Johnny O’Neal -Piano
TBA

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

About Johnny O’Neal

«“Critics and peers acknowledge Mr. O’Neal as perhaps the leading exponent of mid-20th-century jazz piano technique. “He’s a very special cat,” said the pianist Barry Harris, 84, a bebop luminary who mentored Mr. O’Neal in the 1970s and ’80s. “If ever somebody sounded like Art Tatum, it’s him. He’s got it all.”» The New York Times

Johnny O’Neal is a legendary jazz pianist, having performed both as a leader as well as with luminaries such as: Art Blakey (including a one year stint as a member of Blakey’s ‘Jazz Messengers’ ensemble), Clark Terry, Milt Jackson, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Nancy Wilson, Joe Pass, Lionel Hampton, Anita O’Day, Sonny Stitt, Carmen MacRae, Kenny Burrell, Benny Golson, Sarah Vaughn, Wynton Marsalis, and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, among others.

His father, Johnny O’Neal, Sr., was a well-known jazz pianist and singer in Detroit.

He started his career at age 13 working at New Bethel Baptist Church in his home town of Detroit, MI as church pianist on Sundays for $10 per service. At the time New Bethel was pastored by the legendary Reverend C.L. Franklin, father of Aretha Franklin.

His career hit a high when Director Taylor Hackford selected him to play jazz virtuoso Art Tatum in the 2004 biopic Ray (2004), exposing O’Neal to music lovers unfamiliar with his work.

Myriam Phiro – Vocals
TBA

Celebrate Father’s Day at the Birthplace of Bebop with Chanteuse Extraordinaire Myriam Phiro.
Live music and Brunch from Noon to 4pm

Christopher McBride – Saxophone
Kate Kelsey-Sugg  – Vocals
Jonathan Edward Thomas – Organ
Curtis Nowosad – Drums

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

Superb alto saxophonist Christopher McBride has been slowly but steadily turning heads with his ubiquitous work as an invaluable sideman since the mid-aughts. Now Christopher is gaining respect amongst fans, critics and his peers as one of the most versatile musicians in the world. His 2012 debut album Quatuor de Force certainly establishes his ability to front a group and write his own soulful, melodically indelible tunes. Applauded for his ability to play in all musical situations, McBride has the ability to unleash a fiery attack and serrated tone, but on his recent album he explores a more measured, mellow sound heavily influenced by contemporary R&B—with a strong shot of Cannonball Adderley’s post-bop sensuality–but his improvising is very rigorous and cogent.

Jenn Jade Ledesna – Vox
Emily Sgouros – Vibes
Liya Grigoryan – Piano
Brandi Disterheft – Bass
Sanah Kadoura – Drums

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

Raphael Baccus Productions Presents:

La Femme Fatale

The strength of this lineup underscores dramatically the contributions that women are making in Jazz and have always made.

As is true with other art forms and other areas of human endeavor, women’s accomplishments in jazz often have been overlooked or dismissed. The truth is, women have contributed significantly to jazz virtually since the dawning of the music early in this century.

If you were to look at the Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, you might get the false impression that there are no women instrumentalists in jazz, save Lil Hardin’s presence on a couple of her husband’s tracks. Sadly, there is no equivalent compilation that chronologically traces women’s contributions, and female instrumentalists were typically under-recorded.

Women have played all jazz instruments successfully, though none has been promoted, marketed or presented with the muscle that record companies typically lavish on male virtuosos.

By banding together and forming this incredible band, these gifted musicians are claiming their share of glory.

