The Velvet Note

Friday, December 4th: The Bill Hart Band
2020-12-04 20:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
The perfect wind down after a week of work. Canadian guitarist Bill Hart gets together with an all-star band and a surprise guest to knock your socks off in this brand new variety show.

Thursday, December 3rd: Open Mic Jam Hosted by WCLK's RivaBlue
2020-12-03 20:00 - 23:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
A potpourri of performers take the stage throughout the night, with a house band led by WCLK radio host RivaBlue.

RivaBlue was born Gwen Redding, in Washington, D.C. During her early childhood her parents moved the family to small town Long Branch, NJ to raise them. Upon graduating from high school, Gwen made the move back to hometown Washington, D.C. to attend the University of the District of Columbia earning a degree in Mass Communications/ Print Journalism. Her first radio gig was in 1980 at UDC’s student operated station, WDCU where she served writing copy, performed production assistant duties, voice overs and did fill ins for other air talents.

Rivablue can be heard weekdays from 10am to 2pm on 91.9 FM WCLK,Atlanta’s Jazz Station, where she gets to play music from straight ahead jazzartists like Art Blakey, George Benson, Houston Person, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, the entire Marsalis family and others.

Friday, November 28th: The Hughes Taylor Band
2020-11-28 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Hughes Taylor is an energetic and ambitious blues artist from Macon, Georgia. He is known for his impressive and accomplished guitar playing and unique electric style that infuses traditional blues roots with jazz, upbeat and fast-paced blues and classic rock.

The LATE SHOW is SOLD OUT!!

Purchase 7:30pm tickets below:

Friday, November 27th: The Bill Hart Band
2020-11-27 20:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
The perfect wind down after a week of work. Canadian guitarist Bill Hart gets together with an all-star band and a surprise guest to knock your socks off in this brand new variety show, including a surprise guest.

Thursday, November 26th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Bob Bakert
2020-11-26 20:00 - 23:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Saturday, November 21st: The Camilla Sanders Ensemble
2020-11-21 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Camilla Sanders has spent the past 25 years swinging audiences on the east coast from Florida to New York. Originally from Daytona Beach, she attended the University of North Florida’s renowned school of jazz and moved to New York City. From 2000 to 2005 she hosted weekly live jazz and jam sessions at Langan’s New York in Times Square and performed with several of the world’s greatest jazz musicians.

In 2006, Camilla teamed up with Grammy-nominated saxophonist Brad Leali and Lincoln Center trumpeter Marcus Printup to record her second album “Talk About a Dream,” in tribute to the legendary Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley album. She can be seen performing around Atlanta with her group as well as serving as pianist and music director for local theaters and co-owner of Ponier Music Woodstock.

Friday, November 20th: The Bill Hart Band
2020-11-20 20:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Thursday, November 19th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by "Fireman" Larry Joyce
2020-11-19 20:00 - 23:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
A potpourri of performers take the stage throughout the night, with a house band led by blues performer “Fireman” Larry Joyce

Saturday, November 14th: Rita Graham with The Arthur Turner Trio
2020-11-14 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Showtimes: 7:30pm and 9:30pm

The iconic Rita Graham performs with the Arthur Turner Trio!

Rita Graham’s career as a jazz vocalist was jump-started when Ray Charles produced an album of lush standards for her in 1969. The album, ‘Rita Graham Vibrations’ is the only album project that Ray Charles personally produced for a single female artist on his own Tangerine Record Label.

After a stint as a Ray Charles Raelette, Rita recorded several single recordings with TV Composer, Mike Post (Law and Order, Hill Street Blues, A-Team, etc). She was featured vocalist with The Harry James Orchestra for 3 years, and with Mercer Ellington and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Tour ‘82. She was a featured artist with Oscar Peterson, Ray Charles, and comedian Redd Foxx, and others. She has performed in Festivals, Night Clubs, Casinos and Concert Venues in Las Vegas, Canada, The UK, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Manila, Bangkok, and Russia. She originated the role of Coretta Scott King in the Civil Rights Theater Musical, ‘Selma’, produced by Redd Foxx Productions in Los Angeles, and off Broadway’s New Federal Theatre, produced by Woodie King, Jr.

