The Velvet Note

Friday, January 14th: Jazz Singer and Saxophonist Danny Bacher
2022-01-14 19:30 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Enter Danny Bacher.Singer. Saxophonist. Consummate performer. A dynamic entertainer with world-class talents in music, theater, and comedy– and man, does he swing!

SHOWTIMES: 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Danny Bacher is an award-winning singer, saxophonist, songwriter and entertainer in the fullest sense of the term. He’s not only a master of the demanding soprano sax, but combines his virtuosity on the instrument with a talent for comedy and narrative storytelling.

He’s a smooth and cool individual who makes hot jazz and pop, cut from the cloth of the great Louis Prima and Mel Torme. Bacher swings with pizzazz, scats and sings with a smoky voice, all adding to his compelling stage presence. Stephen Holden in The New York Times said of Bacher that he’s a “prodigiously talented musical preservationist,” adding what Bacher knows in his bones is that “the secret of serious fun is not to take it too seriously.”

In addition to a solid career in jazz, cabaret and pop with a penchant for rare gems, and classic standards from the Great American Songbook, Bacher has also worked as an actor, comedian and writer, touring internationally with his original works. Along with a busy touring schedule and working at venues such as the Blue Note, Birdland, Feinstein’s 54 Below, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Town Hall, he has performed several times at Carnegie Hall and most recently alongside the legendary Michael Feinstein. Bacher has released two studio albums as a leader, “Swing That Music!” and “Still Happy” on the Whaling City Sound label. A recent recipient of the prestigious Margaret Whiting Award, Bacher was also nominated for best male vocalist in the 2019 National Jazz Times reader’s poll along with Harry Connick, Gregory Porter and TonyBennett. A recent recipient of the prestigious Margaret Whiting Award, Bacher was also nominated for best male vocalist in the 2019 National Jazz Times reader’s poll along with Harry Connick, John Pizzarelli, and Tony Bennett, and in 2020 placed in the top 3 in the country. Along with Kurt Elling and Gregory Porter.

Thursday, January 13th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Natasha Brown
2022-01-13 20:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Come out and join us on Thursday nights in the comfort of The Velvet Note Living Room. Meet the best, most passionate local area musicians, make essential connections and relax and enjoy the scene. THIS is the area fun-spot–the place to meet others who play and/or simply enjoy great music, and it’s the ONLY Thursday night jam on the north side of town. Only $20 and no reservations necessary. All styles and genres are welcomed, so scootch on in here as a performer or spectator–it’s all fun!

Sunday, January 9th: Greg Robbins
2022-01-09 19:00 - 22:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Greg Robbins is a jazz vocalist, composer, and lyricist who very recently transplanted to Nashville from Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Greg was trained formally in Vocal Performance at Berry College in Rome, GA, where he graduated in 2015. He went on to receive a robust vocal and compositional training on the Atlanta jazz scene from mentors Kermit Walker, Kevin Bales, Delbert Felix, and many more.

After going full time for a few years in Atlanta, he moved to NYC at the end of 2018. In NYC he was mentored on the scene by legendary artists Sachal Vasandani, Johnny O’Neal, and Marc Cary, while playing an average of two gigs a week at various venues such as the Manderley Bar in Chelsea, Gin Fizz in Harlem, and The Back Room speakeasy in lower Manhattan. Greg performs throughout the country at jazz clubs, music festivals, wedding receptions, swing dances, and more.

January 7th & 8th: Laila Biali
2022-01-07 19:30 - 2022-01-08 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
SHOWTIMES: FRIDAY, JANUARY 7TH @ 7:30PM AND 9:30PM

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8TH @ 7:30PM AND 9:30PM

Multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, pianist and CBC Music national radio host Laila Biali has headlined festivals and venues spanning five continents from New York City’s Carnegie Hall to Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, and supported international icon Sting. In 2020, Laila was honoured by SOCAN Music with the Hagood Hardy Award for Excellence in Songwriting. In 2019, Laila’s eponymous release won her a JUNO (Canada’s GRAMMY) for “Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.” The year prior, she was awarded top prize at the Canadian Songwriting Competition in the Jazz category. Laila was also the youngest-ever double winner at Canada’s National Jazz Awards when she was named “SOCAN Composer of the Year” and “Keyboardist of the Year.”