Ladies and Gentlemen, La Femme Fatale – The Ladies of Jazz

Syndee Winters – Voice
Andromeda Turre – Voice
Michael Eckroth- Keys
Taylor Jones – Guitar
Rueben De la Corte’s – Guitar
Maryann Mcsweeney – Bass
Orion Turre – Drums

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

About the Performer

Antonio Ciacca – Piano

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

About Antonio Ciacca

Born in Germany in 1969, raised in Italy and educated in the United States, pianist, composer, and arts-presenter Antonio Ciacca began his career in jazz as a sideman for Art Farmer, James Moody, Lee Konitz, Jonny Griffin, Mark Murphy, Dave Liebman, and Steve Grossman. Grossman’s influence in particular— with whom Ciacca studied for three years—proved an important inspiration for Ciacca’s own style. In 1993, Ciacca moved to Detroit to study at Wayne State University with Kenny Barron, after which he studied privately with Jackie Byard in New York. Whilst living in Detroit, he was first exposed to gospel music, an influence he soon integrated it into his own developing style as a composer and performer; Ciacca eventually went on to produce a CD for the Detroit Gospel Singers.

1997 proved a key year for Ciacca, as saxophonist Steve Lacy invited Ciacca to join his quartet in a collaboration that would last for seven years. The same year, Antonio Ciacca met Wynton Marsalis, who would later become Ciacca’s colleague at Jazz at Lincoln Center, while Marsalis was performing in Italy with Elvin Jones. The following year, Ciacca began performing with saxophonist Benny Golson, who would continue to be a collaborator in Ciacca’s career.

In 2007, Antonio Ciacca entered arts administration in the United States and assumed the role of Director of Programming at Jazz at Lincoln Center, working alongside Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis until 2011. From 2009 to 2012 Ciacca has been instructor at Juilliard School in New York teaching Business of Jazz.

In 2011 became Artist in Residence at the Setai Hotel later Langham Place Hotel)on fifth avenue and 36th street in New York City. In 2013 market the Carnegie Hall debut where he performed with his trio (Paul Gill on bass and Peter Van Nostrand on drums) and with the New York Pops playing his music. In the fall of 2015 Antonio Ciacca has been appointed Artist in Residence at the Pierre Hotel in NYC and Composer in Residence at Shiloh Baptist Church in New Rochelle, NY. In May 2016 the Orchestra Giovanile del Teatro Garibaldi in Lucera (Italy) premiered his symphony n. 1 in G minor. In December 2016 Ciacca embarked on his first tour as conductor/composer and arranger with the Orchestra ICO Della Magna Grecia featuring Nate Brown and One Voice on a Christmas/Gospel tour in Italy.

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

Mention Latin Jazz Series
When making your reservation for a chance to win Dinner for 2 at The Cecil Steakhouse and an engraved Commemorative 80th Anniversary Johnnie Walker Blue bottle

About John Benitez

A recent review in DownBeat hails John Benitez as “one of today’s top ranking bassists.” Since moving to New York almost two decades ago,The Multigrammy bassist has performed with a staggering roster of iconic artists, including Chick Corea, John Scofield, Chucho Valdez , Celia Cruz Tito Puente, Roy Hargrove, Danilo Perez,Michael Camilo,Luis Salinas ,The Mingus Big Band, The artist Joe(r&b) and Eddie Palmieri, who once declared John to be “the best bass player in the world.”

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, John got his start early, enrolling in the Escuela Libre de Musica at the age of thirteen. He later completed additional studies at the University of Puerto Rico and
the Puerto Rico Conservatory, where he apprenticed under Federico Silva. Yet his thirst for knowledge soon brought him to New York, where he continued his education under the tutelage of Ron Carter at the City University of New York.

John is a five -time Grammy winner, recognized for his contributions to Roy Hargrove’s Habana, Bebo Valdez’s Bebo de Cuba, and Eddie Palmieri’s Listen Here! The bassist also
appears on Grammy nominated recordings by David Sánchez and Conrad Herwig.
In 2011, John released his second album Purpose (Seed Music), which features a core ensemble including the pianist Manuel Valera, the guitarist Tom Guarna, the alto
saxophonist Will Vinson, and John’s son, the drummer Francis Benitez, Pedro Martinez  as well as special guests. DownBeat calls it “enthralling .

