Atlanta Magazine discusses the arrival of Marcus Roberts.  Read here:  http://www.atlantamagazine.com/agenda/2013/11/29/marcus-roberts-tunes-up-for-a-weekend-at-the-velvet-note/print

The Acoustic Living Room at The Velvet Note will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. We will reopen on Friday, November 29th with the first of three nightly performances by Grammy-Winner Marcus Roberts and his trio. Thank you to all of our guests, friends and family for your love and support and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8^TH.  Wade Baker has always had a love for music and his high energy performances use no set formula at all. Instead he offers an eclectic and intelligent blend of abilities, styles and enthusiasm uniquely crafted to entertain a multitude of people. “I feel like I’ve tried to mix several styles
together to produce a new sound.” What the 26-year old Baker takes from all of this is a sense of craft and above all, great depth & love for the music.

Wade Baker received his Undergraduate Degree (B.S. with a concentration in Jazz Studies) from the University of Indianapolis in 2006 and was immediately accepted on scholarship to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music the following fall and is one course from attaining his Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies (M.M. Jazz Studies) from C.C.M. Wade has studied Jazz Improvisation with Harry Miedema, Mark Buselli, Brent Wallarab, Phil DeGreg & Kim Pensyl. His classical trumpet training has been from: Bill Adam, Ed Cord, John Rommel, Karl Sievers, Allen Miller, Lenny Foy, Greg Wing & Brad Weil. Baker’s versatility makes him fit comfortably playing with many different types of artists. He has played Bass Guitar at several of the country’s leading blues festivals in addition to the many Jazz Festivals he has been a part of playing his trumpet. Baker has also collaborated with R&B/Hip-Hop artist Moe Z M.D. (John Mellancamp) as well as countless singer/songwriter/hip-hop artists that have used him a studio “gun for hire.” Wade is also involved with the Big Joe Duskin Foundation doing presentations and concerts at local schools to share his love of jazz with todays youth.

He already has a professional’s discipline and commitment and places no limit on his ambition. Wade explains it best by saying, “The kind of artist I’d like to evolve into is a person who can do anything on the band stand, someone who is irreplaceable,” he says.

Showtimes:  7:30pm and 9:30pm.  For reservations, call 855.5.VELVET or go to http://thevelvetnote.com/wade-baker.

The Song Project is redefining jazz for a new generation by expanding jazz improvisations to songs ranging from Radiohead, Paul McCartney, AC/DC to Cole Porter, Miles Davis and more. Each artist embraces multiple genres displaying virtuosity on their instruments and creating a signature sound by weaving the rhythmic and textural elements of didgeridoo, guitar, trumpet and rhythm section, enhanced with raw, emotional vocals.

Watch them perform HERE:

Trumpeter, composer and arranger Mark Rapp is featured alongside Roy Hargrove, Dave Brubeck, Esperanza Spalding, The Bad Plus, Joshua Redman and many more on Disney’s recent release “Everybody Wants to be a Cat” (Feb 2011). With Rapp’s celebrated 2009 debut release “Token Tales” and being named a “Top Emerging Trumpeter” by Downbeat Magazine the year before, Rapp is quickly establishing himself as one of the most interesting, cool and creative artists in modern jazz.  Rapp has played sold out shows at the Blue Note (NY), Joe’s Pub, Yoshi’s (San Fran) and such venues as Blues Alley (D.C.), the JVC Newport Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s at Jazz Lincoln Center, JazzTime Festival (Croatia), Jazzland (Vienna), Jazz Standard (New York) and more. Mark was named a “top emerging trumpeter” by Downbeat Magazine, featured on a Travel Channel documentary and has played with such diverse artists as Branford Marsalis to Hootie and the Blowfish.

Derek Lee Bronston, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter has been on the scene since the 90’s playing and recording both as a band leader and sideman equally. He has received consistent praise from the Jazz, Rock and Americana/Country scenes. As well as getting extensive airplay and critical acclaim as a leader with his Jazz CD Longing (featuring Tom Harrell), with rock bands The Hush and Mostley and more recently with his Americana/Country recording “Empty River”. Derek Lee has played as a sideman with Cecil Taylor, Billy Bang, The Great Shakes, Heather Greene, Cooley’s Hot Box and Branford Marsalis to name a few.

OCTOBER 19-20, 2013.  Lew Soloff, noted jazz trumpet soloist and session musician, will perform at The Velvet Note in Alpharetta on October 19-20, 2013.  A brilliant high-note trumpeter long in great demand for big bands and session work, Mr. Soloff is also a distinctive soloist and an expert with the plunger mute. After studying at Juilliard, he free-lanced in New York with Maynard Ferguson, Joe Henderson, and Clark Terry, among others, and then was a part of Blood, Sweat & Tears during 1968-1973 (he is probably best-known for the trumpet solo on their hit, “Spinning Wheel”). Soloff was closely associated with Gil Evans from 1973 on, and also played with George Gruntz’s Concert Jazz Band, the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, and Carla Bley.    This is a rare, not-to-be-missed opportunity for guests to enjoy the live show of this jazz icon in a setting as intimate as The Velvet Note.  Mr. Soloff will be joined onstage by pianist Kenny Banks, bassist Kevin Smith and drummer Che Marshall.