She received her first JUNO nomination for Tracing Light (2011), and a spot on DownBeat Magazine’s “Best Albums of the Year” for Live in Concert (2013) and Out of Dust (2020). In September of 2017, Laila was brought on as the host for CBC Music’s national radio show, Saturday Night Jazz, a weekly show broadcast to listeners across Canada. While Laila continues to earn high honours in the Jazz world, her signature sound transcends genre as she “masterfully mixes jazz and pop, bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs that are concise and catchy” (Washington Post). Laila’s highly anticipated album, Out of Dust, which features multiple GRAMMY nominees and winners including Lisa Fischer, Alan Ferber, John Ellis, and Larnell Lewis, released March 27, 2020 and was also nominated for a 2021 JUNO Award.

SATURDAY 9:30 SEATS STILL AVAILABLE. PURCHASE BELOW!

Thursday, January 6th: Open Mic Jam
2022-01-06 20:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
A potpourri of performers entertains you throughout the night under the musical leadership of our house band, led by singer Natasha Brown. Come out and jam with us– All genres welcomed!

Friday, December 31st: New Year's Eve Gala Starring Singer Lori Williams * SOLD OUT! *
2021-12-31 19:30 - 2022-01-01 13:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
7:30pm – 1:00am. THIS is the place to be for an comfortable, upscale, yet enchanting evening of popular jazz and R&B, accompanied by delicious food, festive spirits and great conversation. Right in your own backyard–no need to comb the chilly streets of downtown to get your party on!Your ticket includes:

– Concert tickets to enjoy the all-night performance of acclaimed singer Lori Williams– A champagne toast at midnight

– Non-alcoholic beverages

– Party favors

*** SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT!!! ***

Thursday, December 30th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Singer/Actor Eric Moore
2021-12-30 20:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
A potpourri of performers entertains you throughout the night under the musical leadership of our house band, led by singer Eric Moore. Come out and jam with us– All genres welcomed!

Wednesday, December 29th: A Live Recording of Wildman's Trilogy
2021-12-29 18:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
This dynamic, funky band is making its first live recording, right here in The Velvet Note Acoustic Living Room! Food and drinks available for purchase, too! Admission is $25 and the live music recording takes place from 8pm – 10pm. Tickets available by by calling the artist’s studios directly at 470.278.6067.

Thursday, December 23rd: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Singer/Actor Eric Moore
2021-12-23 20:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Wednesday, December 22nd: Jazzy Crab with Blues Artist Hughes Taylor
2021-12-22 18:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Sunday, December 19th: Michelle Malone and The Hot Toddies
2021-12-19 19:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
“Michelle Malone and The Hot Toddies reinterpret classic Christmas songs, creating new jazz and blues arrangements all their own that display Malone’s vocal prowess and innate ability to let her music take you to another time and place. ”

— Tony Paris, Creative Loafing

SHOWTIMES: 7:00PM AND 9:00PM

Join the Hot Toddies for 2 swingin’ Christmas shows at 7pm and 9pm with all your favorite holiday songs! Come sing along to all your favorite Christmas songs, and get in the spirit, because…

….”“Nothing puts the ‘merry’ in Christmas like Michelle Malone and The Hot Toddies” — Scott Freeman, Arts Atlanta

The Hot Toddies are world renowned musicians who justhappened to meet in an Amtrak train station bar in Kalamazoo, MI on a snowy Christmas Eve. While stranded in a blizzard at the train station with no chance of getting home for the holidays, these fun-loving party favors decided to get out their instruments and provide the other stranded travelers with some real crazy holiday merriment that went into the wee hours of the morning when Santa finally arrived – and the rest is Hot Toddy history!

Saturday, December 18th: A Jody Jazzy Christmas
2021-12-18 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Having amassed a decades long resume that includes performing with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie, Grover Washington, Jr. jazz Violinist, Karen Briggs, Mike Phillips, and James Lloyd from Pieces Of A Dream, Jody Mayfield believes that jazz isn’t a style of music, but rather, how you play it.

