Seventeen-time Grammy-nominated jazz fusion band, the Yellowjackets, return to Georgia. After decades-long hiatus, they return to kick-off their 2020 season on Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14, 2020, from 6:00 to 10:30 pm at The Legacy Theater, located at 12150 Morris Road, Alpharetta, GA 30005.  Tickets at https://yellowjacketsvalentines.eventbrite.com

Come and enjoy an elegant evening of mingling, tasting, cocktails and music in this 350 seat venue. Starting at 6:00pm, dine in the lobby on savory and sweet hors d’oeuvres while purchasing your favorite beverage via the cash bar prior to enjoying an up-close and personal romantic experience with four legendary musicians ~ Russell Ferrante: Keyboard; Bob Mintzer: Saxophone; Will Kennedy: Drums; Dane Alderson: Bass.

The Yellowjackets are a jazz fusion and R&B band that helped define the sound of smooth jazz along with groups like Spyro Gyra, The Rippingtons, and Special EFX. The Yellowjackets consistently forge ahead in their evolving artistic statements, recording close to 30 albums and having been nominated for 17 Grammy Awards. They have adventurously amplified the eclectic, electro-acoustic soundscape, creating a unique jazz sound since its fusion beginnings.

Fresh off of features in ROLLING STONE, BILLBOARD, GUITAR PLAYER, PARADE, and JAZZ GUITAR TODAY, Lady Antebellum guitarist Slim Gambill is making his return to Alpharetta with his instrumental jazz/rock/jam band project!

Jason “Slim” Gambill Is a multi-genre guitarist, producer, composer, arranger and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist for the multi- platinum Capitol Nashville recording artist Lady Antebellum, who has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide, racked up 7 GRAMMYs and countless ACM, CMA and People’s Choice Awards, and had 9 #1 songs.

An alumnus of USC’s Thornton School Of Music, Slim also performed in the house band for NBC’s “Last Call with Carson Daly,” toured with Tyler Hilton, Josh Kelley, played sessions for some of the biggest names in music, and over the course of his career has found himself on stage with John Mayer, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Nicks, Maroon 5, Rob Thomas, Zedd, Jennifer Nettles (of Sugarland), Aloe Blacc, Kamasi Washington, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Jessy J, Jake Owen, Frankie Ballard, Canaan Smith, Devin Dawson, Ben Rector, Darius Rucker, Vanessa Carlton, Macy Gray, Peter Frampton, Kenny Chesney, and numerous others.

Slim Gambill’s debut contemporary instrumental album, “Fake Jazz & Theme Songs,” is a bold departure from his typical wheelhouse, and yet marks a long-overdue return to his roots as a jazz and blues musician. Spanning genres from Contemporary Jazz and Traditional Jazz to Classic Rock, R&B, and even Soundtrack Music, and featuring appearances from Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) and Kenneth Crouch (Christina Aguilera, Andrae Crouch, JLo) and Dontae Winslow (Justin Timberlake, Queen Latifah), the album has been well received not only for its shock value but for its musicality. Equally praised for its complex-yet-easily accessible arrangements, hooky melodies, and earth-shattering horn sections combined with tasteful, subtle guitar tones, “Fake Jazz & Theme Songs” is making waves not only in the jazz world, but in the Nashville music community that Slim calls home.

Joining Slim on stage for this one-night-only event are Ryan Madora (Robben Ford), Stephen Keith (Lindsay Ell) and of course on keys Latavius Mulzac!!

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

KCL, the iconic, genre-bending powerhouse trio led by visionary guitaristWayne Krantzand featuring drummerKeith Carlock(Steely Dan, Sting, John Mayer) and bassistTim Lefebvre(Tedeschi Trucks Band,David Bowie), held a Thursday-night residency at NYC’s 55 Bar throughout the first decade of the new millenium. Cutting live recordings from the club and posting them online in the early days of the internet and touring only sporadically, KCL developed a thoroughly original style of interactive group improvisation inspired in part by the great Miles Davis Quintet of the 60s, but played out in spontaneously generated contexts of heavy funk, rock and electronica instead of straight-ahead swing.

As other instrumental bands of the day dabbled in derivative fusion and retro-jazz, KCL became an underground phenomenon, cultivating an international following of devoted fans of every stripe looking for an alternative creative music that served the mind, body and spirit. Relentlessly grooving, always innovative, never complacent -KCL made contemporary music that resonated beyond category.Other sideman obligations sidelined the band soon after their Abstract Logix release, “Krantz Carlock Lefebvre,” in 2010, but their reputation continued to expand globally through fan circulation of the band’s many live videos and recordings. Now, in 2020, KCL re-ignites to tour with incendiary shows throughout the USA, Europe and Asia.

Showtimes: 7:30pm and 9:30pm

JAZZ FUSION WITH AN EDGE! One of the things we love about Thursday Night Open Mic Jams at The Velvet Note is that talented musicians from all over get together to play, and after the jam, there are extensive late-night sessions about music. Thanks to last week’s 2am talk with Berkelee-trained, film composer and jazz pianist Alex Williams (we love this guy!), we have discovered SOIL & PIMP. This talented group of young jazz musicians from Japan lay it down HARD!!!! The horns are prolific, the vibe is benevolent, and this is definitely jazz music you can dance/work out to. Download their CD “Mechanical Soil” and you’ll be glad you did. I’m not a huge fan of the first track, but the rest of the compilation is stellar. Enjoy, and have a great week!