Joel Frahm - New York Jazz Saxophonist

New York  tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm will be joining Canadian pianist Adrean Farrugia at BuckingJam Palace on Sunday, January 19th, 2020 at 8pm for a concert of intimate piano/saxophone duets. Juno award winner Adrean Farrugia has played on over forty albums including four as a leader. He first met New York saxophonist Joel Frahm in 1990 and a creative musical connection was formed that lead to the release of their 2018 duo album, Blued Dharma. Joel Frahm is recognized as one of the finest contemporary jazz saxophone players on the scene today.

Born in Racine, WI in 1969, Frahm attended the Mason Gross School for the Arts and earned his B.A. in Jazz Performance at Manhattan School of Music. He released three highly regarded CDs on Palmetto: The Navigator, Don’t Explain (with Brad Mehldau), and Sorry No Decaf. Don’t Explain, his latest, was the number one jazz release for radio play in the United States for two consecutive weeks in 2004, according to jazzweek.com airplay chart and also reached number one on college radio for one week, according to College Music Journal’s airplay chart. Joel was also recently selected in DownBeat Magazine’s Critics Poll as a Rising Star in the category of tenor saxophone.

Joel Frahm’s release, We Used to Dance, places him in the company of master musicians Kenny Barron (piano), Rufus Reid (bass), and Victor Lewis (drums). Frahm more than holds his own in showing both the chops and lyricism that has made him an irreplaceable part of so many sessions in his two decades on the jazz scene.

Surrounded by jazz legends, Frahm makes this recording a true coming out party for his maturing artistry. It is his most ambitious CD to date, featuring six of his original compositions that come to life in beautiful and variegated ways in the hands of this remarkable band. "It was an honour and a watershed experience to make this record with these incredible musicians" says Frahm.

Having made a name for himself through his associations with singer Jane Monheit and boyhood friend, pianist Brad Mehldau, Frahm hones his own voice on this breakout recording. Joel has also worked with a vast array of musical peers and jazz legends including Maynard Ferguson, Betty Carter, Matt Wilson, Larry Goldings, Dewey Redman, Lee Konitz, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Andrew Hill, Ben Allison, Pat Martino, Ingrid Jensen, Dena Derose, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Kyle Eastwood and many others.

Here's a compilation featuring some examples of Frahms explosive and dynamic saxophone style:

For concert information please visit the BuckingJam website or follow the Eventbrite link for ticket information:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/an-evening-with-adrean-farrugia-and-joel-frahm-tickets-77314001259

The Sam Taylor Quartet Featuring Larry McKenna - Saturday, January 25th 2020

“Patiently and lovingly devotes himself to the song…Nothing but rapt attention to the song, to melody, to the way a great artist can make us feel” – Michael Steinman, Jazz Lives

Hailed by All About Jazz as "wise beyond his years" and "remarkable" by Toronto Music Report, Philadelphia native, New York-based saxophonist Sam Taylor brings one of his heroes, saxophone legend, Larry McKenna, to BuckingJam Palace on January 25, 2020. Philadelphia tenor saxophonist Larry McKenna has played with Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and countless others. Sam Taylor released his second album, Along The Way, featuring Larry McKenna in November 2017. Joining them are two top tier New York musicians: Grammy Award winning bassist Paul Sikivie and drummer Pete Van Nostrand.

Featuring:

Sam Taylor – tenor saxophone

Larry McKenna – tenor saxophone

Paul Sikivie - bass

Pete van Nostrand - drums

For ticket information please visit www.buckingjampalace.com or the BJP eventbrite page.

 

Sam Taylor’s true jazz education began during his three years at Philadelphia’s High School for Creative and Performing Arts. Immersed in the deep tradition of Philadelphia’s jazz community, Taylor studied and performed with Chris Farr, Matt Levy, and Len Murphy. Dedication and love for music extended into the summer months, where he participated in distinguished programs: The Tanglewood Institute, Berklee College of Music Summer Jazz Workshop, The School for Improvisational Music, and Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. After receiving The Dennis Sandole Foundation Jazz Award, publishing in The Philadelphia Inquirer, and performing with exclusive ensembles in all major venues of Philadelphia, Sam left at the age of seventeen for New York City.

In 2001 Sam began his studies at Purchase College State University of New York. The next four years proved crucial to Sam’s development, with classroom and bandstand mentoring from Todd Coolman, Ralph Lalama, Jon Faddis, Javon Jackson, Pete Malinverni and John Riley. Quickly recognized for his talent and dedication, Taylor was given an opportunity to perform in Groningen, Holland as a guest soloist with the The Noord-Nederlands Conservatorium Symphonic Jazz Orchestra. Other performance highlights included an awards ceremony for Dave Brubeck at The National Arts Club, premiering his compositions with Jon Faddis at the Central Presbyterian Church of New York City, and performing in an eightieth birthday celebration for James Moody at The Performing Arts Center. This performance with James Moody was particularly exciting, playing to a packed theatre with saxophone legends Jimmy Heath, Frank Wess, Joe Lovano, Steve Wilson, Mark Turner and Ralph Lalama.

