Wednesday January 25th, 2012, 7:30 p.m. - Fresno City College Theater
$22 general / $18 JazzFresno members/seniors / $15 students w/ID
“transfixing” - New York Times
“the most original jazz singer in a generation” - Boston Globe
Jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato will perform at the Fresno City College Theatre on Wednesday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, priced at $22, $18, and $15 are available at the FCC Box Office (559) 442-8221 or online. Proceeds benefit FCC jazz performance and scholarship funds.
Ms. Parlato (par-LAH-to) is a rising star in the jazz world. She is a 2011 Grammy nominee, and her current release, “The Lost and Found,” tops many jazz charts. Her eclectic and intensely personal style infuses her performances, which include jazz, Brazilian, and pop (Bjork, Stevie Wonder) material.
Ms. Parlato will also offer a jazz vocal workshop Tuesday January 24 @ 4:00 pm in the FCC Recital Hall (MS 132.) The workshop is free. (Campus parking is enforced.)
The concert is presented by the FCC Music Department, JazzFresno, and the State Center Community College Foundation. The FCC Theatre is located on the campus of Fresno City College, 1101 E. University Avenue, Fresno, CA.
with Will Vinson - alto saxophone, Joe Martin - bass, and Mark Ferber - drums
Tuesday January 24th, 2012, 7:30 p.m. - Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall
$15 general / $12 JazzFresno members/seniors / $10 students w/ID
“there can be no doubting that this guitarist is a major talent to keep our eyes on; in fact we may be witnessing the future of jazz guitar in the worthy hands of Jonathan Kreisberg” - Brad Walseth--Jazz Chicago
A world class jazz quartet from New York, led by guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg, performs in Fresno Tuesday night, January 24th, 2012.
Born in New York City, guitarist and composer Jonathan Kreisberg has fond memories of a childhood steeped in music. “I was lucky to grow up in a household that had a great and wide-ranging record collection, including Coltrane’s "My Favorite Things," John Williams playing the ‘Aranjuez Concierto’ and Cream’s "Disraeli Gears,” he recalls.
Jonathan has worked in the bands of many greats including Joe Locke, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joel Frahm, Greg Tardy, Roy Nathanson, Donald Edwards, Jane Monheit, Ari Hoenig, Yosvany Terry, and Lenny White. He has also led groups of various instrumentations featuring artists such as Bill Stewart, Larry Grenadier, and Scott Wendholt. He has recorded eight CDs as a leader, including his newest release, Shadowless (2011)
Although based in New York City, Jonathan can be seen on tour worldwide. Along with North American performances, he recently completed successful tours of Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, and Japan. With return visits to these countries as well as tours of Germany and Italy, Jonathan is steadily becoming a figure on the international jazz scene.
Jonathan will be joined by his working quartet from New York, featuring Will Vinson on alto saxophone, Joe Martin on bass, and Mark Ferber on drums.
Buchanan High School Jazz Band A, Paul Lucckesi, Director, will open the concert.
Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall @ Clovis North High School
2770 E. International Ave., Fresno, CA
Tickets are available for purchase online.
Also visit www.becjazz.org for more information.
Monday December 5, 2011, 7:30 p.m. - Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater
$18 general / $15 JazzFresno members & seniors / $10 students w/ID
JAZZ COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA GOES INTERNATIONAL
The Jazz Composers Orchestra will perform its final concert of the year on Monday, December 5, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater in Fresno’s Tower District.
Fans of the “JCO” know the band for its adventurous and original music. This season’s concert continues that tradition, with music from the Yellowjackets, original compositions from Swedish, German, and Canadian jazz composers, and a “first”– the band's first performance of a Jimi Hendrix tune!
The Jazz Composers Orchestra is an all-star 19-piece ensemble directed by Mike Dana, head of the jazz studies program at Fresno City College. The roster (below) reads like a “who’s who” of jazz in the Valley. Members include music faculty at FCC, CSU Fresno, and many other valley schools. All play professionally as well, and have performed with an impressive lineup of jazz and pop artists.
Tuesday December 6, 2011, 7:30 p.m. - Bullard High School Theater
$10 general / $7 JazzFresno members + students w/ID
with the Bullard Jazz Ensembles & the JazzFresno All-Stars
Freddie Hubbard says, "The most incredible trombone playing I've heard in a long, long time."
Trombonist Bob McChesney is well known for his emotional delivery and fast technique and has been featured in many big bands and on many CDs. A prominent fixture in the
studios of Los Angeles, Bob can be heard on various television shows such as The Simpsons and The King of the Hill, Looney Tunes cartoons, and on motion
picture scores such as Rush Hour 2, Bringing Down the House, Soldier and The Siege. Bob was a featured soloist at the 2001 International Trombone Festival in
Nashville, Tennessee. Around L.A. he performs live with The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, The Bob Florence Limited Edition Big Band and with his own jazz
quartet.
A passionate performer and enthusiastic teacher, Bob is in demand as a clinician and guest soloist at schools and universities worldwide. He gives masterclasses
on trombone technique, jazz improvisation and doodle tonguing.
1st, 3rd & 4th Sundays of the Month at Tokyo Garden
Since 2003, local jazz fans and musicians have had a home at one of Fresno's longtime restaurants and independent music venues, Tokyo Garden, located at 1711 Fulton Street in downtown Fresno.
