Joe Strasser's Jazz All Star Quintet Feat....7pm Wed July 20 @LaZingara

8 P T Barnum Square,Bethel CT 06801

20 July, 2022

Description

Joe Strasser's All-Star Quintet feat: Organist Akiko Tsuruga, Trombonist Steve Davis, Saxophonist Kris Jensen & Joshua Bruneau on Trumpet Seating Chart Seating is limited. Tables seating 2 - 4 guests, with tables for 6 -8 available upon request. There are also single tickets available. See The Attached Seating Chart. Admission Is Still Only $17.50 Per Person. Tables Of Two = $35., Four = $70., Six = $105., and Eight = $140 Joe Strasser Drummer / Percussionist Joe Strasser, is a native son of Bethel , CT. He is a “one of a kind stylist”, with his own take on jazz drumming… his own sound. A colorist, who is mindful of the effect of each stroke on the musicians around him as a whole, Strasser mines the rest of the components of the drum kit with equal parts of efficiency and artistry. Everything is very meticulous and everything is musical. He's tremendously versatile and traditional in the sense that he's got a real foundation. Strasser says his idol was Jimmy Cobb first and then Philly Joe Jones - the classic bebop drummers who were also great percussionists. Strasser has played and recorded with musicians such as: Trumpet player Joe Magnarelli, Guitarist Peter Bernstein, and with groups such as Full House, Planet Jazz, The Omer Avital Group, Yves Brouqui Trio. Akiko Tsuruga-Organist  She’s “Sweet and Funky,” she’s “Cute and Bad”, Composer,  A Performer extraordinaire. The legendary Dr. Lonnie Smith describes her this way: “Akiko's playing is like watching a flower blooming, a bird spreading her wings in the music world. Akiko is here to stay.” Raised in Osaka, Japan, this talented musician began studying the organ at the age of three, at the famed Yamaha Music School. After discovering her passion for jazz very early on in her musical journey, Akiko launched her career immediately after graduating from the Osaka College of Music. While living and playing in Osaka, she had many opportunities to perform with world-renowned jazz musicians from the United States. Meeting Grady Tate, in particular, was a life-changing event for Akiko. ‘ After landing in the mecca for jazz, New York City, it didn’t take long for Akiko to make her mark - It was during these early years that she had the great pleasure of sitting in, playing gigs, and eventually recording with jazz greats such as Frank Wess, Jimmy Cobb, Grady Tate, and other top NY musicians. Her reputation ultimately drew the attention of Lou Donaldson as he chose her in 2006 as his quartet’s organist. But it was the meeting of organ legend Dr. Lonnie Smith that proved to have the greatest impact on Akiko’s musical development and career. He became an important mentor to Akiko, and she considers him her greatest influence. She flourished and continued to be a constant draw on the NY jazz scene. Akiko has ten albums as a leader to her credit. Her debut album in the U.S., “Sweet and Funky” ,was selected as a “Best album of 2007” in DOWNBEAT Magazine. Akiko has been a regular in the DOWNBEAT polls since 2008 - culminating this year with the 65th Annual Critics Poll, coming in at #2 in the “Rising Star - Organ” category. Hot House Magazine has just named her 'Best Organ" in the 2017 Readers Poll. Her albums have constantly placed in the top ten on the National Radio Jazz Chart. Steve Davis - Trombone is widely regarded as one of today's leading voices on the trombone. After graduating from The Hartt School's Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz ('89), Davis first gained widespread recognition in 1990 upon joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. As the last to join the Jazz Messengers, Steve’s first record dates would be Blakey's last, including the composition One For All (A&M), penned by Davis.  Over the years since, Davis has worked with a broad range of jazz luminaries such as his first mentor Jackie McLean, Chick Corea, Benny Golson, Cecil Payne, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Freddie Hubbard & The New Jazz Composers Octet, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Roy Hargrove & Willie Jones III. Raised in Binghamton, New York, Steve has performed at major venues around the world including appearances on The Jimmy Fallon Show with Stevie Wonder and at The White House Tribute to Ray Charles (PBS). Davis appears on over 150 recordings, including 20 as a leader. Davis' 2019 release, Correlations (Smoke Sessions) features rising stars Joshua Bruneau & Jonathan Barber, as well as renowned veteran, stars Xavier Davis, Wayne Escoffery & Dezron Douglas. Correlations have garnered rave reviews and spent months atop the JazzWeek Radio Charts. The CD features an exciting collection of original compositions and time-honored classics. Other notable releases include Think Ahead & Say When: Celebrating J.J. Johnson (Smoke Sessions), For Real, and Gettin’ It Done (Positone). In 2019, in addition to performing with his own Correlations Band, Steve appears on Chick Corea's My Spanish Heart Band CD, "Antidote" and toured Europe with the group in July. Davis also continues to work regularly with the collectively-led sextet One For All (feat. Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi, David Hazeltine, John Webber & Joe Farnsworth), bassist Nat Reeves' Quintet, as well as playing with John Lee's Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter, and Christian McBride big bands. Steve’s original composition, “Optimism” appears on the McBride Big Band’s Grammy Award-winning release Bringin' It (2018). Davis plans to record with both his son, guitarist Tony Davis and his wife, vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis. As always, Steve maintains an active presence on the vibrant local CT jazz scene & appears on bassist Matt Dwonzsyk's Wonderful World CD. A long-time educator, Steve has guided a broad range of emerging musicians at the Hartt School's Jackie McLean Jazz Studies Division, University of Hartford, CT where he was recently honored for over 25 years of service. Other ongoing prestigious educational endeavors include joining the San Francisco Conservatory's RJAM faculty, Jamey Aebersold’s Summer Jazz Workshops, Skidmore Jazz Workshop, Jazz Kris Jensen - Saxophonist/multi-winds artist, composer/arranger, and educator. Kris Jensen is a versatile musician who has forged a diverse musical career with many well-known artists. A veteran sideman to legends for nearly two decades now, Jensen has performed and/or recorded with many prominent artists in jazz and rock including “The Allman Brothers Band” and its individual members’ bands (Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, and Jaimoe respectively) trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson and a host of others. Jensen studied jazz/African-American music at the University of Hartford under the auspices of the legendary jazz saxophonist Jackie McLean and would later teach there. Currently, Jensen keeps an active free-lance performing schedule in addition to touring regularly with “Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band” with whom he can be seen monthly at the famous “Iridium” jazz nightclub in New York City and at festivals and venues across the U.S. and beyond. He also serves on the music faculties of the Indian Mountain School, The Salisbury School, The Millbrook School, and in Hartford with The Bushnell “Jazzicians” student scholar program. He has appeared on New Jersey Public Television with Maynard Ferguson, on “Late Night with David Letterman” with “Gregg Allman & Friends” and on stage with “The Allman Brothers Band”, “The Dave Matthews Band” and with “Warren Haynes and Govt. Mule”. Jensen was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 1996.  Joshua Bruneau - Trumpet was born June 23, 1988 in Waterbury Center, Vermont. While growing up, Josh was frequently found on the baseball field. After seeing a Time-Life commercial, he was instantly drawn to classical music. Josh asked for classical tapes and records by composers like Bach, Mozart, and Chopin. His life took a dramatic turn when he was introduced to the trumpet and subsequently, jazz.  Josh began to study the art of music and took trumpet lessons when he was 10 years old. These formative years proved very important as Josh discovered many recordings of musicians such as John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker. He immediately fell in love with these musicians and made a conscious decision to try to emulate these people’s playing. He started forming his own groups and playing locally from a young age. He was soon traveling with a local big band. He honed his skills all through high school at Harwood Union High School in Duxbury, Vermont.  In the fall of 2006, Josh began his studies at the Jackie McLean Institute at The Hartt School. Josh was introduced to his two most important mentors, Nat Reeves and Steve Davis. He immediately started gigging around the Hartford area with local musicians and fellow students. Josh received the opportunity to travel to Ireland with Nat in his freshman year. Ever since, Josh has been playing with his instructors, Nat and Steve, on a regular basis. That same year he played with Nat, Steve, Eric McPherson, Alan Palmer, and Jovan Alexandre opening for Dionne Warwick.  Because of his established relationship with his two mentors, Josh now frequents New York City to perform at world-famous Jazz clubs such as Smoke and Smalls.  In September 2011 he played at the Detroit Jazz festival with another of his great mentors, Curtis Fuller. He has also shared the stage with artists such as Harold Mabern, Mike LeDonne, Eric Alexander, Joe Farnsworth, Carl Allen, John Webber, Ken Fowser, and Larry Willis to name a few.  Now with the 2014 release of his debut album as a leader, Bright Idea (Cellar Live), Josh continues to look forward musically and push himself and his colleagues further.   There are no refunds after tickets have been purchased. In the event of rain or other forms of weather which prohibit a performance, the rain date performance will be held on a future date to be announced. If the weather date becomes postponed because of bad weather or the bands' availability, a future alternate date will be picked. Bethel Jazz reserves the right to substitute a band on the schedule without prior notice to ticket holders. Ticket holders are responsible for responding to rescheduling announcement emails within 24 hours if they are unable to make the rescheduled date.