Since graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Music, Cum Laude, Sam has become an active member of the New York City jazz community. Featuring his own projects and collaborations, he has performed at numerous venues including Smalls Jazz Club, The National Arts Club, Cornelia Street Cafe, Fat Cat, and Webster Hall. Taylor can be found playing throughout the week at steady engagements in Hamilton Heights, Harlem and Midtown Manhattan. In addition to his busy performance schedule, Taylor also serves as artistic director for The West Harlem Jazz Festival

Taylor’s debut recording, My Future Just Passed, (released on Cellar Live, August 2015) was hailed by the Toronto Music Report as a “remarkable release”, with All About Jazz describing his playing as “wise beyond his years”. It features the masterful Taro Okamoto on drums along with bassist Aidan O’Donnell.

Along The Way, Taylor’s second album was released on Cellar Live, November 2017 featuring saxophone legend, Larry McKenna along with a top tier New York rhythm section: Jeb Patton, piano; Neal Miner, bass; Pete Van Nostrand, drums. In celebration of the release, Taylor performed along side Larry McKenna for two nights at The TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2018.

Larry McKenna is one of the world’s finest jazz saxophone players. He is known for his gorgeous, velvety sound, the unparalleled beauty of his balladry, and his fluid, bebop-inspired improvisations. For years, Larry’s status as a jazz great has been affirmed by his myriad fans and the jazz stars with whom he has played and recorded including Woody Herman, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney and Frank Sinatra.

Larry also is one of the most sought-out saxophone and jazz theory teachers in Philadelphia. He has taught countless students at University of the Arts, Temple University School of Music, West Chester University, Widener University, and Community College of Philadelphia. Many of his students have pursued successful careers in music. Larry’s influence, spanning decades, can be said to have established a Larry McKenna school of saxophone playing in the Philadelphia region.

In addition to being a frequent guest on recordings by other top jazz players, Larry has released three CDs under his own name to widespread critical acclaim. His most recent CD, “Profile” (Dreambox Media 2009), mixes jazz standards with Larry’s original compositions, including the lovely and poignant ballad “Perhaps This Wintertime” with lyrics by Melissa Gilstrap, premiered by vocalist Nancy Reed. His earlier CDs, “It Might As Well Be Spring” (Dreambox Media 2001) and “My Shining Hour – Music of Harold Arlen” (EPE Records 1995), received praise from jazz critics across the United States and Canada and remain in demand.

Music arranged by Larry McKenna has been performed on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and in the Nicholas Cage movie “Birdy,” in which Larry played and appeared. He has published many jazz-oriented arrangements for school concert bands which can be purchased from Northeastern Music Publications.

Larry resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with four cats (the feline variety).

 

BuckingJam Palace Winter Concerts!

Our Fall 2019 season at BuckingJam Palace was a success! There was lots of great music to be heard and many new friendships made. Thank you for your continued and enthusiastic support. Fortunately, we are just getting started! After a busy October and November we are taking a bit of a break but will resume with more great jazz concerts starting again in January 2020.

Here's a summary of what's coming up for Winter 2020 and what you can expect to hear at BuckingJam Palace:

January 19th, 2020

Adrean Farrugia & Joel Frahm

 

Toronto pianist Adrean Farrugia and New York tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm will be appearing as a duo on Saturday, January 19th, 2020 at BuckingJam Palace for two shows (2pm & 8pm).These two world-class musicians will be stopping in Calgary while touring Western Canada, performing music from their duet recording Blued Dharma.

Award winning pianist and composer Adrean Farrugia is one of Canada’s most distinct voices on the piano. Since the late 1990s Adrean has been in high demand as a freelance performer and educator. Keeping a busy touring schedule, mainly as a sideman, Adrean has toured extensively across Canada and the United States as well as in venues across Europe, Australia, the UK, Israel and in Japan. As a leader Adrean has released four albums. His second album Ricochet was nominated for a 2011 Juno award for best contemporary jazz recording. As a composer Adrean has penned more than 30 works to date.

Born in Racine, WI in 1969, tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm attended the Mason Gross School for the Arts and earned his B.A. in Jazz Performance at Manhattan School of Music. He released three highly regarded CDs on Palmetto: The Navigator, Don’t Explain (with Brad Mehldau), and Sorry No Decaf. Don’t Explain, his latest, was the number one jazz release for radio play in the United States for two consecutive weeks in 2004, according to jazzweek.com airplay chart and also reached number one on college radio for one week, according to College Music Journal’s airplay chart. Joel was also recently selected in DownBeat Magazine’s Critics Poll as a Rising Star in the category of tenor saxophone.

