Rising Trumpet Star leads All-Star Group live at Nighttown!

Featuring: Dominick Farinacci-trumpet, Shenel Johns-vocals, Christian Tamburr-vibes & piano, Jamey Haddad-percussion, & more!

Dominick Farinacci recently released his Mack Avenue Records debut, "Short Stories" -- a compelling suite of music with a repertoire that spans genres and generations united by the trumpeter/composer's soulful conception. Bringing together songs from Tom Waits, Horace Silver, Dianne Reeves and the Gipsy Kings as well as original compositions, Farinacci has managed to create his own musical universe, aided by musicians of the highest caliber. All of the songs have a narrative that any listener can relate to.

Farinacci had already achieved enough stature by his mid-teens that Wynton Marsalis offered to help him set his sights on coming to New York, and by 2001, Farinacci was one of only four trumpeters in the world to be selected as the inaugural students in The Juilliard School's first jazz curriculum.

Life itself has many different sorts of mentorship built into it. A life in the arts can't exist without these kinds of relationships, and Short Stories is the fruit of the coming together of two kindred spirits, Farinacci and LiPuma, from the same home town (Cleveland, Ohio), separated by just under half a century in age. What unites them is a clear, moern aesthetic vision that combines the highest musical standards with a desire to be agents of change.

Amazingly, Farinacci found time during his Middle East years to also play an integral role in the conception and build out of Cuyahoga Community College's Tommy LiPuma Center for Creative Arts.

Following up a sold-out Cleveland debut, vocalist Shenel Johns brings together jazz, blues and gospel in her own unique way. Influenced by greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone & Nancy Wilson, Shenel has been a featured artist at Jazz at Lincoln Center NYC, festivals throughout Russia and in Doha, Qatar with Dominick Farinacci.

Pianist and vibraphonist Christian Tamburr worked as musical director for Julio Iglesias, Cirque du Soleil and Penn & Teller in Las Vegas. His newest album “People Talk” topped the national jazz charts for two months, culminating in several national and international tours. He currently travels as CEO and lead presenter for Sonic Leadership, bringing unique musically inspired presentations on leadership and training to companies around the world.

Cleveland native Jamey Haddad is one of the most influential percussionists of our time. He tours with Paul Simon, Sting and Yo-Yo Ma, is the Artistic Director for Cleveland Orchestra’s “Friday’s at 7,” currently teaches at Oberlin Conservatory, and was voted “#1 World Percussionist” by Drum Magazine. Jamey is also the recipient of the 2010 Cleveland Arts Prize.

Next Generation of Broadway Stars takes the stage at Nighttown!

Hot on the heels of what has been an exhilarating four years of training at Baldwin Wallace University, join the music theatre seniors as they return to Nighttown to share a cabaret show created for an upcoming performance at New York City’s top cabaret venue “54 Below.” BW’s music theatre seniors leave for their NYC debut April 9, Help to send them on their way with a full-house of Cleveland support at Nighttown on April 3.  Purchase your tickets now!

From lead roles on Broadway and London's West End to prime time television, film and more, students from Baldwin Wallace’s music theatre (BWMT) program have garnered top acclaim for more than 20 years.

Recently ranked as number two of the top ten Music Theatre programs in the country by College Magazine, Program Director Victoria Bussert continues to lead students to successful careers.

Gypsy Jazz Guitarist From France & his Group play music from his brand new CD 'The Django Experiment'.

Special Guest opening artist Cleveland's own Hot Djang!

Wrembel just released two new recordings, The Django Experiment I and The Django Experiment II, on Water Is Life Records.   Both recordings primarily feature Wrembel’s interpretation of the songs of legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt as well as original compositions by Wrembel and a few other writers in the same vein of music. New York Observer recently said, "For North Americans, Stephane Wrembel represents the living face of gypsy jazz."

The CDs were released in conjunction with the Wrembel-produced Django A Gogo, which was held at Carnegie Hall on March 3rd to rave reviews! Other performers included Al Di Meola, Larry Keel and Stochelo Rosenberg.

Wrembel is best known for “Bistro Fada,” the theme song from the 2011 Woody Allen Oscar Award-nominated movie, Midnight In Paris.  Subsequently, Wrembel was hand-selected by award winning composer/producer Hans Zimmer to perform at the 2012 Academy Awards® as part of his “All Star Band.”  Wrembel has contributed music to two other Allen films, commercials, and TV and now has both a Clio Award and Grammy Award under his belt.  He has toured around the world and is immensely popular in India.

