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Mondays, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, & 10/10, 2011, 7pm
Ticket Price: $15.00, + 2-drink minimum
Show Type: Jazz and Blues
Reservations: 212-206-0440
Four Mondays… four Masters…one voice. On four consecutive Mondays this Fall, jazz vocalist Kelley Suttenfield will take to the stage of the Metropolitan Room, joined each night by a different Master Guitarist: Joe Carbone (9/19), Tony Romano (9/26), Vic Juris (10/3), and Howard Alden (10/10), as well as bassist Matt Aronoff.
Featuring much-loved songs and a few new surprises, each performance will offer a personal glimpse into her life as she shares her own stories behind the music.
"I think some of the purest sounds come from some of the quietest moments, and I wanted to create a space to evoke and capture that mood. I also wanted the chance to play with some of the greatest guitarists in my own backyard, and this seemed like the perfect way to marry those two experiences." Up close and personal in an intimate setting, this concert series is not to be missed.
"Here’s a singer with a lot of great ideas, and the ability to deliver them… the closest thing I can compare it to is Madeleine Peyroux’s debut Dreamland…give me more!"
- George W. Harris, JazzWeekly
"Smoky, sultry fumes emanate from Kelley Suttenfield’s vocals like liquid fire. Here’s a gal who puts her entire being into the songs cradling the lyrics in her vocals and stoking the embers in the verses with a velvety touch."
- Susan Frances, JazzTimes
"Suttenfield and her band give a superb performance with this session of familiar songs; the creative ideas shown here indicate a deep appreciation for what’s most important in modern jazz."
- Jim Santella, L.A. Jazz Scene
"Once [Suttenfield] arrived on the bandstand, she immediately made her mark...her phrasing had a distinctive country-style edge."
– Clive Davis, The [London] Times
JOE CARBONE
Joe Carbone is noted for his work as a singers' accompanist. He has worked with everyone from Sammy Davis Jr. to Jerry Vale, Frankie Laine and 60's idols Fabian and Bobby Rydell. More detailed description to come...
TONY ROMANO
Tony Romano has been active in the New York music scene for many years as a guitarist, music director, arranger, and teacher. Just Jazz Guitar Magazine wrote “his tone is beautiful and soulful, and his remarkable technique is a servant to his rich musical imagination and broad harmonic palette” (February 2009). With a wide range of playing styles, Tony has toured worldwide and performed with many notable Latin, Jazz, and pop/broadway artists, including Joe Bataan, Dave Valentine, Candido Camero, Yomo Toro, Randy Brecker, Joel Frahm, Tim Armacost, Thomas Chapin, Brit Woodman, Santi DeBriano, Steve LaSpina, Stanley Jordan, Debbie Gibson, Alex Gemignani, Mary Foster Conklin, Chuck Cooper, and Frank Wright. Tony’s guitar work can be heard on all 52 episodes of the BBC’s show "Third and Bird”. He has also performed for the Discovery Channel’s mini series “Going, Going, Gone!” as well as on NPR Broadcasts, and appearances on the NBC Today show in New York, Telemundo (New Jersey) and the ABC Morning Show in both Chicago and Atlanta. Tony is adjunct faculty at Five Towns College as well as a Teaching Artist for the Kupferberg Center at Queens College. He has an MA in Jazz Performance from the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College, CUNY.
VIC JURIS
From the wilds of Manhattan to the shores of Japan and Germany, jazz guitarist Vic Juris has covered an impressive range of territory, musically as well as geographically. Inspired by rock and roll legend Chuck Berry, the Jersey City native first picked up a guitar at the age of ten. With no musicians in the family, he taught himself to play and was soon appearing with rock and R&B bands throughout the tri-state area. But the young rocker's taste soon changed. In his late teens Vic discovered jazz and classical music. He was hooked. From there it was on to a career with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Chico Hamilton, Dave Liebman, Richie Cole, Mel Torme, Eddie Jefferson and Nancy Wilson. From the beginning Vic's voracious appetite for new musical experiences led him to explore any and every jazz artist he could hope to learn from. He drew on other idioms as well: blues, swing, bebop. In a less sensitive and technically accomplished musician this expansive vocabulary might descend into cacophony. But Vic's highly developed sense of composition, his skill at fusing traditional jazz guitar with other forms of expression, has made him an eloquent and popular conversationalist. Eagerly sought out by his fellow musicians, he has provided accompaniment for numerous recordings.