Having made a name for himself through his associations with singer Jane Monheit and boyhood friend, pianist Brad Mehldau, Frahm hones his own voice on this breakout recording. Joel has also worked with a vast array of musical peers and jazz legends including Maynard Ferguson, Betty Carter, Matt Wilson, Larry Goldings, Dewey Redman, Lee Konitz, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Andrew Hill, Ben Allison, Pat Martino, Ingrid Jensen, Dena Derose, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Kyle Eastwood and many others.

Featuring:

Joel Frahm - tenor saxophone
Adrean Farrugia - piano

 

January 25th, 2020

The Sam Taylor Quartet featuring Larry McKenna

 

Hailed by All About Jazz as "wise beyond his years" and "remarkable" by Toronto Music Report, Philadelphia native, New York-based saxophonist Sam Taylor brings one of his heroes, saxophone legend, Larry McKenna, to BuckingJam Palace on January 25, 2020. Philadelphia tenor saxophonist Larry McKenna has played with Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and countless others. Sam Taylor released his second album, Along The Way, featuring Larry McKenna in November 2017. Joining them are two top tier New York musicians: Grammy Award winning bassist Paul Sikivie and drummer Pete Van Nostrand.

Featuring:

Sam Taylor – tenor saxophone
Larry McKenna – tenor saxophone
Paul Sikivie - bass
Pete van Nostrand - drums

February 20th, 2020

Harrison^2

 

Harrison^2 (Harrison squared) is a Toronto-based modern jazz quartet that features two up-and-coming instrumentalists, Harrison Vetro and Harrison Argatoff, alongside two mainstays of the Canadian jazz scene, Mike Murley and Steve Wallace.

The group hatched from a chance encounter between Vetro and Wallace in early 2016, at the University of Toronto, while Vetro’s drum teacher (Nick Fraser) was on tour.  Wallace was asked to sub in for a lesson, with the aim of offering his wealth of experience and some new perspective. Argatoff was invited to join them at the end of the lesson and play some music as a trio. The band formed in September 2016, when the two Harrisons landed a gig at The Rex in Toronto and asked Mike Murley and Steve Wallace to join them. Harrison^2 is touring across Canada in the winter 2020, in support of their debut full length album.

Featuring:

Harrison Vetro - drums
Harrison Argatoff - tenor saxophone
Mike Murley - tenor saxophone
Steve Wallace - bass

March 21, 2020

The Claire Devlin Quartet

 

Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Claire Devlin is a Montreal-based saxophonist and composer. In 2012, she was the recipient of the Rising Young Star award at the Prince Edward County Jazz Festival, as well as receiving a scholarship to attend McGill University. Claire graduated from McGill in 2016 with a degree in Jazz Performance, having studied with musicians such as Chet Doxas, Rémi Bolduc, Frank Lozano, and pianist Jean-Michel Pilc. She also attended the Banff Jazz & Creative Music Workshop in 2017, where she met and studied with many wonderful musicians including Vijay Iyer, Linda Oh, Tyshawn Sorey, Jen Shyu, Gretchen Parlato, and Gary Bartz.The Claire Devlin Quartet performs at BJP on March 21, 2020, featuring music from their newly recorded debut album.

Featuring:

Claire Devlin - saxophone
Roman Munoz - guitar
Mathieu McConnell-Enright - bass
John Buck - drums

For ticket information, please visit the BuckingJam Palace website www.buckingjampalace.com or the BuckingJam Eventbrite page to purchase tickets.

This Saturday: The Lorna MacLachlan Quintet!

Calgary-based pianist, vocalist and composer Lorna MacLachlan appears at Calgary's BuckingJam Palace with her quintet this coming Saturday, November 9th (8pm).  She will be performing original music from her recent album Bicycle Riding in the Dark which was recently nominated for the 2019 Best Jazz Recording by the YYC Music Awards.

Lorna MacLachlan has been writing, arranging, and performing her own music for over 3 decades. “I’ve always written, it is my instrument”, explains the composer. She pursued composition and studied at the University of Calgary with Gregory Levin, Marilyn Engel and Allen Bell, to name a few but in her last year of her graduate degree she became very interested in combining the structure of “Art music and Electronic music” with the freedom of improvisation.

After completing a graduate degree in Composition and theory she embarked on a career as a composer providing award winning original music for Theatre, Dance and National media companies (CBC, Access Network) as well as a variety of commercial and artistic enterprises across the spectrum of music genres. She has recorded five full length albums of original music and has had support from FACTOR, the Alberta Foundation for the performing arts as well as the Canada Council. She continues to work on commissioned pieces for various groups but much of her focus today is writing for her quintet. This group has been performing together for 20 years with very small changes in players. Robin Tufts (drums), Richard Harding (Saxophones), Andre Wickenheiser (trumpet) and Jeremy Coates (bass) help bring Lorna’s instrumental and vocal pieces to life and to supportive audiences.

As well, Lorna has always been passionate about music education and believes strongly in helping to develop the talents of the next generation. She has taught privately as well as for the public and private school boards and has been recognized nationally for her dedication to excellence in music education.

For ticket information please visit:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lorna-maclachlan-tickets-67876898631