Joshua Breakstone are reuniting recalling their exciting performances in New York in mid-80s. The highlight was their one week engagement at the West End club, in the upper west side of Manhattan that featured the legendary drummer, Mel Lewis, along with his bassist partner, the outstanding Dennis Irvin. Larry and Joshua will perform some originals, including Larry's Balkan ethnic music, jazz tango, swinging bebop from the Sonny Clark repertoire & more. Don't miss this special performance! Refreshments including wines and cheeses, dark chocolate, cookies will be served
Venue: Wunderman House 655 Eunice Avenue Mountain View, CA 94040
Admission: $25 Donation Suggested
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Tickets/Information: Ilona OBrien
Featuring: Joshua Breakstone, guitar / Larry Vuckovich, piano / Jeff Chambers, bass
November 30th, Saturday
Magnificent, New, Fresh Voice on the Scene: Charity Goodin Sanen in a Duet Setting with Larry Vuckovich @ JB Piano Company in San Rafael
Vocalist Charity Goodin Sanen is creating exciting jazz waves on the Bay Area music scene with her magnificent voice. When she sang recently in the summer with Larry Vuckovich at Yoshi’s, the management at this noted venue immediately upon hearing her for the first time, requested that she comes back with a booking. Charity is one of the most dynamic vocalists to have appeared on the Bay Area scene in years. Her vocal resonance is very appealing, projecting a warm, clear, soulful sound. Her repertoire includes originals, special standards, blues, Latin/Brazilian and exciting improvisations including the music of Horace Silver, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter & more. Larry Vuckovich and Charity have a close musical rapport and will present a wide ranging repertoire which includes swinging bebop, jazz classics, funky Boogaloo sounds and more. You’re in for an exciting experience! . . . The acoustics in this venue are excellent. Refreshments including wines and cheeses will be offered.
Venue: JB Piano Company 540 Irwin St, San Rafael, CA 94901
Admission: $25 donation suggested
Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM – program starts at 7:30pm
Tickets:Brown Paper Tickets
Information: (510) 845-5373
Featuring: Charity Goodin Sanen, vocals / Larry Vuckovich, piano
December 8th, Sunday afternoon
Larry Vuckovich's 83rd Birthday: Solo Piano, Duet Intimacy & Improvisational Dialogue 4 pm @ Piedmont Piano/Sunday afternoon
This 83rd year has been a very rewarding one for jazz pianist Larry Vuckovich. Besides receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from his former country of Yugoslavia, including a performance and the reception of the award at the Nišville Jazz Festival, Larry continued to perform with some of the greatest musicians from the Bay Area, US and Europe. There have been a number of memorable concerts featuring the great instrumentalists and vocalists.
Jeff Chambers, one of the most versatile and acclaimed bassists on the international scene, joins Larry Vuckovich in an duo format. Larry will open with some solo piano selections, after which he will bring Jeff to the stage.
Larry and Jeff have an association, going back to almost 30 years of performing together. They have a close musical rapport where their chemistry/interplay has developed to a high level of swinging, sophisticated jazz dialogue. They will be performing a variety of styles, from swinging bebop, contemporary jazz, Brazilian/Latin, bluesy Boogaloo funky material, Balkan and in other world music & more. After a couple of solo piano selections or so, Larry will bring Jeff on stage for some creative and swinging jazz. As always, we will bring special treats: assorted cheeses, hummus, olives, and wines, to express thanks to our jazz listeners. The unique products by the creative Chef Miyoko – her special vegan cheeses/butter will be available. We hope you will join us for this special event. Piedmont Piano always has a world class nine foot concert grand on stage- either a Fazioli, or a Yamaha.
Venue: Piedmont Piano New Oakland store 18th and San Pablo, Oakland, CA
Admission: $25 Donation
Time: 4:00 PM Sunday afternoon
Information: (510) 547-8188
Tickets: TicketTailor
Featuring: Larry Vuckovich, piano / Jeff Chambers, bass
December 14th, Saturday
Point Richmond Jazz Series: Jackie Ryan & Larry Vuckovich, with Special Guest – Internationally Acclaimed Violinist Kit Eakle @ Point Richmond Methodist Church
Jackie Ryan and Larry Vuckovich display a close musical/creative rapport, going back over 20 years. Their repertoire is most diverse featuring jazz classics, rare standards, South American boleros, Brazilian, blues and more. Piano and voice duets are similar in concept to violin and piano presentations. This is a intimate powerful format where the strength of the music comes through without the need of a rhythm section. It’s a close musical chemistry between the wonderful voice of Jackie and seasoned, creative accompaniment by Larry, who has accompanied such vocalists as Jon Hendricks, Mel Tormé, Irene Kral, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, Anita O’Day and Bobby McFerrin. Joined by the internationally acclaimed violinist Kit Eakle who has recently toured in similarly intimate duo format with master guitarist Howard Alden, and looks forward to adding his own voice in support of Jackie and Larry’s musical conversation.
