Akiko Tsuruga, Joe Strasser & Charlie Sigler Organ-Guitar Jazz Trio

8 P T Barnum Square,Bethel CT 06801

09 June, 2022

Description

Akiko Tsuruga heads up this smokin' Organ & Guitar Jazz Trio featuring: Charlie Sigler of guitar and Joe Strasser on drums. Outdoor Seating Chart Very Limited Occupancy. Tables seating 2, 4, 5 guests, with tables for 6, 8, 12 available upon request. See The Attached Seating Chart. Admission Is $15.00 - $20.00 Per Person, Ticket prices may be higher for special performances. Tables Of Two = $35., Four = $75., Five = 87.50 Six = $105., Eight = $130, Twelve = $210 Akiko Tsuruga - Organist Check out a few minutes of Akiko 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 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. Charlie Sigler - Guitar. Guitarist Charlie Sigler has been active member of the music community since his high school years studying and performing in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. A recent graduate of William Paterson University with a B.A. in Jazz Performance, Charlie has performed with many greats of the music including Winard Harper, Harold Mabern, Eric Alexander, Myron Walden, Akiko Tsurga, Pat Bianci, Jared Gold, Vince Ector, Bruce Williams, Radam Schwartz, Kyle Koehler and Dave Stryker among others. He has performed at clubs and festivals throughout the region including the Montclair Jazz Festival, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, AFRAM and the Berks Jazz Festival. Currently residing in Bloomfield, NJ, Charlie maintains a busy schedule of performances, recording and teaching. 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. We're sorry, there are no refunds after tickets have been purchased. In the event of a pandemic, rain, snow, or other forms of weather which prohibit a performance, the performance date will be postponed and rescheduled for another date within a reasonable amount of time. If the new date is postponed, a future alternate date will be picked at the discretion of Bethel Jazz and the musical artist. The ticket holder will be notified of postponements, cancelations, and rescheduled dates via email. Tickets are non-refundable and may be transferred to another person in the event a purchaser can not make the rescheduled date. In the event, an artist cancels a date, and Bethel Jazz is unable to reschedule the artist, Bethel Jazz reserves the right to provide a substitute performer of equal quality without notice to the ticket purchaser. If a date is canceled and not rescheduled, Bethel Jazz will provide a refund (in some cases minus the Eventbrite fee) or credit for another performance at the choice of the ticket holder. Bethel Jazz will always do its best to accommodate for changes in seating, table sizes, or changes to tickets.