Wrembel's band includes long-time collaborators Thor Jensen (guitar), Ari Folman Cohen (bass), and Nick Anderson (drums).

8 String Guitar Virtuoso and his Group return to Nighttown!

Featuring Michael Blake on Tenor Sax and George Sluppick on drums

Charlie Hunter is not only a singular guitarist - he uniquely plays a custom-made seven-string ax that allows him to deliver bass grooves simultaneously with rhythm chords and solo notes - but he’s also a creative whose style and expression continue to advance with each project he immerses himself into. Proof positive is Hunter’s new album—and 18th as a leader—whimsically titled Everyone Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth, out July 22nd on GroundUP Music/Verve Label Group. The superlative ten-tune collection of songs—all originals except for one cover—is steeped in the blues and r&b. Hunter has enlisted a stellar support team of trombonist Curtis Fowlkes, cornetist Kirk Knuffke and drummer Bobby Previte who play live in the studio for optimum effect.

At turns Hunter’s new music takes on a noir feel, lopes in a fluid slow flow, charges upbeat with a groove and horn interchange, twirls into a playful party mode, moves into a gentle lyricism—all soaked in a blues sensibility and tone. “My idea was to make a blues record,” says Hunter. “The concept was to play and not think of it as jazz, but an improvisation of the blues and r&b. This is not from a jazz harmonic place, but straight blues and r&b improvising. It’s all done live in the same room. No overdubs and maybe just one edit where we fixed a note.”

As for that 11-word title, Hunter explains, “it’s a Mike Tyson quote. He’s talking about a specific boxing thing, but I feel that it applies to any life endeavor. It’s like someone coming out of music school and being presented with the reality of making a living playing music. So that title is also the name of one of the songs. In fact, almost every name of a song on the record is a quote from someone, somewhere.”

Hunter was born in Rhode Island. When he was four his mom packed him and his younger sister in an old yellow school bus and headed west. After several years living on a commune in Mendocino County they settled in Berkeley, California. Hunter graduated from Berkeley High School and took lessons from guitar teacher Joe Satriani. At eighteen he moved to Paris. Hunter says that it was his experience busking on the streets of Paris that provided him with "on the job training" because he busked for 8 to 12 hours a day to make ends meet. Returning to the Bay area, Hunter played a seven-string guitar and organ in Michael Franti's political rap group, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.

After his first album, 1993’s Charlie Hunter Trio, released on pop artist Les Claypool’s Prawn Song label, Hunter was signed to Blue Note Records and released a total of eight albums in ten years. Everyone Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth marks a return to a bigger potential audience, thanks to the rise of the Brooklyn-based Snarky Puppy. The group’s bandleader, Michael League, has been a Hunter fan since he was in high school. “I had been hearing the band’s name but I didn’t know what they were,” says Hunter. “Turns out there a great bunch of musicians and people.” Hunter played on one track of the Snarky Puppy album, Family Dinner Volume 2, and was asked by League to record an album for his GroundUP Music label.

North Coast Acoustic Guitar Master takes the stage at Nighttown.  With Special Guests TBA.

It has been an honor and privilege to perform with artists as diverse as the late Robert Lockwood Jr., and local legends Anne E. Dechant, Wallace Coleman, Mr. Stress, and Colin Dussault, to name just a few.

In addition to my local work, I have been an annual performer at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention held in Nashville. This is a showcase of the best solo guitarists from around the world and I am humbled to be in their ranks.

Though I will continue to “sit in” with notable local bands, for the last 20 years I have concentrated on solo guitar. Covering everything from Bach to the Beatles, I have developed a broad repertoire which I can adapt to any audience.

"The Man That Got Away"  The iconic music of George Gershwin is woven in to a poignant story of love, life, loss, and nostalgia.

Eat, Drink and Enjoy the great music of George and Ira Gershwin!

Experience the power of operatically trained voices singing Gershwin brothers favorites like: Someone to Watch Over Me, Embraceable You, They Can’t Take That Away From Me.

Lyndsey Sandham, soprano

Amy Weintraub, soprano

Benjamin Czarnota, baritone

Marge Adler,     piano

Nighttown's food and drink menu will be available for purchase à la carte with service at your table.

International Cello Quartet & CIM Graduates present a Multi Genre Evening with music from Tchaikovsky to David Bowie Live at Nighttown.

Featuring: Anna Hurt (Utah), Carlyn Kessler (Connecticut), Sophie Benn (Minneapolis) & Andris Koh (Singapore).  All in residence in Cleveland!