Davis Whitfield – Piano

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

About the Performer

Davis Whitfield is the son of two jazz musicians. Davis’ early years were filled with music. He began playing the guitar at age 5, and moved to Jersey City, New Jersey at 8 where he began studying the piano. While attending high school, Whitfield was accepted by the Jersey City University Visual and Performing Arts Program and served as the principal pianist in its jazz ensemble for four years. In 2008, Whitfield became the assistant director for the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra, writing arrangements and performing weekly at the Jazz Standard in New York City. Whitfield received full scholarships to attend the Berklee Summer Jazz Workshop in 2009 and 2010. He also received a scholarship from the National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts in 2011. As a member of the Inna Dudukina Quartet, Whitfield performed in the 2013 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival in Nancy, France and in the Summer of 2014 he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from Berklee College Of Music on a Presidential Scholarship. He is honored to play on the stage where his legendary forefathers (and his actual father) have shared their artistry.

Welcome to Minton’s Playhouse Davis.

Chelsea Baratz + Jenn Jade Ledesna + Zaccai Curtis trio

Each week Ms. Jenn Jade features an internationally acclaimed, virtuosic guest vocalist + beast Power Trio!

In honor of Minton’s tradition, this cutting session is OPEN to jammers & flappers!

About Jenn Jade Ledesna

Sweet, seductive songstress JENNIFER JADE LEDESNA, a multilingual NYC native, is an alumnus of the New School Jazz Conservatory & of the “Famed” LaGuardia Arts. A true vaudevillian at heart, Equity actress, & vocal jet setter, Ms. Jade often performs at “Aux Trois Mailletz” in Paris. She has sung at Carnegie Hall with Bobby McFerrin in the “Instant Opera! Young Artists Concert,” in the World Premiere Tour of “Chapel/Chapter” with the electric Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company, She graced the stage once again last summer at Norway’s International “Silda Jazz Festival” and just tore down the house in Lausanne at the CHORUS Jazz Club in Switzerland!

Classically trained, Jennifer has studied with such masters as: Jim Carson, Anna Ext, Wynton Marsalis, Buster Williams, and Wycliffe Gordon. She studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and the Bob McAndrew Studio, modern dance at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and clarinet at Dalcroze. Jenn has also toured nationally in Theatreworks USA’s jazz musical “Corduroy.” Some of her favorite roles include: The Wiz (Dorothy), Company (Marta), Carousel (Julie Jordan), Ntozake Shange’s Lulu En La Habana (Lulu), West Side Story (Maria), & I Am New York: Juan Rodriguez (Ama Caruka).

Jenn Jade has had the spectacular honor of being invited twice, consecutively, to the prestigious Kennedy Center Millennium Stage to debut her original compositions in the highly selective “Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residencies of 2008 & 2009!” In Switzerland, she was a Finalist in the historical”Montreux Jazz Festival International Voice Competition 2007!” At the Kurt Elling Master Class, IAJE 2008 in Toronto, Canada she received an award for “Outstanding Musicianship.” On television, Ms. Ledesna was featured on: Fox 5 “Good Day Street Talk”; Santiago de Chile’s “Cultura Y Tiempo Libre”; France 2 “Envoye Special” Broadway; & recently on Bronx News 12. She has also appeared as a Semi-Finalist on CBS 2’s “Nueva Estrella Awards” – a Latin idol competition. JJ has also graced the cover of The New York Times in the articles: “ In The South Bronx, The Arts Beckon” , “True Economic Barometer? How About Bowling”, & Boite: “Soulful Music At Its Heart”.

As a bandleader, Jenn Jade can be found gigging all around NYC, from Lincoln Center to the enchanting caves of Paris, to your local juke joint! She has toured: Argentina, Austria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Morocco, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, and Brazil, where she was an “Ambassador of Song” for the US-Brazilian Consulate.

