Way of the Sly Man

Dave Morgan & Friends were on top of their game last Friday night at the Lakeland Jazz Festival. Added some nice new wrinkles to Morgan’s The Way of the Sly Man. Here are a few pics from the show. My review will be published soon on All About Jazz.

Lakeland and Tri-C Announce Jazz Fest Lineups

Jazz festival time in Northeast Ohio is fast approaching. Lakeland celebrates its 40th festival this February 24 – 26, while Tri-C presents its 33rd shindig, April 19 – 29.

 

I’m especially looking forward to the performance by bassist Dave Morgan & Friends on the opening night of the Lakeland fest (assuming it’s not snowed out, which is always a big assumption). The group will be performing Morgan’s wonderful “The Way of the Sly Man” composition (in its entirety, I presume), plus Frank Zappa’s “Echidna’s Arf (Of You)” and new arrangements by Morgan featuring vocalist Shannon Eller. You can read my review of “The Way of the Sly Man” 2010 recording here.  

 

Highlights of the Tri-C JazzFest include bassist Esperanza Spalding (April 19) on the second stop of her “Radio Music Society” tour, Aretha Franklin (April 21), drummer Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts (April 25), and drummer Jack DeJohnette (April 26), who’ll be celebrating his 70th birthday this year.

 

Complete list of shows for both festivals follows.

 

40th Annual Lakeland Jazz Festival
February 24 – 26, 2012
Lakeland Community College Performing Arts Center

Friday, February 24
8:30a.m. – 4:30p.m. High School Performances & Adjudication
Adjudicators: Rich Shanklin (University of Akron); Dr. Kent Engelhardt (Youngstown State University); Bob Ferrazza (Oberlin College); Bill Ransom (Cleveland State University)

8 p.m. Concert: Dave Morgan & Friends – “The Way of the Sly Man”
$15 general public; $10 students

 

Saturday, February 25
9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. High School Performances & Adjudication
Adjudicators: Rich Shanklin (University of Akron); Dr. Kent Engelhardt (Youngstown State University); Bob Ferrazza (Oberlin College); Bill Ransom (Cleveland State University)

 

1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Lakeland College Invitational
Free and open to the public.  Featuring jazz ensembles from:
 – Cleveland State University Jazz Combo under the direction of Bill Ransom
 – Oberlin College Jazz Ensemble
 – University of Akron Fusion Ensemble under the direction of Mark Gonder

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Clinic with the Yellowjackets
The Yellowjackets will hold a free clinic to share their knowledge and expertise of jazz with developing and professional musicians. Free and open to the public.

8 p.m. Headline Concert: Yellowjackets
$25 general public; $15 students  

Sunday, February 26
4 p.m. Big Band Matinee
Featuring the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra & the Dave Banks Big Band
Tickets $10, $7 students

2012 Tri-C JazzFest Schedule:

Special JazzFest Preview Performances
Feb. 20, 7 p.m. – Presidents’ Day Invitational, Young Visiting Artists with Dominick Farinacci, Aaron Diehl, Charenee Wade, Cleveland Heights Singers & Tri-C JazzFest High School All-Stars, Tri-C Main Stage Theatre; tickets: $10

 Feb. 21, 8 p.m. – Eddie Baccus Sr., Cecil Rucker, Bobby Curry, Perry Williams III, Eddie Baccus Jr., and special guest Gene Walker at Karamu House; FREE

 April 16, 8 p.m. – Paul Samuel 4 and the Tri-C Trio + at Brothers Lounge; tickets $15

 Tri-C Jazz Fest Lineup

 April 19, 5 p.m. – Kick Off and Second Line at Public Square; free

April 19, 8 p.m. – Esperanza Spalding, Tri-C Metro Auditorium; tickets $30

 April 20, 8 p.m. – Smooth Jazz All-Stars with Brian Simpson, Peter White, Maysa, Norman Brown, Gerald Albright, Walter Beasley, State Theatre; tickets $30-45, call 216-241-6000

April 21, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. – Jazz for Kids, Children’s Museum of Cleveland; tickets $5 museum members, $10 general public, call 216-791-KIDS

April 21, 1 p.m. – A Tribute to Nina Simone with Kellylee Evans and Ki Allen, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, FREE

April 21 8 p.m. – An Evening with Aretha Franklin, sponsored by American Greetings, State Theatre; tickets $50-$75 call 216-241-6000

April 22, 4 p.m. – Ben Williams & Sound Effect, East Cleveland Public Library; tickets $10

April 22, 7 p.m. – Marcus Strickland, Black Box at Tri-C Metropolitan Campus; tickets $10

 April 23, 7 p.m. — Down Beat Invitational featuring The Tri-C Alumni Big Band with special guests Matt Wilson, Robert Hurst, Terell Stafford, Main Stage Theatre, Tri-C Metropolitan Campus; Tri-C JazzFest High School All-Stars will also perform; tickets $10

April 24, 7 p.m. – Thunder from the Heartland: Ernie Krivda, Renell Gonsalves, Bobby Floyd, Brad Goode, Jeff Grubbs, Bobby Broom, The Hermit Club; tickets $25

April 25, Noon – Swing Kids with Dominick Farinacci and Tri-C Jazz Studies Alumnni, Showtime at High Noon, State Theatre; FREE

April 25, 8 p.m. – Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts, Black Box at Tri-C Metropolitan Campus; tickets $25

April 26, 8 p.m. – The Jack DeJohnette Group, Main Stage Theatre, Tri-C Metropolitan Campus; tickets $30

April 27, 8 p.m. – Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue open for David Sanborn Trio featuring Joey DeFrancesco and Byron Landham, State Theatre; tickets $30 – $45, call 216-241-6000

April 28, 8 p.m. – An Evening with Diana Krall, sponsored by KeyBank, State Theatre; tickets $55-$85, call 216-241-6000

April 29, 7 & 9 p.m. – TCJF Soundworks, Nighttown; tickets $15, call 216-795-0550