As the lead vocalist in Rita and The Tiaras, Ms. Graham recorded the UK Northern Soul Hit Classic, ‘Gone With The Wind Is My Love’. The Tiaras were studio singers whom Rita never met. A track from the Vibrations album, ‘My Cup Runneth Over With Love’ is also a Northern Soul Hit.

From 1999-2009, Ms. Graham was known as ‘The First Lady Of Sambuca Jazz Café’, Atlanta’s premiere Showroom, where the CD, ‘Rita Graham Live at Sambuca Atlanta’ was recorded. (Available upon request) She performs in concert in the Sammy Blue/Rita Graham Classic Blues Duo and with ‘The All-Star Georgia Music Revue’, founded by Blues Legend, Sammy Blue.

Rita Graham’s suspense/murder mystery novel, ‘Karma Rising’ is available on Amazon.com, Kindle, Nook and other Booksellers, and is soon to be a feature film.

The feature film, Karma Rising, adapted from the suspense/mystery novel by Rita Graham (amazon.com, Kindle) will be released in 2018.

Rita is a Board member of Women in Jazz South Florida, Inc. and she teaches voice at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA.

*** SOLD OUT !! ***

Friday, November 13th: Bill Hart & Friends
2020-11-13 20:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
*** SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! ***

The perfect wind down after a week of work. Canadian guitarist Bill Hart gets together with an all-star band and a surprise guest to knock your socks off in this brand new variety show.

Thursday, November 12th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Fireman Larry
2020-11-12 20:00 - 23:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
A potpourri of musicians take the stage throughout the evening to entertain you, along with our house band. All genres are welcomed. Hosted by Guitarist “Fireman” Larry Joyce

Sunday, November 8th: The Emmanuel Smith Quartet
2020-11-08 19:00 - 22:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Emmanuel “Chops” Smith is a pianist and vocalist who has been performing professionally since he was 15 years old. He has been playing piano since age 3 and has been trained in classical, jazz, and contemporary music. “Chops” has performed in venues all over the Southeast including The Rialto Center of the Performing Arts, The Margaret Mitchell House, The Georgian Terrace Hotel, The Georgia Aquarium, Churchill Grounds, The Velvet Note, The Red Clay Theater. He has also had the pleasure and privilege to perform with Russell Malone, Chris Potter, Sarah Partridge and work with many different jazz personalities including Gary and Veronica Motley, Theresa Hightower, Mike Abene, Bobby Shew, Paquito D’Rivera, Kenny Werner, Bob Franceschini, Bob Reynolds and Randy Brecker.

Saturday, November 7th: The Justin Varnes Quartet
2020-11-07 19:30 - 23:00
Justin Varnes and his quartet have built a reputation for presenting classic Jazz in a fun way that’s designed for the casual listener.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Justin Varnes began studying music at 10 – on the trumpet. His father – an avid jazz listener – exposed him to Stan Kenton, Nat “King” Cole and Erroll Garner. After attending Douglas Anderson School of the Arts on trumpet, Justin studied drum set with Ray Charles alumnus Rick Kirkland. Then he studied music at the University of North Florida under Charlotte Mabrey, Bill Prince and Bunky Green while continuing to take privately from Rick Kirkland. After graduating with degrees in jazz studies and percussion, Justin relocated to New York City where he continued to study at the New School and study privately with Jojo Mayer. In New York, Justin began touring with Phoebe Snow, with whom he performed on the Roseanne Barr Show, as well as National Public Radio’s “World Cafe” (Justin would later perform on “World Cafe” with “Five for Fighting”).

