The DC Jazz Festival® (DCJF) has announced that NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter, bandleader and maestro of the bass, and ace bassist Corcoran Holt will serve as the 2024 DC Jazz Festival’s Artists-In-Residence.

A 3-time Grammy winner and 5-time nominee, Ron Carter holds the Guinness Book of World Records distinction as the most recorded bassist in recorded music history.  Carter is universally recognized as our most prolific bassist.  As a leader, he has made over 60 recordings.  As an MVP contributor to more than 2,200 recordings, he has collaborated with a who’s who of American and global music, from Geri Allen, Miles Davis and Horace Silver to peers such as Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter to Aretha Franklin, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Paul Simon and Jefferson Airplane.  Additionally, Carter has passed along his universe of musical knowledge to succeeding generations as an educator.  He is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at City College of New York, and a faculty member at the Juilliard School. 

“Serving as DC Jazz Festival Artist-In-Residence is a new affiliation that I greatly relish and look forward to,” said Maestro Ron Carter. 

Ron Carter will share this residency with next-generation bassist Corcoran Holt, whose career he inspired.  A native of Washington, DC, Holt is a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the DC Youth Orchestra Program.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies degree from Shenandoah Conservatory.  Holt holds an Assistant Professorship at Arizona State University.  “My upbringing in Washington DC prepared me for my journey in life as a musician and educator. This DC Jazz Festival residency exemplifies coming full circle to my DC roots,” said Corcoran Holt. “I am truly honored to take part.” 

The aim of the Artist-In-Residence program, part of DC Jazz Festival Education, is to foster deeper connections between artists, DC Jazz Festival and the jazz community.  During the residency, artists serve as guest curators, collaborate with other artists, participate in master classes and interviews, and support DC Jazz Festival Education community engagement activities.

Learn more about the DC Jazz Festival and all of our programs by visiting www.dcjazzfest.org.

After raising over $100,000 for Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Neil Peart’s memory this past January, new artists are joining the cause. The complete list has been finalized for Bubba Bash 2024, being held January 6th at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA.

Returning from Bubba Bash 2023 for encore performances: 

Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, The Winery Dogs)
Frank Bello (Anthrax)
Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, Overkill)
Jon Dinklage (Clockwork Angels string ensemble)
Joe Bergamini (drum instructor, author)
John Wesley (Vertical Horizon)
Seven Antonopoulos (Opiate for the Masses) 

Additional guest artists added for 2024:

• Ed Toth, drummer with The Doobie Brothers since 2005.
• Andrés Patrick Forero, TONY, GRAMMY and EMMY award-winning drummer/percussionist.
• Rodney McG, bassist and founding member of progressive metal pioneers Iron Christ.
• Allan Lobo, Brazilian keyboardist and sound designer with The VST Academy.
• Dan Avidan, a.k.a. Danny Sexbang, vocalist for Ninja Sex Party.
• Cathy Rankin, entertainment personality and journalist will be guest-hosting.

Anchored by YYNOT, with Billy Alexander on guitar, Mike Hetzel on drums, Adi Argelazi on vocals, Tim Starace on bass, Bubba Bash 2024 promises to once again be truly triumphant. 

For a sample of the dedication and professionalism YYNOT and the guest artists bring to the stage, check out “La Villa Strangiato,” featuring Mike Portnoy:

Tickets are in short supply as of this writing. If you can’t get to the show, you can still participate by donating directly to Cedars-Sinai through the link below.

Executive producers: Michael Mosbach and Tim Starace

Tickets:  https://www.axs.com/events/502153/bubba-bash-2024-tickets
Cedars-Sinai:  https://giving.cedars-sinai.edu/neilpeartbraintumorresearch
YYNOT:  https://www.yynotband.com/
Mgmt:  Jason@lunaticworks.com
Contact:    yynotband@gmail.com

BASS WARRIOR TOUR…

Grammy® Award-winning bassist David Ellefson presents his inaugural BASS WARRIOR TOUR, gracing select European cities with a captivating evening of cherished classics, deep cuts, and insightful storytelling from his illustrious career. This journey will encompass his role as a co-founding member of MEGADETH, his ELLEFSON solo material, and more.