Venue: Port Richmond United Methodist Church 201 Martina St. Richmond, CA 94801
Admission: $20.00 in advance, $25.00 at the door
Time: 7:30 PM
Information: refreshments will be available at intermission and after the performance
Tickets: https://prjazzjaclar.bpt.me/
Featuring: Jackie Ryan, vocals/ Larry Vuckovich, piano /special guest Kit Eakle, violin
December 21st, Saturday
Camille LeBlanc Presents the Larry Vuckovich Powerhouse Trio with Jeff Chambers, Jason Lewis – A Lovely Home @ Inverness Ridge
Pianist Larry Vuckovich over the years has had some strong trio combinations. This current trio with Jeff Chambers and Jason Lewis, is one of the most cohesive and hard swinging combinations he has ever had in the Bay Area. Jeff and Jason project special chemistry and cohesiveness while projecting a strong, natural groove, swinging as they say "at the drop of a hat ". The program will include Larry Vuckovich’s Beyond Category repertoire – taking the audience on a musical journey of contemporary jazz, bebop, Balkan World Music Ehno, Latin/Brazilian, Tango Jazz, down home and funky Boogaloo blues & more. A superb Hamburg Steinway concert grand piano will be played. Don't miss this special concert, which in addition offers delicious complimentary snacks and wines!
Venue: private home – Inverness Ridge, CA. 94937 (address given upon the tickets purchase)
Admission: $35 advance
Time: 4:00 PM
Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets
Featuring: Larry Vuckovich, piano /Jeff Chambers, bass/ Jason Lewis, drums
December 26th, Thursday
Larry Vuckovich's All-Star Sextet: Bringing in the New Year Early in a Swinging Style! Celebrating Larry's Lifetime Achievement Award – Larry's 83rd Birthday Concert presents his Unique, Diverse Repertoire of Swinging Bebop/Contemporary Jazz/Afro-Cuban Latin/Balkan Middle Eastern Ethno Jazz/Swinging Blues & Funky Boogaloo Sounds/Romantic Boleros & More @ Yoshi's Jack London Square
This 83rd year has been a very rewarding one for Larry Vuckovich in which he received his Lifetime Achievement Award from his former country of Yugoslavia, this time being from Serbia. Last August, Larry performed at the Nišville Jazz Festival, where he also received the award. He has steadily performed with some of the best musicians from the Bay Area, the US and Europe. This year end concert is an exciting one featuring the blues master vocalist Alvon Johnson, who also specializes in the Johnny Hartman style of romantic ballads. The instrumental quintet as a powerful lineup of the frontline, which includes Andrew Speight on bebop alto; magnificent great young, talented guitarist, Kai Lyons; the veteran rhythm section of Jeff Chambers on bass and Akira Tana, is one of the best anywhere. Larry Vuckovich has been praised as a unique, Beyond Category pianist, having a repertoire that stands out from the rest. New York critic, Gary Giddins states: " He has a book of piano gems that will keep you guessing ". Don't miss this year ending swinging jazz that will keep you going into the New Year.
Venue: Yoshi's Jack London Square 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland, CA
Admission: $21
Time: 8 PM
Tickets: Ticketfly
Featuring: Larry Vuckovich, piano / Alvon Johnson, vocals /Andrew Speight, alto sax / Kai Lyons, guitar / Jeff Chambers, bass / Akira Tana, drums
December 28th, Saturday
YEAR END PARTY! – SWINGING IN THE NEW YEAR- Jackie Ryan, Larry Vuckovich & Jeff Chambers @ JB Piano Company in San Rafael
It’s an intimate trio format displaying close musical chemistry between the wonderful voice of internationally acclaimed JACKIE RYAN and seasoned, creative accompaniment by LARRY VUCKOVICH and veteran bassist JEFF CHAMBERS. Ms. Ryan has been called one of the “outstanding jazz vocalists of her generation and, quite possibly of all time.” Andrew Gilbert, a jazz critic for DownBeat Magazine, described her as: “Extravagantly gifted! Astonishing range both emotionally and stylistically. A true jazz original.” (Christopher Louden of JazzTimes). Larry has recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award for being the only jazz musician from the former Yugoslavia, residing and performed with numerous greats in the US for over 60 years. The rapport between this trio covers various areas of jazz styles and various tempos. The music has richness and depth, featuring jazz classics, rare standards, South American boleros, Brazilian, blues and more. Wines and cheeses refreshments will be served Don’t miss this!
Venue: JB Piano Company 540 Irwin St, San Rafael, CA 94901
Admission: $25 donation suggested
Time: doors open at 6:30 PM-program starts at 7:30pm
Information: (510) 845-5373
Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets
Featuring: Jackie Ryan, vocals / Larry Vuckovich, piano / Jeff Chambers, bass