Friday, November 6th: Bill Hart & Friends
2020-11-06 20:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Thursday, November 5th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by "Fireman" Larry Joyce
2020-11-05 20:00 - 23:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
A potpourri of musicians take the stage throughout the evening to entertain you, along with our house band. All genres are welcomed. Hosted by Blues Guitarist “Fireman” Larry Joyce

The Velvet Note Halloween Dinner Party
2020-10-31 19:00 - 23:00
Booo! Join us for Halloween Saturday Night and treat yourself to a special evening of food, drinks, music and fun! On the stage, enjoy the vivacious, accomplished jazzy music of the Bosman & Hart Band. Cocktail specials from 7-8pm, and then the show goes on from 8-11pm. It’s an unforgettable night in our socially-distanced living room and we welcome you!

Friday, October 30th-- Cinnamon Denise: Coming Back to Me
2020-10-30 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
An Atlanta, Georgia native, Cinnamon Denise is a vocalist, bassoonist, songwriter, and producer who has a talent for engulfing listeners into her music. As a vocalist, she started singing at an early age in her church Gospel choir where she developed a unique and virtuosic singing style. She uses this style in her performances with R&B/soul influences beautifully intertwined in the music. As a classically trained bassoonist, Cinnamon Denise incorporates a unique style of playing into her performances and has volunteered as a bassoon teacher in the Greater Miami community.

A gifted lyricist and songwriter, Cinnamon Denise is fluent in several songwriting styles in the English and Spanish languages. Her projects include collaborating with the Japanese deep house producer, Hideo Kobayashi; an eclectic acoustic duo, “Cinnamon and Jonny” in Ibiza, Spain; a songwriting team member of new song for the Slovenia’s Got Talent 2014 winner, Jana Šušteršič; a staff writer for the Peer Music Publishing Company; and the new age R&B band, the George Lacson Project’s recent EP release, Paradigms. As a producer, her music video, “You Were Here,” received 2nd Place in the Pronebula Awards Music Video Contest in Valencia, Spain. She is also a member of the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment (NABFEME), Atlanta, GA Chapter.

Cinnamon Denise is an alumna of the University of Miami Frost School of Music where she studied Media Writing and Production. She recently received her Masters in Music Technology Innovation from Berklee College of Music Valencia, Spain Campus. As an ambassador of Berklee College of Music she attended the Midem Music 4-day Conference in Cannes, France, where she displayed her creative process on the demonstration floor and gave a stunning performance at the EmTech España 2014 MIT Conference. She recently completed a 3-month apprenticeship at Sonic Vista Studios, Ibiza, Spain, under the direction of L. Henry Sarmiento II, Recording Academy member and mixing/mastering engineer. At Sonic Vista Studios, she exponentially increased her writing and mixing skills, as well as became inspired by great musicians such as Elijah Ray.

Thursday, October 29th Open Mic Jam Hosted by Tommie Macon
2020-10-29 20:00 - 23:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
A potpourri of musicians take the stage throughout the evening to entertain you, along with our house band. All genres are welcomed. Hosted by jazz singer Tommie Macon.

Sunday, October 25th: The Life and Music of Herbie Hancock *** SOLD OUT! ***
2020-10-25 19:00 - 20:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
As with the entire Legends of Jazz series, Mr. Varnes will guide guests–in engaging, narrative form– through the life of this genius musician, and illustrate the impact that his life influences had on his musical legacy. It’s like taking in a concert and taking a jazz history class at the same time, and…, oh… they’ll also play their behinds off! *** SOLD OUT!! ***

Saturday, October 24th: Trumpeter Vann Thornton
2020-10-24 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Vann Thornton is a Grammy-recognized educator, musician, song-writer, and entertainer who grew up in sleepy South Georgia and always thought and dreamed in sound, rhythm, and beats. He uncovered his passion for music when, at age 5 he began to tinker on an old piano. From that point on, he was involved in performing for whomever would listen. In 1980, Vann became an educator to share his passion, a composer of music for young people to ignite passion in others, and continued to perform throughout the Southeastern US as a vocal and multi-instrumentalist with bands playing styles from country to bluegrass to jazz to modern pop music.