In the mid eighties Vic teamed up with the phenomenally talented guitarist Bireli LaGrene during an engagement at Fat Tuesday's, a New York City jazz club. Vic and LaGrene, a young gypsy whose spirited style recalls that of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt, began playing together regularly. Their popular performances were charged with the intensity of two masters challenging each other to new heights. One thing led to another. Vic and LaGrene toured Europe together. They recorded Bireli LaGrene Live, featuring Vic Juris for the German label Jazzpoint. It was during this time that Vic started spending a lot of time on the continent. He toured with alto saxophonist Richie Cole; pianist and composer Michel Legrand and then again as part of a guitar trio with Bireli LaGrene and Englishman John Etheridge. Vic found a warm welcome in Europe, where audiences are somewhat more sophisticated in their appreciation of jazz. European promoters were quick to book him, confident that he would draw a crowd. While spending much of his time in Europe, Vic nevertheless managed to keep busy back in the states. He often teamed up with guitarist Larry Coryell playing festivals and Jazz Clubs throughout the country. He also traveled with Gary Peacock in duet throughout the European circuit. Vic has been a member of the David Liebman group since 1991. This band has recorded 10 CDs, traveled throughout Europe, Japan, Israel, and the United States throughout the 1990s and is still going strong till this day. He was a member of the Gary Peacock Quartet and musical director of the Charles Mingus Guitar Quintet. Vic performed at George Wein's J.V.C. Festival, in duets with John Abercrombie and Russell Malone. He performs with Jeremy Steig, James Moody, Charlie Mariano to name a few.
As a leader Vic Juris is performing in the U.S. and in European venues. His own quartet includes saxophonist Dick Oatts. Vic's band has recorded records on Steeple Chase, "Night Tripper", "Pastels" 1997, "Moonscape" 1998, "Remembering Eric Dolphy" 2000. His CD "Songbook" hit top 10 pics in 2000. Vic has also recorded on Double Time Records "Music of Alec Wilder." Vic's 2004 release of "Blue Horizon" listed him as top pics for the year 2004. Mr. Juris is currently recording for the Mel Bay label for release in the spring of 2005. Vic currently tours as a special guest, with his own band or in duo with vocalist Kate Baker. Vic Juris is also one of the leading jazz educators throughout the world. He has written two books published by Mel Bay, "Vic Juris Inside/Outside: Original Play-Along Modern Jazz Guitar Solos" and "Modern Chords:Advanced Harmony for Guitar". Both books are highly regarded by up and coming guitarists. He currently teaches at The New School for Social Research, Rutgers University, and Lehigh University. He has conducted clinics throughout the US and Europe.
HOWARD ALDEN
“He may be the best of his generation,” writes Owen Cordle in JAZZ TIMES. George Kanzler of the NEWARK STAR LEDGER proclaims that he is “the most impressive and creative member of a new generation of jazz guitarists.” And Chip Deffaa of the NEW YORK POST observes that he is “ ...one of the very finest young guitarists working today.” It seems that the only thing regarding Howard Alden on which the critics have debate is whether the remarkable jazz guitarist is one of the best or simply the best.
Born in Newport Beach, California, in 1958, Howard began playing at age ten, inspired by recordings of Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Benny Goodman, as well as those by guitarists Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and George Van Eps. Soon he was working professionally around Los Angeles playing in groups ranging from traditional to mainstream to modern jazz. In 1979, Alden went east, for a summer in Atlantic City with vibraphone legend Red Norvo, and continued to perform with him frequently for several years. Upon moving to New York City in 1982, Alden's skills, both as soloist and accompanist, were quickly recognized and sought-out for appearances and recordings with such artists as Joe Bushkin, Ruby Braff, Joe Williams, Warren Vache` and Woody Herman. He has continued to win accolades from critics and musicians alike, adding Benny Carter, Flip Phillips, Mel Powell, Bud Freeman, Kenny Davern, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie and George Van Eps, as well as notable
contemporaries such as Scott Hamilton and Ken Peplowski to his list of impressive credits.