The Cleveland Cello Quartet, Ensemble in Residence at The Music Settlement, presents a multi-genre evening of tunes from Tchaikovsky to David Bowie. Partial ticket sales will benefit string scholarship funds at The Music Settlement, a local nonprofit community music school provides creative and relevant arts education and programming for all, regardless of financial ability, in Greater Cleveland.

The Cleveland Cello Quartet is a dynamic ensemble dedicated to promoting the cello as a versatile and eclectic instrument. Performing a genre-bending fusion of classical, jazz, and pop music, the group is quickly establishing itself as a fresh sound in the Cleveland music scene. Only in their second season, the group has already appeared at many major venues, including Nighttown and the BOP STOP, as well as in less conventional Cleveland-area institutions such as the West Side Market and Toast. The Cleveland Cello Quartet has also performed live on the public classical radio station WCLV 104.9, and they frequently join forces with Classical Revolution Cleveland to perform at their bimonthly shows at the Happy Dog.

The quartet members (Anna Hurt, Carlyn Kessler, Sophie Benn, and Andris Koh) met as students at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Hailing from Utah, Connecticut, Minneapolis, and Singapore respectively, they are all dedicated teachers and active performers based in the Northeast Ohio area.

Honeybucket Live at Nighttown!  Featuring: Brendan O'Malley-Vocals & Mandolin & Adam Reifsnyder-Vocals & Guitar.

Special Guest Opening Act TriHearn.

Honeybucket is a high-energy newgrass & folk act that features mandolin, guitar, and rich vocal harmonies. In 2016, Honeybucket was voted Cleveland's Best Band by Cleveland Scene Magazine, their original song "Old High Road" was the official song of the 40th annual Cleveland International Film Festival, and they headlined multiple local festivals, including Heights Music Hop, Larchmere Porchfest, and the Hingetown Hoedown.    

Adam Reifsnyder (guitar) and Brendan O'Malley (mandolin) will be performing new songs as well as old favorites. Pop, traditional, and jazz audiences alike are sure to enjoy Honeybucket as they take the Nighttown stage for the third time in their musical careers.

TriHearn features siblings Caitlin, Conor and Brendan Hearn. The Maryland born, Cleveland based group has been performing as a trio since 2002. Since then, they have grown into seasoned musicians, attending music camps around the world and performing around the country. TriHearn describes their sound as a mix of Irish, Scottish, and American folk music. Lately, they have pushed outside of their musical comfort zone and expanded their sound to include elements from various genres of music.

Singer/Songwriter combines Jazz, Soul, and more for exciting evening at Nighttown!

“A one-man band who turns a guitar into an orchestra and his voice into a chorus.” — The New York Times

Ever since the 20th century turned into the 21st, singer-songwriter and guitarist Raul Midón has earned renown as one of music’s most distinctive and searching voices – “a one-man band… who is spiritually connected,” according to The New York Times, and “an eclectic adventurist,” in the words of People magazine. The New Mexico native, blind since birth, has released eight albums since 1999, including the acclaimed studio productions Don’t Hesitate (Mack Avenue/Artistry, 2014), Synthesis (Decca/Universal, 2009), A World Within a World (Manhattan/EMI, 2007) and State of Mind (Manhattan/EMI, 2005). Midón’s questing musicality makes him, as the Huffington Post put it, “a free man beyond category.” Attesting to his enduring ambitions is Midón’s ninth studio album, Bad Ass and Blind, set for release via Mack Avenue/Artistry Music on March 24, 2017.

Search for “Raul Midón” on YouTube and you’ll find a clip of him appearing on The Late Show With David Letterman in 2006. Performing “State of Mind,” the title track from his major-label debut, Midón unveils what would become his signature combination of silky tenor voice and percussive guitar style. His guitar playing is a syncopated, flamenco- and jazz-infused wonder in which bass, harmony and melodic lines fly from the fretboard in a way that seems to belie the fact that all the music is being produced by just two hands. If that weren’t enough, Midón busts out his improvisational mouth-horn technique, in which he creates a bebop “trumpet” solo entirely with his lips, earning himself a spontaneous burst of mid-song applause from the audience in the process. Billboard called him, simply and aptly, “a virtuoso.” Subsequently, Midón’s live 2016 rendition of John Coltrane’s jazz classic “Giant Steps” – which sees him fly through all 12 keys – has earned more than 1.2 million views via Facebook.

In early 2016, the guitarist was invited to cross the U.S. as a featured artist in the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour company that also included the likes of jazz stars Nicholas Payton, Ravi Coltrane and Gerald Clayton. The tour culminated in a weeklong run at New York City’s Birdland. It was an acclaimed live collaboration, with JazzTimes remarking on how Midón became “the undeniable focus” whenever he came onstage and praising his “acrobatic… note-perfect” performances, as well as the “new, swinging ‘Wings of Mind’.”