Ms. Jade has had the wondrous opportunity to perform and/or record with world renowned artists such as: ELEW, Woz Kaly, Victor Goines, Reggie Workman, Hector Martignon, Robert Glasper, Joatan Nascimento, Dave Valentin, John Benitez, Benny Powell, Manu Lanvin, Wycliffe Gordon, Junior Mance, Tarus Mateen, Victor Jones, Bobby Sanabria, Nori Shiota, Vincent Gardner, Candido Camero, David Antonio Cruz, Bobby McFerrin, Wynton Marsalis, and Bill T. Jones, among others.

Jennifer is currently composing her sophomore album; “TRUTH”, her debut release, is all original music!

Irwin Hall – Saxophone
TBA

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

About Irwin Hall

“Reed player Hall is someone Gardot discovered while on tour in Japan. He shone in his solo…showing a mastery of both traditional and modern jazz idioms with an understated sound that highlighted the originality of his improvisation.”
Victor Schermer, All About Jazz

IRWIN HALL is an award-winning internationally renowned saxophonist, flutist and clarinetist. He got his first saxophone at his public elementary school’s music lottery and quickly fell in love with the instrument. He secured his first pro gig at 11 years old and started winning several local, regional, and national music competitions while performing throughout the country. He attended Princeton University on a full ride to study East Asian foreign relations. He learned Japanese and after graduating moved to Tokyo, Japan to work as a research assistant to the Editor-In-Chief at a major Japanese newspaper. But he was unable to resist his calling, and not long after, while at the Tokyo Jazz Festival, he ran into songstress Melody Gardot who heard him play and immediately hired him to tour with her band. He quit his job, packed his bags and went on back-to-back international tours as the featured soloist with Melody, earning rave reviews and write-ups around the world. He has since gone on to tour, perform, and record with 3x Grammy/Tony Award winning NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater, soul icon John Legend, bass virtuoso Charnett Moffett, and countless more. He has performed in cities around the world including London, Tokyo, Prague, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Paris, Pori, Shanghai, Melbourne, etc and continues to perform and lead his own band.

Irwin’s musical passions also extend into the classroom. He has taught privately and in classroom settings around the world, including the US, Japan, Switzerland, and China. His experience ranges from private instruction through group classes running clinics on improvisation, music theory, and woodwind performance. His international clinics include appearances at the Waseda University High Society Jazz Orchestra in Tokyo, Japan, Happy-Go-Lucky Big Band in Hong Kong, and the Scuola di Musica Modema in Lugano, Switzerland.​ Irwin currently serves as the Performance Instructor for the Quest Youth Organization in Brooklyn, NY and teaches privately.

Christopher McBride – Saxophone
Marcelino Feliciano  – Vocals
Jonathan Edward Thomas – Organ
Curtis Nowosad – Drums

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

Superb alto saxophonist Christopher McBride has been slowly but steadily turning heads with his ubiquitous work as an invaluable sideman since the mid-aughts. Now Christopher is gaining respect amongst fans, critics and his peers as one of the most versatile musicians in the world. His 2012 debut album Quatuor de Force certainly establishes his ability to front a group and write his own soulful, melodically indelible tunes. Applauded for his ability to play in all musical situations, McBride has the ability to unleash a fiery attack and serrated tone, but on his recent album he explores a more measured, mellow sound heavily influenced by contemporary R&B—with a strong shot of Cannonball Adderley’s post-bop sensuality–but his improvising is very rigorous and cogent.

Featuring Marcelino Feliciano

Syndee Winters – Voice
Andromeda Turre – Voice
Michael Eckroth- Keys
Taylor Jones – Guitar
Rueben De la Corte’s – Guitar
Maryann Mcsweeney – Bass
Orion Turre – Drums

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

About the Performer

John Cowherd -Piano
TBA

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

About Antonio Ciacca

Born in Germany in 1969, raised in Italy and educated in the United States, pianist, composer, and arts-presenter Antonio Ciacca began his career in jazz as a sideman for Art Farmer, James Moody, Lee Konitz, Jonny Griffin, Mark Murphy, Dave Liebman, and Steve Grossman. Grossman’s influence in particular— with whom Ciacca studied for three years—proved an important inspiration for Ciacca’s own style. In 1993, Ciacca moved to Detroit to study at Wayne State University with Kenny Barron, after which he studied privately with Jackie Byard in New York. Whilst living in Detroit, he was first exposed to gospel music, an influence he soon integrated it into his own developing style as a composer and performer; Ciacca eventually went on to produce a CD for the Detroit Gospel Singers.