On this holiday concert, jazz pianist, Jody Mayfield will feature jazzy holiday music from his number one Christmas EP “A Jody Jazzy Christmas.” This multi-talented keyboardist blends his remarkable sense of soulfulness with a warm, familiar intimacy, resulting in fresh takes on Christmas classics. As caressing atmospheres waft around the tight grooves and lush melodies, Mayfield switches seamlessly between piano and contemporary keyboard vibes.

First show at 7:30 is SOLD OUT! Purchase 9:30pm show below:

Friday, December 17th: Jazz Crooner Keenan Blount
2021-12-17 19:30 - 23:00
Take the phrasing of Sinatra, blend in the velvet styling of Nat King Cole and the soulful passion of Tony Bennett and you’ve got the formula for Love. Crooner Keenan Blount takes you through spirit of the season.

7:30 shows are SOLD OUT! Purchase 9:30 seats below:

Thursday, December 16th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Singer/Actor Eric Moore
2021-12-16 20:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
A potpourri of performers entertains you throughout the night under the musical leadership of our house band, led by singer Eric Moore. Come out and jam with us– All genres welcomed!

PURCHASE TICKETS BELOW!

Wednesday, December 15th: JazzyCrab Night Featuring Wildman and The Funky Soul Band
2021-12-15 18:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
This is your chance to try our acclaimed Chesapeake Bay, Jumbo Lump crabcakes, all night long! Great deals on food and drink, live music (8-10), and NO ENTRY FEE! Come on out with your gang and enjoy! Reservations are NOT REQUIRED, but if you want to make one, call 855.5.VELVET. Featured Artist– Wildman and The Funky Soul Band.

Sunday, December 12th: OrpheusMaXX *** SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! ***
2021-12-12 19:00 - 20:30 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
ONE SHOW ONLY: 7:00PM AND 8:30PM. Orpheus MaXX is a collective of legacy jazz musicians who are committed to honoring the history of great jazz music while applying their imaginations to its modern arrangements. The group stars American drummer, composer and arranger Eric Vaughn. Vaughn is the youngest inductee to the Coastal Jazz Hall of Fame where he received the award for his life’s contributions to the international jazz and art community.

Also featuring: Award-winning legacy pianist Kenny Banks, Jr., Trumpeter Terence Harper and Bassist Delbert Felix.

Vaughn moved to Berlin in January 2010 and is the resident jazz curator at the Wekstatt der Kulturen, which produces music and art events. He performs and tours throughout Europe, and as a composer/arranger, has worked on musical projects for CNN and Walt Disney with jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel.

**** SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT !!! ****

Saturday, December 11th: Grant Green, Jr. Celebrates The Music of Burt Bacharach *** SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! ***
2021-12-11 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Grant Green Jr. is a jazz guitarist and son of jazz guitarist Grant Green. He is a member of the group Masters of Groove with Bernard Purdie and Reuben Wilson.[1] Born in St Louis, Missouri on August 4, 1955, Grant Green Jr. started playing guitar at the age of fourteen. In 1969 moved to Detroit with his father. His neighbors included Stevie Wonder‘s parents, Marvin Gaye, and members of the Four Tops. He has worked with Richard Groove Holmes, Leon Thomas, Jimmy McGriff, Lou Donaldson, and Lonnie Smith. This performance is the pre-release of Grant’s upcoming CD in celebration of iconic composer Burt Bacharach.

*** SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! ***

Friday, December 10th: The Bill Hart International Jazz Fusion Band
2021-12-10 20:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
Canadian Guitarist Bill Hart performs each Friday night, featuring his unique take on world music with international musicians and genre-bending selections. Come hang with us, and take a trip around the world without converting your currency or expediting your passport!