Midón’s upcoming Bad Ass and Blind album – the title a description of its maker that soul icon Bill Withers endorsed – finds the artist expanding his range compositionally, tapping into the linear modal harmony explored by such jazz composers as Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter.

Reflecting on the exploratory grasp of past and present represented by Bad Ass and Blind, Midón says: “Like with all my records, this album is for those who are interested in going beyond notions of genre – it’s for listeners with open ears, open minds, open hearts.”

Rapidly rising Jazz Vocalist from London, England makes her Cleveland debut at Nighttown!  Featuring music from her new CD, "IS IT ME…?" on Resonance Records.

Receives Second Jazz FM Award Nomination As Best Jazz Vocalist

“I love her voice, really soulful. Can’t wait to hear more of Polly…” – Joss Stone

“She’s got a great voice!” – Van Morrison

Following sold-out tours in the U.K. opening for George Benson and Gladys Knight, including two acclaimed performances at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, singer/songwriter Polly Gibbons is set to make a British invasion of her own with the release of her highly-anticipated second album, "Is It Me…?" on Resonance Records on April 21, 2017.  The 12-track collection fully embraces  the inspiring, expansive array of American jazz, soul and blues influences that have infused her dynamic career as an artist and live performer,

Polly, who recently earned her second prestigious Best Jazz Vocalist Jazz FM Award Nomination, has been a staple of the UK Jazz Scene since the mid-2000s. In commenting on her new album, she states:  “It’s a massive melting pot, varied but beautifully linked because I love every style I’m singing. Jazz would never have happened without the blues, which came out of the gospel tradition – and blues is the foundation of contemporary Western culture and pop/soul music, and so on.”

The piano and most of the arranging are shared by long time-collaborator James Pearson (whom she performs with regularly at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Club in London, where he is musical director), and Tamir Hendelman, the Israeli born, L.A. based jazz pianist to the stars, including Barbra Streisand and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

A farmer’s daughter who grew up in Framingham, a small market town in Suffolk, England, Polly is one of seven siblings in a family that shared all types of different musical loves. Her mum cherished classical and choral music (Bach, Mozart, Chopin), her dad was an electric bassist who played in bands in the 70’s, her brothers loved R&B and her sisters were all vinyl collectors listening to everything from hip hop and soul, to jazz and folk.

Polly took obligatory piano lessons at age four, but didn’t realize she could sing until she was around 13.  Participating in a local music workshop, she met British singer Ian Shaw, who took Polly under his wing and secured her first gig in London when she was 17. Participating in other workshops, she cultivated her talent with bassist Gill Alexander, Jacqui Dankworth (daughter of Cleo Laine) and later, James Pearson.  She released her critically acclaimed UK debut album My Own Company in 2014

Polly’s road now leads her to one of those extraordinary places with the release of "Is It Me…?" The album is a journey all its own – a culmination of so many moments that also signifies a meaningful new beginning for both the singer and contemporary jazz.

From Seattle!  Singer Songwriter with 6 Pc. Band combines Jazz, Bluegrass, Blues, Rock, and more!

Featuring: Paula Boggs-vocals-guitar, ukulele, Issac Castillo-bass, vocals, Mark Chinen-guitar, banjo, Tim Conroy-keys, vocals, trumpet, accordion, Tor Dietrichson-percussion, vocals, & Sandy Greenbaum-drums.

Starbucks vet Boggs and the 6-piece Paula Boggs Band traverse jazz, bluegrass, blues, rock and Americana. They released their debut album "A Buddha State of Mind" in 2010 and "Carnival of Miracles," produced by Grammy-winning Trina Shoemaker in March 2015. Their sound is "Seattle-Brewed Soulgrass," the band performs nationally and in Canada, has appeared on TV, performs on radio live in-studio and is the subject of several radio interviews, podcasts, blogs and articles.

The band is celebrating their newly released live acoustic EP of consciousness songs "Live at Empty Sea, Songs of Protest & Hope".

“The new cd from the Paula Boggs Band, Carnival of Miracles simply put [is] a masterpiece...here is a record with every song destined to be well known soon to audiences and equally loved. Congratulations to Paula Boggs and the Paula Boggs Band, they have hit this right out of the park.”
Bruce Swan, Programmer
Host of Music My Mother Would Not Like
WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT

“Boggs makes a certain kind of urban, jazzy music that seems permanently nested within the structures of traditional folk, bluegrass, and even standard blues harmony...She calls her music "soulgrass," and she reminds me a little of Gil Scott-Heron, if only for the razor-intensity of her words.”
Dave Good, San Diego Reader

Swing and Blues from North Coast favorites 8 Pc. Blue Lunch with Special Guest Tim Gartland on Vocals and Harp.