1997 proved a key year for Ciacca, as saxophonist Steve Lacy invited Ciacca to join his quartet in a collaboration that would last for seven years. The same year, Antonio Ciacca met Wynton Marsalis, who would later become Ciacca’s colleague at Jazz at Lincoln Center, while Marsalis was performing in Italy with Elvin Jones. The following year, Ciacca began performing with saxophonist Benny Golson, who would continue to be a collaborator in Ciacca’s career.

In 2007, Antonio Ciacca entered arts administration in the United States and assumed the role of Director of Programming at Jazz at Lincoln Center, working alongside Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis until 2011. From 2009 to 2012 Ciacca has been instructor at Juilliard School in New York teaching Business of Jazz.

In 2011 became Artist in Residence at the Setai Hotel later Langham Place Hotel)on fifth avenue and 36th street in New York City. In 2013 market the Carnegie Hall debut where he performed with his trio (Paul Gill on bass and Peter Van Nostrand on drums) and with the New York Pops playing his music. In the fall of 2015 Antonio Ciacca has been appointed Artist in Residence at the Pierre Hotel in NYC and Composer in Residence at Shiloh Baptist Church in New Rochelle, NY. In May 2016 the Orchestra Giovanile del Teatro Garibaldi in Lucera (Italy) premiered his symphony n. 1 in G minor. In December 2016 Ciacca embarked on his first tour as conductor/composer and arranger with the Orchestra ICO Della Magna Grecia featuring Nate Brown and One Voice on a Christmas/Gospel tour in Italy.

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

Mention Latin Jazz Series
When making your reservation for a chance to win Dinner for 2 at The Cecil Steakhouse and an engraved Commemorative 80th Anniversary Johnnie Walker Blue bottle

About John Benitez

A recent review in DownBeat hails John Benitez as “one of today’s top ranking bassists.” Since moving to New York almost two decades ago,The Multigrammy bassist has performed with a staggering roster of iconic artists, including Chick Corea, John Scofield, Chucho Valdez , Celia Cruz Tito Puente, Roy Hargrove, Danilo Perez,Michael Camilo,Luis Salinas ,The Mingus Big Band, The artist Joe(r&b) and Eddie Palmieri, who once declared John to be “the best bass player in the world.”

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, John got his start early, enrolling in the Escuela Libre de Musica at the age of thirteen. He later completed additional studies at the University of Puerto Rico and
the Puerto Rico Conservatory, where he apprenticed under Federico Silva. Yet his thirst for knowledge soon brought him to New York, where he continued his education under the tutelage of Ron Carter at the City University of New York.

John is a five -time Grammy winner, recognized for his contributions to Roy Hargrove’s Habana, Bebo Valdez’s Bebo de Cuba, and Eddie Palmieri’s Listen Here! The bassist also
appears on Grammy nominated recordings by David Sánchez and Conrad Herwig.
In 2011, John released his second album Purpose (Seed Music), which features a core ensemble including the pianist Manuel Valera, the guitarist Tom Guarna, the alto
saxophonist Will Vinson, and John’s son, the drummer Francis Benitez, Pedro Martinez  as well as special guests. DownBeat calls it “enthralling .