Ellefson, with enthusiasm, expressed, “I’ve approached my career as that of a musical warrior, always accompanied by my bass guitar. I eagerly anticipate bringing these songs back to the stage, while sharing introspective and entertaining anecdotes about their creation. It’s been a wild ride of low notes and high stakes!”

Accompanying him on this tour is Italian guitarist and musical director, Andy Martongelli, a longtime friend and collaborator who has been by Ellefson’s side during his solo ventures, BASSTORY®, ELLEFSON-SOTO, and ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE tours across Europe.

On drums Roberto Pirami (Michael Angelo Batio, Rowan Robertson, Gus G), on vocals Titta Tani (Ehfar, ex-drummer of Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin), on rhythm guitar Walter Cianciusi (Geoff Tate band).

For more information, visit online at:
www.davidellefson.com
www.basswarriortour.com

John Lodge Vocalist, Songwriter and Bass Player in the Moody Blues announces US tour dates…

John Lodge, legendary bass player, songwriter and vocalist of The Moody Blues, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, will be back on tour in February and March 2024 in the USA! Following the critically acclaimed sold out shows this year, John is continuing in his celebration of ‘The Moody Blues’ music, and the iconic album ‘Days of Future Passed.’

‘Performs Days of Future Passed’ encompasses a first set of electric Moodies classics featuring all the fan favourites such as ‘Isn’t Life Strange’, ‘Legend of a Mind’, ‘I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)’, ‘Ride my See-Saw’, and so much more. The second set will see John and his band perform the groundbreaking album ‘Days of Future Passed’ in its entirety and in full symphonic sound. There are exciting changes from the original show, with new classic songs and deep cuts, enhanced video and dazzling lighting, all coming together to make a very special evening of great music and Moodies memories…. Come take a journey back in time with John and his 10,000 Light Years Band as they create audio alchemy for your listening and visual pleasure!

As Beneath a Desert Sky said, ‘a must see show if you love classic progressive rock music or The Moody Blues music.‘

Tickets are on sale with VIP packages also available including a personal Video Message from John, autographed poster, tote, laminate and exclusive merch item! All ticket links at www.johnlodge.com/tour.

The show also features a special video and recording by the late, and missed, Graeme Edge of his poems ‘Morning Glory’ and ‘Late Lament’. Graeme wrote these poems for the album, but they were originally spoken by Mike Pinder. John asked Graeme to record them so that he could always be on stage with him. Jon Davison of YES also joins John to perform the classic songs, “Nights in White Satin” and ‘Tuesday Afternoon’. Jon is John’s son-in-law and great friend, having originally met back in 2019 on the ‘Royal Affair’ Summer Tour with YES, Asia, John and Carl Palmer.

“The show came about following conversations with Graeme, Alan (Hewitt) and Jon (Davison)… This album and these Moody Blues songs changed our lives, they may even have changed the fans lives, and I felt they deserved to still be heard and experienced live as they were originally intended. My hope is that coming to one of my shows, you can close your eyes and we can all take a moment to turn back the clock as we celebrate this music together. Alan, Jon, and my band have done an incredible job in realizing my vision. It was always important to me to remain true to the original whilst at the same time use modern sound and all the wonderful new technology to reveal the richness of these songs. The tour, as with the album, is dedicated to Graeme, Justin, Ray and Mike, and to every fan, whether they joined back in 1967, or on any day since”

‘Days of Future Passed’ was released 56 years ago, and was arguably the start of progressive rock. These songs began the long standing cross-over between rock and classical music, and the Moody Blues shows were always known for recreating this incredible sound, and for the wonderful atmosphere. John has surrounded himself with a band that are equally passionate, who put simply, love performing together, and who appreciate and respect the legacy of the music.

Dino Ciliberti recently reviewed one of John’s shows and said “to hear this one more time just shows the magic of music and an album that will always stand the test of time”, and Gary Graff, “a loving and precise recreation”. Come and be taken back to the live Moody Blues shows of the past, with songs you love, featuring John Lodge, and tributes to all his bandmates.

Joining John on stage is his ‘10,000 Light Years Band’, long term collaborator Alan Hewitt (Music Director and Keyboards) and Billy Ashbaugh (Drums) from the Moody Blues touring band, together with Duffy King (Guitars) and Jason Charboneau (Cello). Jon Davison of YES will also be joining him for his special renditions of ‘Nights in White Satin’ and ‘Tuesday Afternoon’, plus the magical voice of Graeme Edge. “Every time we hit the stage, I appreciate just how great this music is. I love to watch how much the John Lodge/ Moody Blues fans go on a musical journey with us during our shows.” Alan Hewitt, Oct 2023.