The late 1940’s and early 1950’s were a magical time in American musical history, when blues, rhythm & blues, swing and rock & roll were all one thing. Blue Lunch explores that music and makes it their own.

From Cleveland, OH eight virtuoso musicians perform on guitar, piano, upright bass, drums, harp, saxophones, trumpet, and trombone. In addition to their instrumental work, Blue Lunch also boasts five vocalists and includes do-wop style and gospel harmonies in their repertoire. Blue Lunch has released eight cds, Recorded Live at Wilberts,  Eyes Wide Open,  Not Live at the Copa, Big Sound Blues, Sideswiped, Saxophone Shootout II , Blue  Lunch Special, and their newest and most recent release, Above the Fold, for Rip Cat Records of Los Angeles.

2014 marked the 30th anniversary of the band.

Tim Gartland is a singer-song writer harmonica player living in Nashville, TN. He is a contemporary blues artist commited to honoring the rich tradition of blues while moving the genre forward. He has  a new release, "If You Want A Good Woman featuring 12 original songs.  The cd reached #1 on the blues radio charts on Air Play Direct. It was also named one of the Top Picks of the year by Bill Wilson of the Nashville Blues Society and reached #13 on the national blues charts according to Roots Time Radio.

His original music is a blend of Chicago blues, soul, and Americana. His lyrics are focused on today's world. Following the collective wisdom of writers before him, Tim writes lyrics about themes and issues that he is passionate about.

What sets Gartland apart from other blues muscians is the fact that he is recognized as a triple threat ; singer, songwriter and harp player. It is rare group of artists that can deliver all three talents on such a high level.

He has released two critically acclaimed original cd's, 2011's "Looking Into The Sun" and 2014''s "Million Stars". In 2015 he released "The Willie Project", a heartfelt homage to the songwriting of the legendary blues hall of famer Willie Dixon.

From New York City! Award winning Stars of Cabaret hit the stage at Nighttown!

Featuring: Eric Comstock-piano & vocals, Barbara Fasano-vocals, & Bryan Thomas-acoustic bass.

“The sophisticated cabaret children of Bobby Short and Lena Horne … Mr. Comstock and Ms. Fasano are turning the neighborhood into a hotbed of pleasure.” – The New York Times

“Comstock has a voice that flows as smoothly as rye and sweet vermouth over ice, evoking Chet Baker, Mel Torme and Mark Murphy … Fasano has taste, built-in dramatic chops, the ability to manipulate time, and, above all, respect for lyrics.” – Jazz Times

Married musical partners Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano’s electrifying combination of warmth, wit, swing and sensuality have made them the New York nightclub world's most celebrated team.  This award-winning duo makes their Night Town debut with a freewheeling mashup of the jazz and pop songbooks, from Jerome Kern to Joni Mitchell, Cole Porter to Billy Strayhorn. The New York Times calls their shows "witty" and "exhilarating" and this swinging and soulful married couple makes their audiences feel they're at a terrific party where the music and the stories have been equally great.

Pianist/singer Eric Comstock has been called "the heir apparent to the cabaret throne".  Vocalist Barbara Fasano's new CD BUSY BEING FREE is being hailed as "busy being intoxicatingly sublime” & won the 2016 MAC Award for Major Recording of the Year. The New York Times calls their shows "witty" & "exhilarating", and The Wall Street Journal raves, “Masterful … They take it to a whole other level.”   

Their many New York engagements include Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, Birdland, Jazz at Kitano, and the 92nd Street Y's ‘Lyrics and Lyricists’ series, as well as concert halls and festivals coast to coast and in Europe.  In the words of jazz critic Ira Gitler, they “have it all, and then some … artistic, swinging, and superbly entertaining.” Come join the party!

NYC vocalist and native Clevelander returns for showcase gig.  Currently lead vocalist with the Harry James Orchestra.

Featuring Dave Powers on piano.

Barbara Rosene has built an unequalled reputation for interpreting the great music of the 1920s and 30s and 40s. She is a passionate vocalist whose interpretations uncover the richness of jazz classics through the subtle, skilled delivery of one truly in love with the genre she sings.

Rosene gives voice to songs in ways that are both gracefully provocative and warmly welcoming. Few singers have her feel for classic material, from all eras of Jazz, interpreting the music with not only a full understanding and love of the original time period but with the rare ability to make the material sound fresh and emotionally relevant today.