From 1990 until 2000, Vann toured as part of a variety cover band performing throughout the Southeastern US and opening for such notables as Winona Judd, Reba McIntyre, and Merle Haggard. In 1999 he wrote and produced the premier album for Marlene Bowen and won an award for Independent producer of the year. Vann decided in 2001 to concentrate his efforts on helping himself and his students understand Jazz and propelled his High School Jazz Band to be selected at a 2014 Grammy School, one of 12 in the nation. Additionally, Vann was selected by the prestigious Woodruff Arts center as an Outstanding Arts Education Leaders in Georgia. Vann retired from teaching in 2018 and, once again, set his sights on returning to his performing roots.

Friday, October 23rd: Bill Hart & Friends
2020-10-23 20:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Thursday, October 22nd: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Tommie Macon
2020-10-22 20:00 - 23:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Saturday, October 17th: The Ray Howard Band MOTOWN Revue
2020-10-17 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
The Ray Howard Band can put you in the mood of love and grooving, while at the same time make you move and dance to the beat throughout the night. Their timeless old school ballads and reminiscent sounds take you back in time to the “good old days.” The Ray Howard Band specializes in a variety of Motown, R&B, Classic Soul, Funk, Jazz & Pop/Soft Rock.

Friday, October 16th: LSD
2020-10-16 20:30 - 22:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
ONE SHOW ONLY!

An Evening of Improvisation, Collaboration, and Inspiration

FEATURING:* Latavius Mulzac (Maranda Curtis, Vashawn Mitchell, Kandace Springs)*Slim Gambill (Lady A, Tyler Hilton, Last Call w/ Carson Daly)*Daniel de los Reyes (Zac Brown Band, Chicago, Earth, WInd & Fire)

An off-the-cuff, stripped down, lean and mean evening of music and banter with three extraordinary instrumentalists. Performing everything from Afro-Latin Jams to 70’s-style Jazz Fusion to Gambill’s original material, this is a chance to never-seen-before, never-to-be-seen-again performance. The musicians start together and finish together–where the music goes in between is anybody’s guess! This stripped-down lineup of Electric Guitar, Keys and Latin Percussion is sure to light up the night.

Thursday, October 15th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Tommie Macon
2020-10-15 20:00 - 23:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Sunday, October 11th: Eric Moore in Concert
2020-10-11 19:00 - 20:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Powerhouse singer and stage actor Eric Moore lights up The Velvet Note with one performance, accompanied by his pianist S. Renee Clark.

Saturday, October 10th: The Rod Harris, Jr. Quartet
2020-10-10 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Featuring the return of Louis Heriveaux!

Over his time as a guitarist, Rod has performed and recorded with countless artists spanning multiple genres and the listcontinues to grow. Artists such as J. Holiday, Miki Howard, jazz trumpeter Russell Gunn, Eightball andMJG, Musiq Soulchild, Jagged Edge, Donell Jones, Lloyd, saxophonist Warren Hill and Paul Taylor, Grammy Award Winning singers Monica, Regina Belle, Jennifer Holliday, Dionne Farris, and many others. Rod can also be seen performing in the hit film biopics “Cadillac Records” (starringBeyonce and Adrian Brody) and “Bessie” (starring Queen Latifah).

In addition to performing and touring, Rod released his debut jazz-funk album (2016) “The Counsel Of Elders”, which pays homage to RHJ’s guitar influences. In March 2018, Rod released his well anticipated hip-hop/jazz EP entitled “Exits & Options”. The “X/O” Ep features renditions of classic songs as well as original material.

This performance features the return of highly-acclaimed jazz pianist Louis Heriveaux.

Friday, October 9th: Toni & Leonard: Friends and Lovers
2020-10-09 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Toni Byrd and Leonard Julien are incredible long-time friends with playful, humorous chemistry! Their special brand of chemistry flows through each song they sing, and they can both sing…no, they can SANG. We are so proud to welcome them to the stage of The Velvet Note, sharing vocals and instrumentals and entertaining you and your friend…no, your lover…well…you don’t have to be one or the other. Either way, bring your person and come out and join us!

Thursday, October 8th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Singer Tommie Macon
2020-10-08 20:00 - 23:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Friday, October 2nd: Bill Hart & Friends
2020-10-02 20:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