Thursday, December 9th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Singer/Actor Eric Moore
2021-12-09 20:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Wednesday, December 8th: JazzyCrab! With Hughes Taylor, Blues Singer/Guitarist
2021-12-08 17:00 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Thursday, December 2nd: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Singer/Actor Eric Moore
2021-12-02 20:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States

Wednesday, December 1st: JazzyCrab!
2021-12-01 17:00 - 22:00
This is your chance to try our acclaimed Chesapeake Bay, Jumbo Lump crabcakes, all night long! Great deals on food and drink, live music (8-10), and NO ENTRY FEE! Come on out with your gang and enjoy!

Featured Artist– Wildman and The Funky Soul Band

Reservations are NOT REQUIRED, but if you want to make one, call 855.5.VELVET

November 26-28: Thanksgiving Weekend Party with Smooth Jazz Star Bob Baldwin
2021-11-26 19:30 - 2021-11-28 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
New York native Bob Baldwin has recorded on six of the seven inhabitable continents, and while Antarctica is not on his recording bucket list, his international list, including Dubai, Brazil, South Africa, Spain, UK, Canada, is quite impressive. “Whether it’s a massive festival crowd of 30,000 or an intimate restaurant audience of 60, I refuse to rob my audience of great music and a good experience”, says Baldwin. The pianist’s personal goal is to release a 12-song project per year, and since 1988, he has released over 34 projects, of which 27 are owned by his company, City Sketches Records.Bob’s upcoming disc, “The Stay at Home Series” is an industry adjustment. Recorded in 2020-2021, this is a closed live recording in the studio with some of his New York musical compadres. With Cafe Da Silva and Chembo Corniel on percussion, and his longtime music friends Tony Lewis and Dave Anderson on drums and bass, the new project will spit out a Volume 2 in the near future.“Being a musician, we obviously had to make adjustments to the way we all do music,” says the Native New Yorker. “Concerts were eliminated in 2020, but fortunately, owning your own music makes you halfway covid-proof.”His current 2021 release “The UrbanSmooth Suite” was a vocal extravaganza with various vocalists Monica Mason, Regina Troupe, Toni Redd and others as well as Earth, Wind and Fire original Ralph Johnson on the uptempo “Dance 3000” are all highlights.His 2020 piece, “Henna” explored a more natural sound with the aforementioned Da’ Silva, Anderson and Lewis, but his 12-solo piece with Nils, Beasley, Alford, Whiteside and company on “Club Life” was the record highlight.His ‘theme’ projects of Stevie Wonder, Thom Bell and Michael Jackson have all charted mightily on the Billboard Jazz charts, all hitting in the top 15. His very latest, Abbey Road and the Beatles has also crept into the top 20 on the charts as well.Previous releases of Never Can Say Goodbye and Never out of Season, were both remixed and remastered in the spirit of hi-def. Whereas older recordings would peak at the average 16-bit maximum, Bob is trying to push the envelope in re-tracking some of the music in 24-bit (and sometimes 32-bit mode).What’s next? Well…funny you should ask. Bob Baldwin is re-writing and updating his book, “You Better Ask Somebody”, and will go in a little deeper on subjects like music streaming and the lowdown on Croton Jazz.The Brazilian-American Soundtrack (2016) was his 22nd disc, and is a fantastic journey through Rio, Ipanema Beach, Atlanta and New York City and showcases original music, plus music from legendary writers and artists like Djavan, Ivan Lins and Antonio Carlos Jobim.Also, check out his holiday disc, “The Gift of Christmas”, featuring Marcus Anderson and Corvina Nielsen, released in 2016.

Thursday, November 25th: Thanksgiving Open Mic Jam Hosted by Joyce Licorish
2021-11-25 20:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
THIS is your source of musical entertainment for friends and family on Thanksgiving! A potpourri of performers entertains you throughout the night under the musical leadership of our house band, led by singer Joyce Licorish. Come out and jam with us– All genres welcomed!

