The Cornelia Street Cafe announces their December lineup:
Wednesday, December 01
8:30PM Brad Shepik Quartet
(Brad Shepik, guitar; Tom Beckham, vibraphone; Jorge Roeder, bass; Mark Guiliana, drums)
Brad Shepik who has spent time in a host of groups led by luminaries (Paul Motian, Charlie Haden, Carla Bley, Dave Douglas, Joey Baron, Pachora) will perform with his new quartet music from their upcoming CD 'Across the Way' (Songlines).
"Downtown guitarist Brad Shepik goes far too long between albums; the best way to keep tabs on this compelling melodist, nimble improviser and thoughtful composer is to catch him on the bandstand." Time Out NY
The cover charge is $10. For more information on the group, visit http://www.bradshepik.com
Thursday, December 02
8:30PM Scott Lee Group
(Scott Lee, bass, compositions; Billy Drewes, reeds; Gary Versace, piano; Jeff Hirshfield, drums)
Bassist/Composer Scott Lee has been leading a group of close musical friends to experiment in different forms and new ways of improvising. Scott will be performing music from his new cd 'Leaving' (Steeplechase Records).
" This is the heart and soul of Jazz and improvised music - Scott, with Billy Drewes, Gary Versace and Jeff Hirshfield, capture your attention and take you places....They are some of my favorite improvisers, Beautiful!" Joe Lovano
"Maybe the annual jazz awards need to add a new category for musicians like Scott Lee. It could be titled "master musicians deserving of wider recognition." Mark Corrotto, All About Jazz
The cover charge is $10. For more information on the group, visit http://www.scottleemusic.com
Friday, December 03
9:00PM & 10:30PM Gerald Cleaver Group
(Jean Carla Rodea, vocals; Andrew Bishop, reeds; Dave Ballou, trumpet; Chris Lightcap, bass; Gerald Cleaver, drums)
Gerald Cleaver, born in Detroit in 1963, began playing drums, trumpet, and violin at an early age. He earned a BA in music education from University of Michigan and, while there, was awarded a National Endowment For The Arts Jazz Study Fellowship to study with Victor Lewis. He worked as a band teacher in Detroit, Lecturer at Michigan State University and Assistant Professor at University of Michigan before relocating to New York. Over the years he has worked with Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, Hank Jones, Joe Morris, Craig Taborn, William Parker, and Miroslav Vitous, to name only a few. In 2002, Cleaver's Veil of Names, featuring Mat Maneri, Ben Monder, Andrew Bishop, Craig Taborn, and Reid Anderson, received a Best Debut Recording nomination from the Jazz Journalists Association for their album Adjust. Cleaver also leads the bands Uncle June, Violet Hour, and Farmers By Nature. Cleaver has assembled some of the top musicians to work in this group.
Vocalist Jean Carla Rodea has worked with Joe Morris, William Parker, Joachim Badenhorst, Pascal Niggenkemper, Javier Moreno, Kyoko Kitamura, Devin Gray, Juan Pablo Carletti, and Brian Questa in her groups Jean Carla Rodea's Azares, the Jean Carla Rodea Group, and the Jean Carla Rodea Trio.
Composer and trumpeter Dave Ballou has performed and/or recorded with Kevin Norton, Andrew Hill, Dave Liebman, Oliver Lake, Steely Dan, Drew Gress, Tom Rainey, Tony Malaby, John Hollenbeck, Mario Pavone, Karl Berger, Daniel Levin, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Spokane Symphony and many others.
