March brings a wide variety of jazz to Music City

2011 is off to a swingin' start for jazz fans in Nashville, and the momentum continues with a number of compelling performances scheduled for the month of March.

Along with the weekly Jazz and Blues offerings at the French Quarter Cafe', B.B. King's Blues Club and Restaurant, F. Scott's Restaurant and Jazz Bar, Carol Ann's Home Cooking Cafe', and the Nine48Jazz Home Concert Series (H.O.C.) and others, here are a few notable sets for your consideration.

ELLA - The Musical - March 1-6 - TPAC 

Ella, the exhilarating new music about "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald, makes it's way to Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center's (TPAC), James K. Polk Theater, March 1-6.  This theatrical event weaves myth, memory and music as it tells the uplifting and poignant story of one of the greatest jazz/pop vocalists of 20th century music.

Featuring more than a dozen of her most famous hits, including "A Tisket, A Tasket," "How High the Moon," "That Old Black Magic," and "They Can't Take that Away from ME," this swinging new musical invites audiences to fall in love all over again with the magic and soul of Ella Fitzgerald.


El Movimento - March 3 - Listening Room Cafe 

With the release of their debut CD "The Movement," World Music/Latin Jazz Septet El Movimiento has been building a large local and national following,  garnering extensive airplay on Sirius XM's Real Jazz channel, and reaching number 5, on the national Jazz Week World Chart. 

The ensemble featuring Imer Santiago (trumpet/flugelhorn), Rahsaan Barber (saxophone), Giovanni Rodriguez (percussion), plus Paul Horton (keys), Dan Eubanks (bass), Jon Estes (guitar), and Derrek Phillips (drums), will perform on Thursday, March 3, at 8:00 p.m. at the Listening Room Cafe, in Cummins Station, 209 10th Avenue South, Nashville, TN.

Greg Bryant Expansion - March 6 - Jazz Cave

The Greg Bryant Expansion featuring Greg Bryant (bass), Cord Martin (saxophone), James DaSilva (guitar), and D.D. Holt (drums), will be the featured artist at the Nashville Jazz Workshop's Contemporary Jazz Series, Sunday, March 6, 6:30 pm. in the Jazz Cave, 1319 Adams Street, Nashville, TN.  

The Contemporary Jazz Series, hosted by Rahsaan Barber is designed to present new, original, and cutting edge jazz that may not have been heard in the Jazz Cave.  Describing "Contemporary Jazz," series host Barber explained that "just as the jazz of Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie was influenced by musicians' and audiences' affinites for the blues of Beal Street and the bright lights of Broadway, so is it with contemporary jazz, which draws much influence from more modern strains of American music--including funk, gospel, hip hop -- and more international 'cargo,' including Indian ragas, Cuban descargas and European classical music."

2nd Annual Nashville Blues Festival - March 6 - Municipal Auditorium

Fans of Blues and Southern Soul are in for a treat when the 2nd Annual Nashville Blues Festival returns to the Municipal Auditorium, Sunday, March 6, 6:00 p.m.  The concert is part of national tour produced by Memphis based Heritage Entertainment, and will feature some of the biggest stars on the circuit today including Bobby Rush, The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston and Blue Lovette, Sir Charles Jones, Shirley Brown, Mel Waiters, and Latimore.



Les Kerr Bayou Band's 20th Annual Mardi Gras Concert - March 8 - Bluebird Cafe'

Les Kerr and The Bayou Band with the Bayou Horns Saxophone Section present the 20th annual Mardi Gras celebration at Nashville's world-famous Bluebird Cafe', 4104 Hillsboro Pike, Tuesday, March 8, 9:00 p.m.  The Fat Tuesday celebration is Nashville's longest running Mardi Gras event, complete with beads, doubloons, moon pies, johnny cakes and music.

Kerr who moved to Nashville in 1987, is a Lousiana native, who was raised in Jackson, Mississipi, and grew up on the Gulf Coast in Pascagoula, MS




Take 6 - March 10 - Blair School of Music's Ingram Hall

Ten-time GRAMMY winner's Take 6 will perform at the University School of Nashville's annual Music Night, Thursday, March 10, 7:30 p.m., at the Blair School of Music's Ingram Hall, 2400 Blakemore Ave., Nashville, TN.

Take 6 which features USN parent Mark Kibble, has performed with such musical greats as Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, and Michael McDonald.  They have also performed for four sitting U.S. Presidents.

 

Bruce Dudley with Strings - March 12 - Jazz Cave 

Piano virtuoso and composer Bruce Dudley will be the featured artist at the Nashville Jazz Workshop's Snap on 2&4 series, performing music from his new CD, "Mostly Monk," Saturday, March 12, 8:00 p.m. 


Joining Bruce for this very special performance will be Don Aliquo (saxophone), Jim Ferguson (bass), Jim White (drums), and a string quartet consisting of David Davidson and David Angel (violins), Monisa Angell (viola), and Sari Riest (cello) 


The Jazz Cave is located in the Nashville Jazz Workshop, 1319 Adams Street, Nashville, TN 




Jeff Coffin - March 13 - Frist Center For the Visual Arts

Saxophonist Jeff Coffin will be the featured artist at the Nashville Jazz Workshop's Jazz on the Move Series, Sunday, March 13, 3:00 p.m. at Nashville's Frist Center For the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway.


March's presentation is a departure from the usual format of the series, which is to focus on a historical figure, period or style.  This program entitled "The Art of Composition," will feature Coffin in a rare discussion and demonstration of how he approaches composition.  Besides being a local jazz icon, Jeff is known nationally and internationally for his work with Bela Fleck and the Dave Matthews Band.     






Al Di Meloa - March 18 - Schemerhorn Symphony Center

Former "Return to Forever" guitarist Al Di Meola will perform   Friday, March 18, 8:00 p.m., Laura Turner Concert Hall, Schemerhorn Symphony Center. 


Ever since his emergence with the group Return to Forever, Al Di Meola has been celebrated as one of jazz music's most gifted and versatile guitarists.  


More than just an astonishing technician, he is a musician of tremendous depth and sensitivity who brings grace, lyricism and sophistication to everything he does.  A prolific artist, he has explored a wide range of sounds and styles throughout his career, from flamenco to fusion, all punctuated with his jaw-dropping guitar wizardry. 




Tony Bennett - March 30 - TPAC 

The legendary Tony Bennett will perform at TPAC's Jackson Hall, March 30, 8:00 p.m.  


With worldwide record sales in the millions, and dozens of platinum and gold albums to his credit, singer, painter and author, NEA Jazz Master Tony Bennett is the recipient of fifteen GRAMMY awards, the Kennedy Center Honor, Billboard magazine's Century Award, two Emmy Awards, a Cable Ace Award, and the United Nations Citizen of the World award honoree. 


Tony Bennett is an artist who moves the hearts and touches the souls of audiences.  This is a rare opportunity to see a true legend.