Judi Jackson -Vocals
TBA

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

About Judi Jackson

Judi Jackson is a multi-talented actor and jazz vocalist from Roanoke, Virginia born in 1993. With a “great tone, and poise that is beyond her years (Roanoke Times),” Judi has performed on a variety of stages with a myriad of world-class talents. Judi was introduced to the world of jazz through the Jefferson Center’s Music Lab, a school for young artists and musicians to learn, practice, and perform their talents. At the age of 14 Judi was fortunate enough to meet Wynton Marsalis at the Jefferson Center performance hall after a show. He sent her a box of music the following Christmas that became the seed of inspiration for her development as a jazz vocalist. She began listening to and studying the sounds of Blossom Dearie, Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughn, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mahalia Jackson, amongst many other greats. She continued studying over the next several years and started gaining more experience as a performer by opening for acts such as Mavis Staples. Shortly thereafter she released her first album, “Crashing down” with Judi and the Giants, on the Music Lab’s label. Judi has shared the stage with Snarky Puppy, and recorded her original piece “Only Love” with the Grammy award winning group. Judi’s love for storytelling as a jazz vocalist has also transferred over into other areas of her career. She is an actor who has starred in a variety of shows, including the University of Mary Washington’s productions of Rent, Into the Woods, Spring Awakening and Sunday in the Park with George. She made her professional debut performance in Ithaca, New York where she played Sunny in Slashes of Light by Judy Tate at the Kitchen Theatre. Judi is now living in New York City performing and collaborating on projects with several musicians, Tivon Pennicott, Sullivan Fortner, and Michael Mwenso, to name a few. She aspires to continue performing as a vehicle for sharing love to all willing to receive it.

Darren Chase + Jenn Jade Ledesna + Gary Fisher Trio

Each week Ms. Jenn Jade features an internationally acclaimed, virtuosic guest vocalist + beast Power Trio!

In honor of Minton’s tradition, this cutting session is OPEN to jammers & flappers!

About Jenn Jade Ledesna

Sweet, seductive songstress JENNIFER JADE LEDESNA, a multilingual NYC native, is an alumnus of the New School Jazz Conservatory & of the “Famed” LaGuardia Arts. A true vaudevillian at heart, Equity actress, & vocal jet setter, Ms. Jade often performs at “Aux Trois Mailletz” in Paris. She has sung at Carnegie Hall with Bobby McFerrin in the “Instant Opera! Young Artists Concert,” in the World Premiere Tour of “Chapel/Chapter” with the electric Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company, She graced the stage once again last summer at Norway’s International “Silda Jazz Festival” and just tore down the house in Lausanne at the CHORUS Jazz Club in Switzerland!

Classically trained, Jennifer has studied with such masters as: Jim Carson, Anna Ext, Wynton Marsalis, Buster Williams, and Wycliffe Gordon. She studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and the Bob McAndrew Studio, modern dance at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and clarinet at Dalcroze. Jenn has also toured nationally in Theatreworks USA’s jazz musical “Corduroy.” Some of her favorite roles include: The Wiz (Dorothy), Company (Marta), Carousel (Julie Jordan), Ntozake Shange’s Lulu En La Habana (Lulu), West Side Story (Maria), & I Am New York: Juan Rodriguez (Ama Caruka).

Jenn Jade has had the spectacular honor of being invited twice, consecutively, to the prestigious Kennedy Center Millennium Stage to debut her original compositions in the highly selective “Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residencies of 2008 & 2009!” In Switzerland, she was a Finalist in the historical”Montreux Jazz Festival International Voice Competition 2007!” At the Kurt Elling Master Class, IAJE 2008 in Toronto, Canada she received an award for “Outstanding Musicianship.” On television, Ms. Ledesna was featured on: Fox 5 “Good Day Street Talk”; Santiago de Chile’s “Cultura Y Tiempo Libre”; France 2 “Envoye Special” Broadway; & recently on Bronx News 12. She has also appeared as a Semi-Finalist on CBS 2’s “Nueva Estrella Awards” – a Latin idol competition. JJ has also graced the cover of The New York Times in the articles: “ In The South Bronx, The Arts Beckon” , “True Economic Barometer? How About Bowling”, & Boite: “Soulful Music At Its Heart”.