Howard Alden's recordings for Concord Jazz beginning in the late ʻ80s captured an artist of consistently astonishing virtuosity and originality. One of the many highlights in Howard Alden's career came in 1991 when he recorded with one of his all-time heroes, seven-string guitar innovator and master George Van Eps on the album THIRTEEN STRINGS. As a result of his association with - and inspiration from - George
Van Eps, Alden has been playing the seven-string guitar exclusively since 1992. The seven string guitar imparts a greater range and harmonic richness to Alden's already colorful tonal palette, as evidenced on three remarkable follow-up albums with Van Eps, his critically acclaimed duo recordings with saxophonist/clarinetist Ken Peplowski, and the stunning interplay between Alden and tenor saxophonist Frank Wess on YOUR STORY-THE MUSIC OF BILL EVANS. Alden also teamed up with fellow guitarists Jimmy Bruno and Frank Vignola to record a three guitar outing entitled THE CONCORD JAZZ GUITAR COLLECTIVE, which was quickly called by some critics “an instant classic!”. Alden's recording from 1996 TAKE YOUR PICK serves to underline Howard's wide scope of knowledge of jazz literature. Throughout the disc, one is amazed at how skillfully Alden delivers interpretations with fresh surprises. Michael Moore, Bill Goodwin, Lew Tabackin, and Renee Rosnes combine with Alden to bring exciting interplay and thrills around every corner to the ten standard and lesser known gems handpicked for this recording. Released in honor of Concord's 25th anniversary was a duo recording with fellow guitarist Jimmy Bruno, FULL CIRCLE teamed with the very first Concord release JAZZ/CONCORD featuring Herb Ellis and Joe Pass.
Howard can be heard on the soundtrack to the 1999 Woody Allen movie “Sweet and Low Down”, starring Sean Penn, who was also nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the legendary (but fictional!) jazz guitarist in the ʻ30s, “Emmett Ray” . Howard not only played all the guitar solos, but also taught Mr. Penn to play the guitar for his role in the film. The London Observer has this to say about Alden's solo guitar CD, “MY SHINING HOUR”; “If there is such a thing as a complete jazz guitarist, then Alden is it. Only a real virtuoso can sustain a whole CD of solo guitar with the aplomb he displays here.” 2003 saw the release of “IN A MELLOW TONE”, a duo recording with seven-string guitar legend and frequent collaborator, Bucky Pizzarelli. In 2004 Howard was the Guitarist (and musical director) chosen for an all-star line-up commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival which appeared in 50 cities of the United States in addition to their appearance at Newport. The 2005-2006 season saw Howard adding his acoustic guitar voice to violinist Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing on his national concert tour. His latest recording, “I REMEMBER DJANGO”, once again features his distinctive acoustic sound, developing and expanding the warm and elegant spirit of his performance in “Sweet and Low Down”. Howard Alden was voted “Best Emerging Talent-Guitar” in the first annual JAZZTIMES critics' poll, 1990, and “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” in the 1996, 1992, 1993 and 1995 DOWNBEAT critics' poll. In February of 2009, Howard was recognized as a “Modern Maestro”, one of DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE'S 75 Great Guitarists of all time!
MATT ARONOFF
Matt Aronoff is a bassist and composer whose musical interests lie in almost any genre, from jazz to classical to world music to rock. He received his Bachelor's degree in Classical Double Bass Performance from Carnegie Mellon University; where he studied with Anthony Bianco, Jeff Turner and Eric Kloss. After some time living and playing in Spain, Puerto Rico and Boston he decided to continue his formal education and was accepted to and graduated from Manhattan School of Music. He studied with Harvie S and John Riley while attending MSM. Since receiving his Masters in Jazz Perfomance he has had the pleasure of performing, recording or touring with many great artists such as Luciana Souza, The New York Voices, Larry Koonse, Peter Eldridge, Spencer Day, Alan Cumming, Mark Soskin, Joel Frahm, Clarence Penn, Kendrick Scott, Chris Potter, Audra McDonald, Jeremy Pelt, Romero Lubambo, Alon Yavnai, Ben Wittman, Keith Ganz, Swiss Chris (John Legend), Anat Cohen, George Mesterhazy, Claudia Acuna, Sandra Bernhard and Justin Bond. In addition to working as a sideman, he currently leads his own group, "Woolgathering". For more info: mattaronoff.com