In her established career she has shared stages with jazz icons, performing internationally with The Harry James Orchestra, Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks, the late Les Paul at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club, The Woody Allen Band, at The Carlyle Hotel, as well as directing her own New Yorkers, and as guest artist with orchestras and in festivals across the world. She has played such venues as The Iridium, Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall, The Montreal Jazz Festival,  Nighttown (Cleveland), Blues Alley (DC), The Arizona Music Festival, Jazz Amarinois, and The Hotel Villa Flori, Lake Como.

Will Friedwald, author of Jazz Singing and Sinatra! has written: “No one evokes more vividly the music of the great singers of the 1920s than Barbara Rosene.”

Barbara’s CDs include releases on the Blues Back, Arbor’s and Azica labels.

For over 37 years, two-time EMMY® Award winning composer and performer Dave Powershas been a vital part of the Columbus, Ohio music scene as a pianist, keyboardist, vocalist, entertainer and educator. Dave has traveled and performed nationally and internationally. Dave is a consultant and a frequent guest of the Public Television Show “The Piano Guy” and has taught a series of master classes with “Piano Guy” host Scott Houston. Dave is also an adjunct faculty member of The Ohio State University School of Music. Considered one of the most successful musicians in the Midwest, Dave manages to win over the hearts of all who hear him perform. From concerts to clubs and restaurants to corporate events and private parties, his vast repertoire is as diverse as the audience that he entertains. Dave has performed with noted performers such as Steve Allen, George Benson, Rusty Bryant, Richie Cole, Buddy DeFranco, Mark Farner (of Grand Funk Railroad), Eric Gale, Terry Gibbs, Ernie Krivda, Wilbert Longmire, Johnny Lytle, ‘Blue’ Lou Marini (of the Blues Brothers), Joan Rivers, Arturo Sandoval, Byron Stripling, Grover Washington, Jr. and many others. In addition, Dave is associated with the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus, and performs with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. For the past six years, Dave has been hosting a jazz concert series at the Clintonville Woman’s Club called “The House Jazz Concert Series.” Dave’s performance schedule and CD’s are available online at www.davepowers.com, iTunes, CD Baby.com and amazon.com (keyword: Dave Powers).

Cutting edge Sax/Bass Duo from NYC.  Featuring Avram Fefer-sax, & Michael Bisio-acoustic bass.

Avram Fefer is an American saxophonist, composer, teacher, and bandleader. He has  recorded eleven albums as a leader and many more as a sideman. He has performed in clubs and festivals throughout Europe, Japan, Africa, and the Middle East and plays regularly in New York City.  

Avram enjoys collaborations of all sorts, including with poets, dancers, painters, filmmakers, theater directors, and digital sound designers. He is the creator and sole performer of the Resonant Sculpture Project, an international series of solo musical interactions with the large-scale works of iconic sculptor Richard Serra.

He is actively involved in ensembles comprised of anywhere from two to thirty musicians, playing music that ranges from classic jazz to original and avant-garde composition, free improvisation, conducted orchestral music, and a variety of North and West African music.

Avram also maintains a presence in the world of  jazz fusion, dance, afro-beat, funk, and  hip-hop, including collaborations with DJ's and members of the house music scene. As a bandleader, he is at the helm of two electric groups --- Big Picture Holiday, Rivers on Mars; and several acoustic groups ---the Avram Fefer Trio, the Fefer-Keiper Connection, and the Nuju 4tet.

Michael Bisio, bassist/composer, has eighty five recordings in his discography, twenty four of these are split evenly between leader/co-leader, ten of them document his extraordinary association with modern piano icon Matthew Shipp. Michael has been called a poet, a wonder and one of the most virtuosic and imaginative performers on the double bass.

Nate Chinen in the New York Times writes :
"The physicality of Mr. Bisio's bass playing puts him in touch with numerous predecessors in the avant-garde, but his expressive touch is distinctive;..."

As a composer Michael has been awarded nine grants and an Artist Trust Fellowship

Collaborators include Matthew Shipp, Joe McPhee, Charles Gayle, Connie Crothers, Whit Dickey, Ivo Perelman, Barbara Donald, Newman Taylor Baker, Rob Brown, Sonny Simmons and Sabir Mateen.

Legendary Outlaw Country Singer/Songwriter, Novelist, & Raconteur Kinky Friedman hits the Stage at Nighttown! 