Showtimes:  7:30pm and 9:30pm.  Tickets available now at http://thevelvetnote.com/lew-soloff.

OCTOBER 1, 2013.  With five records including the Grammy nominated, If Less Is More Nothing Is Everything, as well as their most recent, critically acclaimed Girl Talk, Kate McGarry  has established herself as one of contemporary jazz’s most moving and enigmatic voices.   Kate and her partner Keith Ganz will be previewing songs from their upcoming debut on Sunnyside Records, Genevieve & Ferdinand, on Saturday, October 5^th and Sunday, October 6^th at the Atlanta-area’s beloved hot spot The Velvet Note.   This live duo concert records 10 years of life and musical partnership and is hailed by The Wall St. Journal as, “An exceptionally appealing blend of folk and jazz….not to be missed!”

 More concerned with the essence of a song than idiomatic limitations, vocalist Kate McGarry and guitarist Keith Ganz have managed to attract the attention of tomorrow’s jazz fans. Beyond their obvious affinity for swing, their eclectic repertoire ranging from Irving Berlin to The Cars, and her signature contralto convey a message with a crystal clarity that precludes the need for gimmick or effect. All that’s left is undeniably honest music that transcends the boundaries of age or genre.

McGarry’s singular musical gift is her ability to broadcast emotional transparency with undeniable and artless force. The singer one hears time and again in McGarry’s work is gracious and endearing. She is vulnerable yet unbroken. She is always rapturous. With her musical and life collaborator, the guitarist Keith Ganz, McGarry has been forging a signature approach to standard and new compositions that is immediately fresh and very personal.”

 ~ Kurt Elling 10-time Grammy Nominee, 13x Winner Downbeat’s Jazz Vocalist of the Year Award

“This duo has figured out how to create jazz arrangements of songs by Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Stephen Stills and Ric Ocasek without compromising either the jazz or the rock’n’roll. The substitute chords, elasticized rhythms and deconstructionist solos make this satisfying jazz, while the lyrics are delivered with such forceful urgency that it’s still satisfying rock’n’roll. The songs are transformed but never obscured.” ~ Geoffrey Himes, music critic Paste, Downbeat, Jazz TImes

Performances:  October 5^th and October 6^th, Showtimes:  7:30pm and 9:30pm.  For tickets, go to http://thevelvetnote.com/kate-mcgarry or call 855.5.VELVET.  For press inquiries, please contact Tamara Fuller, General Manager at [email protected].

One afternoon, a few weeks ago, a lady walked into our jazz club. She was pretty and gracious, refined and well-spoken, and the president of a wine distributing company specializing in varietals from Italy. “So, you want to sell me some wine,” I said. “Yes,” she said. “I think we have an outstanding selection of imports made in small quantities from an Italian winemaker with high standards. I notice that you don’t have any represented on your menu right now. Would you be willing to taste a few?” Now of all the responsibilities of a jazz club owner, the most grueling is that of tasting potential selections for our wine list. It requires a fit palate and a great deal of stamina and endurance. So, I put on my track shoes, did a few warm-up stretches, and along with our wine steward Cory, sat down for a demanding afternoon of focused winetasting.
It didn’t take long for us to find something we liked. Her Vernaccia di San Gimignano was light and crisp, with a slight hint of citrus, sporting substance, but with no overpowering notes. This was the kind of wine you could sip all day out by the pool. “Sold!” I said. I knew this would be a winner in the coming hot, humid months during which guests often ask for Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
The next wine we fell in love with shall remain nameless (so that we can get it onto The Velvet Note menu before anyone else does). I typically do not care for dessert wines, barring the occasional Chateau d’ Yquem on the heels of an outrageously-priced steak dinner. But this one had me at “ciao.” The nose transported me back to my mother’s kitchen when I was eight years old and she was baking mincemeat pie. Upon first taste, the precisely-balanced notes of currant and toast and black cherry filled my senses. It paired perfectly with the Italian cheese wrapped in paper-thin prosciutto that she had generously brought in a little picnic basket to accompany the tasting. I had never experienced any dessert wine selection this delicious—not ever. I closed my eyes, I threw my head back and moaned. I took another sip and let it swirl over the front and back of my tongue. I looked over at Cory and he looked at me as if we had both been huddling in a cave rubbing sticks together and one of us had just noticed a cigarette lighter in the corner. This was the taste that every civilized palate hopes to find some day. We absolutely had to have this wine.
“What is the front line on this one?” Cory coolly inquired. (The “front line” is the cost per bottle to the restaurant, prior to the markup for the menu.) She told us, and believe me, it wasn’t cheap—it essentially eclipsed all of our menu wine prices—yikes! Cory raised an eyebrow at me. He wanted it and so did I, but at that price, we would need to be careful with inventory. “Perhaps we will hold off on this one until the fall and holiday season, when we know it will move fast,” I said. “No problem,” she replied. “ I promise, I will have it for you when you’re ready. In the meantime, let me pour you some more before I go.” Oh, yummy. Yes, please, let it flow.
A few minutes later, the lady had packed her selections and made a copy of our liquor license and set up a delivery date. Before departure, she turned and said, “Oh, one more thing. I wondered if you have a PA system here. I would like to play something for you.” I mentally rolled my eyes. People are always trying to slip us the demo records of their cousin, their client, their sister, their husband….anything to get a chance at a show. And we listen to everything…everything, because music is our business and we want to discover the absolute best. And we will always tell you what we think. As you can imagine, very few rise to the top of the heap, so to speak. “Um, sure….Shawn will show you where to plug in.” I had another sip of wine. Cory grimaced, and shot me a look that clearly conveyed, “If this sucks, let her down easy so that it doesn’t mess up my wine list!”
In the next moments, the earth stood still. The decadently delicious soiree going on in my mouth was accompanied by the sound of a woman singing jazz standards beautifully, in elegantly simple arrangements that would remind you of Diana Krall, complimented by warm and rich notes, and yet, with a luminous clarity reminiscent of Karen Carpenter.