As a bandleader, Jenn Jade can be found gigging all around NYC, from Lincoln Center to the enchanting caves of Paris, to your local juke joint! She has toured: Argentina, Austria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Morocco, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, and Brazil, where she was an “Ambassador of Song” for the US-Brazilian Consulate.

Ms. Jade has had the wondrous opportunity to perform and/or record with world renowned artists such as: ELEW, Woz Kaly, Victor Goines, Reggie Workman, Hector Martignon, Robert Glasper, Joatan Nascimento, Dave Valentin, John Benitez, Benny Powell, Manu Lanvin, Wycliffe Gordon, Junior Mance, Tarus Mateen, Victor Jones, Bobby Sanabria, Nori Shiota, Vincent Gardner, Candido Camero, David Antonio Cruz, Bobby McFerrin, Wynton Marsalis, and Bill T. Jones, among others.

Jennifer is currently composing her sophomore album; “TRUTH”, her debut release, is all original music!

Judi Jackson -Vocals
TBA

Sets are 1 hour long
The admission price is $10.00 Sun- Wed. and $15 Thu- Sat. per set PLUS a 2 drink minimum. *
* Admission may increase depending upon a given week’s performance schedule.
During performances, quiet is enforced

About Judi Jackson

Judi Jackson is a multi-talented actor and jazz vocalist from Roanoke, Virginia born in 1993. With a “great tone, and poise that is beyond her years (Roanoke Times),” Judi has performed on a variety of stages with a myriad of world-class talents. Judi was introduced to the world of jazz through the Jefferson Center’s Music Lab, a school for young artists and musicians to learn, practice, and perform their talents. At the age of 14 Judi was fortunate enough to meet Wynton Marsalis at the Jefferson Center performance hall after a show. He sent her a box of music the following Christmas that became the seed of inspiration for her development as a jazz vocalist. She began listening to and studying the sounds of Blossom Dearie, Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughn, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mahalia Jackson, amongst many other greats. She continued studying over the next several years and started gaining more experience as a performer by opening for acts such as Mavis Staples. Shortly thereafter she released her first album, “Crashing down” with Judi and the Giants, on the Music Lab’s label. Judi has shared the stage with Snarky Puppy, and recorded her original piece “Only Love” with the Grammy award winning group. Judi’s love for storytelling as a jazz vocalist has also transferred over into other areas of her career. She is an actor who has starred in a variety of shows, including the University of Mary Washington’s productions of Rent, Into the Woods, Spring Awakening and Sunday in the Park with George. She made her professional debut performance in Ithaca, New York where she played Sunny in Slashes of Light by Judy Tate at the Kitchen Theatre. Judi is now living in New York City performing and collaborating on projects with several musicians, Tivon Pennicott, Sullivan Fortner, and Michael Mwenso, to name a few. She aspires to continue performing as a vehicle for sharing love to all willing to receive it.

Shanelle Gabriel – Vocals

Each week Ms. Jenn Jade features an internationally acclaimed, virtuosic guest vocalist + beast Power Trio!

In honor of Minton’s tradition, this cutting session is OPEN to jammers & flappers!

About Shanelle Gabriel

Shanelle Gabriel is a soulful singer, poet, lyricist and advocate for Lupus Awareness. Tours have taken this Brooklyn sister from Atlanta to LA to Vancouver to Johannesburg, South Africa. Shanelle both opened and featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam with Jill Scott and Kanye West. She was even celebrated in a Listerine and Wal-Mart “Your Mouth Matters” campaign and on the Rachel Ray Show. She appeared in a promo for the 2007 NFL Draft and competed in both the National and Individual World Poetry Slams. She was named one of “8 Millennial Feminist Poets That Deserve Recognition” by BET.com and one of “3 Powerful Indie Artist-Activists You Should Know” by Blavity. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2004, she advocates for the disease and has performed at numerous walks for Lupus, spoken at the US National Press House with the President of the National Institute of Health, featured in Women’s Health Magazine, and at conferences across the country.