For further information please visit:
https://www.johnlodge.com/
https://www.facebook.com/johnlodgemusic/
https://twitter.com/johnlodgemusic
https://www.instagram.com/johnlodgemusic/
https://www.youtube.com/c/johnlodgemusic

Ron Carter brings The Golden Striker Trio, Great Big Band and Foursight Quartet to Birdland for his October residency…

NEA Jazz Master and bass virtuoso Ron Carter will grace audiences at Birdland Jazz Club once again this October. Returning to this iconic venue, Carter has taken the stage for his annual month-long residency, offering a total of 30 performances during a three-week stretch, which started on October 3 and runs through October 21. 

Renowned for his unmatched talent, Ron Carter stands as one of jazz’s most inventive and prolific bassists. With a staggering discography boasting over 2,000 albums, Carter is certified as the most recorded bass player in the history of recorded music. Honored with the prestigious 1998 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship, Carter’s collaborative footprint spans an astonishing spectrum of musical genres, with performances and recordings alongside an eclectic array of artists.

The first week spotlights Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio, featuring the virtuoso talents of Russell Malone on guitar and the luminary pianist Donald Vega. A reliable working unit for over 20 years, Carter’s trio is an international sensation and can frequently be found captivating audiences at top jazz festivals around the world. Malone is one of the world’s most versatile and well-loved guitarists with a career that includes stints with Jimmy Smith, Harry Connick, Jr., Diana Krall and more. Vega is a Nicaraguan-born American jazz pianist and music composer with an illustrious career that includes an eye-popping array of recording credits. This month, Vega is releasing a much-anticipated new album As I Travel. 

Carter’s Great Big Band takes the stage during week two. Last year, the large ensemble was a Birdland highlight – All About Jazz said in a review: “From the off, the band hit the ground and was running. What they were able to do was amplify the uniqueness of each piece in the repertoire as the band explored a wealth of tonal colors, grooves, and styles.” The program this year will likely pull from Carter’s two previously released big band albums including Ron Carter’s Big Band (Sunnyside, 2011) and Ron Carter and the WDR Big Band’s My Personal Songbook (In+Out Records, 2014).

Closing out the run will be a week with Carter’s Foursight Quartet, featuring an exceptional lineup of accomplished virtuosos Jimmy Greene on saxophone, Renee Rosnes on piano, and Payton Crossley on drum. “Their playing has real purpose, not just jamming in the spur of the moment — as rewarding as that can be,” said veteran critic Will Friedwald in his live review of last year’s quartet hit for The New York Sun. Hailing from Connecticut, Jimmy Greene stands as one of his generation’s most esteemed saxophonists, with an extensive catalog of recordings and a rich history as a sideman for luminaries such as Horace Silver and Freddie Hubbard. Similarly, pianist Renee Rosnes, originally from Vancouver, has forged an illustrious career marked by her collaborations with jazz legends like Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter. Her tenure with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the SFJAZZ Collective and her groundbreaking group Artemis have solidified her place in the jazz pantheon. Drummer Payton Crossley, who entered the jazz scene at a young age, made his mark alongside the great pianist Ahmad Jamal. His formative years included invaluable guidance from renowned drummer and teacher Alan Dawson, placing him firmly among the jazz major leagues. 

There is no better place to be than Birdland Jazz Club this October. Audiences are invited to witness a living legend at the top of his game in truly exceptional company.

Ron Carter is at Birdland Jazz Club October 3-7, 10-14, and 17-21. On Tuesday through Thursday, sets begin at 7:00 and 9:30 PM, and on Friday and Saturday, at 8:30 and 10:30. Tickets start at $30, and there is a $20 minimum. 

Each show will be streamed on Thursday at 7pm here: veeps.com/birdland.

See below for Ron Carter’s full Birdland schedule for October 2023, or visit https://birdlandjazz.com/calendar/.

Ron Carter Birdland Schedule:

October 3-7: Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio with Russell Malone on guitar and Donald Vega on piano
October 10-14: Ron Carter’s Great Big Band
October 17-21: Ron Carter’s Foursight Quartet