Yep, renowned raconteur and Governor Of The Heart Of Texas Kinky Friedman has been resurrected.  And he’s hitting the road to prove it.  The legendary outlaw country singer/songwriter, novelist and Texas Jewboy’s latest CD, The Loneliest Man I Ever Met (Avenue A Records/Thirty Tigers), mixing originals with interpretations of the music of his greatest contemporaries, is a hit.  It has received rave reviews across the board, making it Kinky’s best and most popular release ever.  Yes, the Kinkster has been resurrected.

The Resurrected Tour tour starts in mid-April and will continue to the middle of May.  Kinky will be performing with his uber sideman, Joe Cirotti.  Kinky’s cd producer, Brian Molnar will be opening the show.  Kinkster’s long time pal, Brian Kanof, will be auctioning off bottles of Man In Black Tequila (which is co-owned by Brian, Kinky and a third party) to benefit Kinky’s award-winning animal rescue group Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch.

Nobody could invent a character quite like Kinky Friedman, the stogie-waving, black-hat-wearing Texas Jewish singer, storyteller, tequila purveyor, animal rescuer and full-time iconoclast.

But what he hadn’t done in 39 years was write brand new songs and record a new studio album around them. Friedman’s The Loneliest Man I Ever Met, has to have been one of the longest-awaited follow-ups in recent memory. Not that fans have complained; the continued popularity of tunes such as Sold American, Nashville Casualty and Life and Ride ’Em Jewboy (the Holocaust-referencing song that soothed Nelson Mandela in prison) prove Kinky is that rare talent whose work withstands the test of time. Friedman still delivers those songs — interspersed with his inimitable blend of politically incorrect quips, jokes and tales both tall and true — to appreciative audiences around the world.

And new chapters of Kinky’s fable life are just around the corner - literally.  Coming soon from Backbeat Books will be Mary Lou Sullivan’s comprehensive Kinky bio (holy cow: 450+ pages!) and a brand new book by Kinky about Bob Dylan, which is not so much a biography as a group of “tales from the Bob.”

Railing against such perceived evils — whether cultural, political, social or in any other realm of human experience — is one of Friedman’s favorite pastimes. As a man who has traveled much of the planet, quotes Winston Churchill, and calls two presidents pals, he’s in a position to know.

And on tour Kinky will be, traveling from village to village, perhaps proving the truth of resurrection itself, definitely railing against evil.  Upon his return from the road, Kinky will dive into that next CD recording project.  To be titled Zoey, it should be available in late 2017.  “Maybe I’ll just have to stick with songwriting,” he says, stifling a sigh.

Dynamic jazz & soul vocalist from Miami/NYC live on Nighttown stage!  With the Robert Hubbard Trio.

Since her debut in 2004, Nicole Henry has established herself as one of the jazz world’s most acclaimed vocalists. Ms. Henry possesses a potent combination of dynamic vocal abilities, impeccable phrasing and powerful emotional resonance.

Her passionate, soulful voice and heart-felt charisma have earned her a 2013 Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance," three Top-10 U.S. Billboard and HMV Japan jazz CDs, and rave reviews by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, El Pais, Jazz Times, Essence and more.

Ms. Henry’s accompaniment ranges from a jazz trio to a full big band with a repertoire that includes the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz, contemporary standards, blues and originals.

Ms. Henry has captivated audiences in over 15 countries, headlining at venues in New York, Tokyo, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Shanghai, San Francisco and Miami - including over 30 music festivals and in some of the world’s most famous venues.

Such venues include: Blue Note; Jazz at Lincoln Center; Blues Alley; Arsht Center; Feinstein’s; Madrid Jazz Festival; Regattabar; Catalina Jazz, L.A.; The Royal Room, Palm Beach; Jazz Aspen/Snowmass Festival; Green Mill; Jazz Kitchen and many more!

“The obvious forerunner to Ms. Henry…is the younger Natalie Cole, to whose style she adds a coating of brass.”
  -  The New York Times

"...this generation's First Lady of Jazz. She is the genuine article, the dream at last come true…
  - The Huffington Post

“…a paragon of perfection…the vocal love child of Whitney Houston and Sarah Vaughan.”
  - Miami Herald

“...a pop, soul superwoman.”
  - The New York Times

Virtuoso Guitarist and Mack Avenue Recording Artist back at Nighttown for 2 Big Shows!

In a career that took flight with immediate commercial success and critical acclaim, guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan has consistently displayed a chameleonic musical persona of openness, imagination, versatility and maverick daring. Be it bold reinventions of classical masterpieces or soulful explorations through pop-rock hits, to blazing straight ahead jazz forays and ultramodern improvisational works—solo or with a group—Jordan can always be counted on to take listeners on breathless journeys into the unexpected.