Listen HERE:

I had never heard this voice before. How could I have missed this star? Shame on me! “Whose CD is this?” I asked. She sat…still… looking down at her fingers, and then up at me. “It’s me, “she quietly answered. “Huh? “ I stared at her in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? With a talent like this, what are you doing selling wine?!?” I asked. “I enjoy selling wine,” she stated. “I enjoy presenting wine. I enjoy traveling to Italy, finding the best wines and the most inspiring winemakers, and introducing them to fellow wine enthusiasts. And I also love to sing.”
I looked over at Cory and he could see my booking agent/talent scout meter skipping off the grid. He silently mouthed to me, “Down, girl,” and kicked me under the table. I leaned back in my chair and took a deep breath. “Do you know how many auditions I would have to sit through before coming across a voice like yours? Let me ask the question another way. Why aren’t you performing on a regular basis? Why haven’t I heard of you? Why are you sitting on this extraordinary talent?” I leaned across the table, “If you love singing, what in the world are you waiting for, my Dear?” She thought about it for a moment. “I could give you a million reasons why, starting my business, raising my children, but it all comes down to the fact that I’ve been waiting to do it my way….waiting for my time. And this feels like my time.”
We talked for what seemed like hours. She shared her story and I shared mine. “We’re a lot alike,” she observed. This wasn’t a typical wine tasting or audition—it was a special connection. When she got up to leave, she shared one of her favorite quotes by Francis Mayes, “They say they built the train tracks over the Alps before there was a train that could make the trip. They built it anyway. They knew one day the train would come. Any arbitrary turning along the way, and I would be elsewhere. I would be different…..Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game.”
And this, in a nutshell, is the story of how we came to know the extraordinary talent and person that is Debbie Tyson Rosen. Debbie will perform at The Velvet Note on Saturday, September 21st, with shows at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. She will be accompanied by highly-respected musicians (Randy Hoexter on piano, Jess Rosen on guitar, Rob Henson on bass and Kenyon Carter on Saxophone), forming a beautiful jazz quintet. She is soulful and sweet and smart and this is her time– run, do not walk, to our box office and make a reservation for one of the only 40 seats available in each show. You should bring the person you love, or the person you would like to love. Oh, and save room on your palate because we will be serving her wines, too. Tickets available at http://thevelvetnote.com/debbie-rosen

Churchill Grounds’ Whisper Room closed yesterday.  (See article HERE) The Whisper Room was Churchill’s listening room that seated 150 or so patrons, and played host to their jazz performances for the past several years.  Several people have asked me what I think of this event, implying that it is some sort of competitive triumph or a bad omen of things to come.  Although I do not know the owner personally, and I do not know the details surrounding this event, here are my thoughts:

I think that any metropolitan area  and its patrons, musicians, venue owners, etc. benefits from a broad array of locations in which to enjoy great music. I think that Atlanta has a rich, diverse, passionate, talented and vibrant jazz community and I am proud to be both a contributor and a beneficiary.  (more…)

By VelvetVoyce, Publisher/Reviewer of SoundBites

So as I was cruising through my social media outlets one day I received a message (PMs I think they’re called) from this swank and really cool jazz venue in Alpharetta, GA named ‘The Velvet Note’. I had been there once before when they first opened up to see trumpeter Mark Rapp and instantly liked the place.  And once I saw they were bringing singer Sachal Vasandani back to Atlanta, I knew I had no choice but to head back  sooner than later!

To my surprise the message asked if I could come to the show as the Chef wanted me to taste their menu. He apparently noticed I have an appreciation for good food and wanted my opinion on their selections. I have to be honest with you, the message made my day.  I call myself a ‘wannabe foodie’ because I don’t think I’ve earned all my ‘true foodie’ stars and stripes so to have a real Chef  want my opinion on THEIR food was an honor.  So I marked my calendar for Saturday night and looked forward to a meeting with my two loves: food and music.
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