10.06.2006 · The Jazz Express · home.comcast.net/~jazzdd/jazzexpress.html
The Jazz Express, a huge hit at The Java Room, is based in Concord, MA and Chelmsford, MA and plays a variety of jazz, blues, funk, and latin tunes from the swing era to the modern era. Regular hosts of the Family Jazz Evening at the Acton Jazz Cafe, the group is comprised of Gary Matthews on bass, Ed Bokhour on drums, Brad Hubbard-Nelson on trumpet, flugelhorn, and flute, David Wright on saxophone and flute, and Amy Collins on piano.
10.07.2006 · Trude Witham Group · trudewithamgroup.com
The Trude Witham Group plays a variety of jazz standards and contemporary pieces, including those by local composers. The group consists of saxophonist Trude Witham, pianist Steve Esposito, bassist Justin Maynard and drummer Steve Preston. Witham has performed extensively as a saxophonist in several jazz combos and in the Chelmsford Community Band concert and big bands. Before being bitten by the jazz bug, she performed as a solo folk singer/guitarist/composer and was a member of the folk duo, Hummingbird. Esposito has played at the Java Room with Mike Caruso and is a member of Blue Plate Special. Maynard is the bassist for the Indian Hill Big Band and Preston performs with the folk/blues/roots band, Caravan.
10.13.2006 · First Take
First Take is a contemporary jazz ensemble consisting of members of the award winning band Eye2Eye. Their repertoire ranges from jazz to R&B, soul grooves and Latin flavors. Penni Layne, on vocals, delivers a smooth and elegant style complimented by the impeccable diversity of Damon Carter on piano. Brazilian drummer/percussionist Ricardo Nhuch adds a variety of rhythmic colors while bassist/nylon sting guitarist Larry Jackson rounds out the groups sound. After receiving rave reviews from their holiday CD, "Like Christmas," they will be recording a full length album for a release sometime this year.
10.14.2006 · The Mill City Trio
Metronome Magazine called the Mill City Trio, "one of the finest jazz groups on the Boston circuit today." Since its formation in 2005, the band has been performing regularly in clubs, galleries and concert venues across New England. The group was started byBoston-area veterans Jamie Dunphy, Greg Passler and Tony D'Anna as an outlet for their original compositions. Their unique instrumentation of two guitars and drums also allows them to put a fresh spin on jazz standards.
10.20.2006 · Christie Leigh · christieleigh.com
Christie Leigh's singer-songwriter music is inspiring. Louder Magazine writes, “Leigh’s catchy vocals and the hypnotic hip hop stylings are earnest and appealingly fragile, yet ballsy.” Her musical tastes reflect her family history - as a young child, Leigh was introduced to her grandfather's big band tapes, along with stories about his years as a big band leader opening for Bobby Darrin and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Leigh has performed all over New England at the Middle East, Harper's Ferry, Great Scott, Kendall Café, MDC Hatch Shell, Copley Plaza and many other local clubs and coffeehouses. Her debut record, "When You Need a Moment" was released in the fall of 2004. The title track, "When You Need a Moment," is an anthem to today's stressed out, multitasking world.
10.21.2006 · Steve & Shelley
Steve Tapper and Shelley Otis are a wooden flute and folk harp duo from Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to the Irish, Scottish, and American folk songs one would expect, their repertoire includes unique and delightful arrangements of music from all over the world, popular songs, jazz, classical pieces, and original compositions.
10.27.2006 · Kate Chadbourne
Sings traditional Irish songs in Irish and English, composes original songs for voice, piano, and flute, improvises musical embellishment for storytellers as they spin their tales, writes and teaches about Celtic languages and literatures, invents stories for young and old, shapes sounds and sense into poems.
10.28.2006 · Blue Parrot
Blue Parrot performs a lively combination of traditional music from the British Isles, France and the United States, on banjo, guitar, mandolin and flute. The group consists of Bob Phillipps, Linda Abrams, and Rob Huffman. Bob is known for his lovely fingerpicking guitar style. He also plays old time music with the Assabet Ramblers. The youthful and uninhibited Rob Huffman has a solo career as a singer-songwriter, and performs with the Moody Street String Band. Linda plays traditional French music with Trio Sans Singes, and old time and Celtic music with the Moody Street String band. She was the 2005 first place winner in the old time banjo category at the Lowell Fiddle and Banjo contest. She also owns a blue parrot! Whether performing an O'Carolan harp tune or a French bourree, Blue Parrot captures the beauty and vitality of the music they love.