Key to Jordan’s fast-track acclaim was his mastery of a special technique on the guitar’s fretboard. Instead of conventional strumming and picking, Jordan's innovative "touch technique" is an advanced form of two-handed tapping. While a handful of other players were using similar techniques, Stanley’s fluid, multi-layered textures and sheer virtuosity raised the bar for excellence.

But his technique, though impressive, is always a means to a musical end. His music is imbued with a warmth and sensitivity that has captured the imagination of listeners worldwide. A classically trained pianist before playing guitar, Jordan wanted greater freedom in voicing chords on his guitar, so he applied piano principles to do so. Jordan's touch technique allows the guitarist to play melody and chords simultaneously with an unprecedented level of independence. It also allows Jordan to play simultaneously on two different guitars, or even on guitar and piano. He says that “I think of it as a single instrument, but one with a wide range of tonal colors—that’s why I do it.”

To date Jordan has performed in over 60 countries on 6 continents. He has performed at many festivals, including the Kool Jazz Festival, the Concord Jazz Festival, and the Montreaux International Jazz Festival. During the 1980s he collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including performances with Art Blakey and Richie Cole and recordings with Stanley Clarke and Kenny Rogers. T

Jordan has received four Grammy nominations. His most recent album "Friends" was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

Jordan came to prominence with the release of his 1985 album Magic Touch, a revolutionary project that placed him at the forefront of re-launching legendary Blue Note Records into a contemporary entity in jazz and beyond, as also established the then-twenty-something Jordan as among the most distinctive and refreshing new voices of the electric guitar.

In 2007 Jordan signed with Mack Avenue Records and released State of Nature in 2008 and Friends in 2011. For Friends, he invited musical guests including guitarists Bucky Pizzarelli, Mike Stern, Russell Malone and Charlie Hunter; violinist Regina Carter; saxophonists Kenny Garrett and Ronnie Laws; trumpeter Nicholas Payton; bassists Christian McBride and Charnett Moffett; and drummer Kenwood Dennard.

Jordan has maintained an extensive and consistent international touring schedule. In between tour stops he is now at work on his next highly anticipated album from Mack Avenue Records, for release next year.

From Azerbaijan! World Class pianist and her Quintet back at Nighttown!

Azerbaijan-born, globe-trotting composer and pianist Amina Figarova introduces ten colorful, compelling new compositions performed by her touring sextet plus guests on Blue Whisper, her 13th album since her 1994 debut Attraction.

Figarova's deeply personal, highly evocative responses to social turmoil, distinctive personalities she's encountered and universal transitions of life inform the music on Blue Whisper. Moods range from the haunting beauty of the titular track "Blue Whisper," as well as "Moonrise" and "Hewa" (featuring lyrics in Swahili by Sarah Elizabeth Charles) to the straight-ahead momentum of "Moving Forward," "The Hustler" and "The Traveler," to the sophisticated playfulness of "Pictures," "Marians" and "Juno." In "Hear My Voice," over a martial beat and sorrowful, resolute horn choir, an eight-year-old girl earnestly urges an end to violence world-wide and, with laughter, a request to "Let kids be kids."

Throughout all tracks, Amina's classically founded touch, her lilting melodies, luminous harmonies, often understated yet always propulsive rhythms and star soloists come together with immaculate sophistication. Trumpeters Ernie Hammes and Alex Pope Norris, saxophonists Wayne Escoffery and Marc Mommaas, bassists Luques Curtis and Yasushi Nakamura, drummer Jason Brown, flutist Bart Platteau -- Figarova's partner and husband of nearly 25 years – and electric guitarist Anthony Wilson (on "Pictures") are featured advantageously in spontaneous, creative engagement with her compositional themes and intentions.

Amina Figarova was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, and as a child studied to be a classical concert pianist. In the late 1980s she entered Rotterdam Conservatory to pursue jazz, coming to the United State in 1989 to complete her formal education at Boston's Berklee College of Music (where she met Platteau, a fellow student from Belgium). In 1998 they were invited to the Thelonious Monk Institute's summer jazz colony in Aspen, and after more than a decade of bookings in major U.S. jazz clubs, concert halls and festivals, the couple gained legal immigrant status in 2014. They currently live in Manhattan, and tour constantly.

The compositions "Pictures" and "The Traveler" were commissioned by Jazz from Lincoln Center for its 2014-15 New Jazz Standards series. Blue Whisper is Figarova's second album, after Twelve, on In + Out Records, an independent label based in Freiberg, Germany.