Wednesday, November 24th: JazzyCrab!
2021-11-24 17:00 - 22:00
This is your chance to try our acclaimed Chesapeake Bay, Jumbo Lump crabcakes, all night long! Great deals on food and drink, live music (8-10), and NO ENTRY FEE! Come on out with your gang and enjoy! Reservations are NOT REQUIRED, but if you want to make one, call 855.5.VELVET. Featured Artists– Bob Bakert and Dustin Cottrell

Sunday, November 21st: Our Annual Steely Dan Tribute Thanksgiving Jam
2021-11-21 19:30 - 22:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
THIS is your chance to spend an exhilarating evening celebrating the music of Steely Dan! Donald Fagen and Walter Becker accomplished over 40 years in music, and we love to honor their success. This is a feast for the listening ear that grew up on this great music and appreciates live performance. Musicians will include an array of local, passionate instrumentalists and vocals, with Adrian Ash herding the cats and guiding us through the songbook.

Saturday, November 20th: The Eric Wyatt Quartet also starring Jeff "Tain" Watts
2021-11-20 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
A Song of Hope,his second album for Whaling City Sound, saxophonist Eric Wyatt more than hope; he offers assurance that contemporary jazz is alive and well in and around his home base of Brooklyn, NY. Wyatt, the godson of another rather well-known saxophonist, Sonny Rollins, performs in groups of various sizes, from quartet to octet, with vocals by Samara Joy on two numbers, “Fragile” and Wyatt’s “Say Her Name.” The almost-constants are pianist Donald Vega, bassist Eric Wheeler and drummer Jeff Watts, who are on board for eight numbers but step aside for a pair of Wyatt-Watts duets and are replaced by bassist Mike Boone and his talented fourteen-year-old son, drummer Mekhi Boone, on John Coltrane‘s “Central Park West” and McCoy Tyner‘s “Contemplation.”

While there are occasional glimpses of Rollins (and Coltrane) in Wyatt’s broad-shouldered tenor, for the most part it is strictly Wyatt, blowing with awareness and enthusiasm on every number. That is to say, almost every number, as he plays soprano on “Fragile” whose oracular lyric (by Sting) no doubt conveys a profound message to today’s younger listeners.

Friday, November 19th: The Eric Wyatt Quartet with Jeff "Tain" Watts *** SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! ***
2021-11-19 19:30 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
On A Song of Hope, his second album for Whaling City Sound, saxophonist Eric Wyatt offers more than hope; he offers assurance that contemporary jazz is alive and well in and around his home base of Brooklyn, NY. Wyatt, the godson of another rather well-known saxophonist, Sonny Rollins, performs in groups of various sizes, from quartet to octet, with vocals by Samara Joy on two numbers, “Fragile” and Wyatt’s “Say Her Name.” The almost-constants are pianist Donald Vega, bassist Eric Wheeler and drummer Jeff Watts, who are on board for eight numbers but step aside for a pair of Wyatt-Watts duets and are replaced by bassist Mike Boone and his talented fourteen-year-old son, drummer Mekhi Boone, on John Coltrane‘s “Central Park West” and McCoy Tyner‘s “Contemplation.”

While there are occasional glimpses of Rollins (and Coltrane) in Wyatt’s broad-shouldered tenor, for the most part it is strictly Wyatt, blowing with awareness and enthusiasm on every number. That is to say, almost every number, as he plays soprano on “Fragile” whose oracular lyric (by Sting) no doubt conveys a profound message to today’s younger listeners.

*** SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! SOLD OUT!! ***

Thursday, November 18th: Open Mic Jam Hosted by Singer Joyce Licorish
2021-11-18 20:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
A potpourri of performers entertains you throughout the night under the musical leadership of our house band, led by singer Joyce Licorish. Come out and jam with us– All genres welcomed!

Wednesday, November 17th: JazzyCrab with Musical Guest Wildman & The Funky Soul Band
2021-11-17 17:00 - 23:00 | The Velvet Note Main Stage, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, 30005, United States
This is your chance to try our acclaimed Chesapeake Bay, Jumbo Lump crabcakes, all night long! Great deals on food and drink, live music (8-10), and NO ENTRY FEE! Come on out with your gang and enjoy! Reservations are NOT REQUIRED, but if you want to make one, call 855.5.VELVET. Featured Artist–Wildman & the Funky Soul Band