On the first Sunday of every month, local pianist and jazz educator Craig Von Berg
hosts a jam session with his trio, featuring John Lauffenburger on bass and Brian Hamada on drums. On the third Sunday of the month, jazz
guitarist and director of Jazz Studies at Fresno City College, Mike Dana hosts the session with his band. On the fourth Sunday of the month the jam is hosted by pianist David Aus. The sessions begin at 6:00pm.
Local jazz educator, trombonist and occasional vocalist Les Nunes heads the lineup for the Sunday evening jazz jam sessions held weekly at Ooi Japanese Cuisine, located at 840 Herndon Ave., Clovis, CA 93612.
A rotating cadre of the area's best rhythm section players anchors the proceedings for the evening, and participation is highly encouraged. The music begins at 6:00pm.
Saturday September 24, 2011, 7:30 p.m. - Heroes Sports Lounge
$10 general / $8 JazzFresno members / seniors / students (under 21 welcome!)
with Martin Nevin, bass, and Peter Kronreif, drums
Prepare to be astonished by the bold compositions and stylish approach of the Le Boeuf Brothers, jazz twins with an ear for innovation, drama, and a touch of humor. Part of a growing New York jazz scene characterized by odd time signatures, current indie rock, and the influences of artists such as Radiohead, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Herbie Hancock, Remy and Pascal Le Boeuf (saxophone and piano) play a sophisticated brand of modern jazz that, despite it's complexity, remains upbeat and accessible to any audience.
"Even by the uncanny standards of identical twins, the Le Boeuf Brothers have forged a remarkably close connection. What sets them apart from other siblings who share the same DNA and a preternatural level of communication is that they practice it in public, on the bandstand, to unique artistic effect." (Metroactive).
The Le Boeuf Brothers' list of awards is a lengthy one, including Independent Music Awards for Best Album & Best Song; 1st place in the International Songwriting Competition, 12 ASCAP Young Composer Awards and various awards from Downbeat Magazine. Additionally, the Le Boeuf Brothers have received grants/commissions from Chamber Music America (CMA), ASCAP/IAJE, and the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA). The Le Boeuf Brothers have also toured internationally and performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the Umbria Jazz Festival, and Jazz @ Lincoln Center.
The New York Times says of Le Boeuf's latest album, "this group has an impressively self-assured new album 'House without a Door' which reaches for the gleaming cosmopolitanism of our present era." Their upcoming album "In Praise of Shadows," supported in part by a contribution from the Edward & Sally Van Lier Fund of the NY Community Trust, is set to be released on September 20th, 2011. What differentiates this album from others is that the Le Boeuf Brothers continue to sculpt their compositions after the initial recording process using modern production techniques, sound collages, and layered arranging/recording methods. This new direction lays the foundation for the next decade of jazz innovation.
Friday May 20, 2011, 7:30 p.m. - Club One Casino Showroom
Free Parking! (Parking Structure 8, Blue Level (directly underneath Club One) $12 general / $10 JazzFresno members / $8 students (under 21 welcome!)
with Noah Garabedian, and Evan Hughes
At the age of twenty-two, New York pianist Julian Waterfall Pollack has the jazz community abuzz with his mature, technically ferocious, and dynamic piano playing. A classically trained pianist, Pollack has unleashed into the world a singular blend of music that combines his love for today’s popular music styles and a respect for the classical tradition.
Having just released his second album, Infinite Playground (Junebeat Records, 2010),San Francisco Chronicle music critic David Wiegand writes that the new album"provides ample evidence that Pollack is a ferociously assured and creatively dazzling pianist, composer and arranger." During a prime time NPR interview, Wiegand stated,"You often hear young people who are really, really talented; what you don't hear--that I hear in Julian's music--is maturity and soul and a lot of thoughtfulness." Infinite Playground received a five star rating from the San Francisco Chronicle and has been garnering much critical acclaim from other publications and critics.
Saturday, May 21, 2011 - E&e Performing Arts Center, Kingsburg, CA
May 21, 2011 ~ 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
$12 Adults, $10 Students/Seniors/JazzFresno members VERY LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE E&e Performing Arts Center
1440 Draper St., Kingsburg, CA
(559) 897-5570 for more info.
Tickets on sale May 1st: Kingsburg Chamber of Commerce (559) 897-1111.
This Swedish Festival weekend, E&e Performing Arts
Center hosts KHS alum from the past four decades.
Don’t miss one of the finest jazz groups to hit the valley in many years!
On Saturday, May 21st in downtown Kingsburg, the KHS alumni all-star jazz band will be performing at 5:00 p.m. in the new E&e Performing Arts Center (located near the “Coffee Pot Water Tower”). This group includes the top KHS musicians from the last 40 years, including Dr. Larry Engstrom – director of the Reno International Jazz Festival, Scott Englebright- former lead trumpet with Maynard Ferguson, Brian Hamada- first call jazz drummer in the valley, Dale Engstrom- director of bands at Fresno City College, Gene Doi- top jazz saxophonist in the valley, Rodney Yokota- bassist for the Fresno Jazz Composers Orchestra, and many others.
Confirmed Musicians Include: Ron Adolph, Gary Anderson, Gene Doi, Nancy Doi, Scott
Englebright, Dale Engstrom, Larry Engstrom, Brian Hamada, EJ Hinojosa, Mike Johnson, Jeff
Loven, Kerry Pickrell, Mike Schofield, Kevin Yokota and Rodney Yokota.
Wednesday May 4, 2011, 7:00 p.m. - Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall
$12 general / $10 JazzFresno members / $8 students
Acclaimed baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan appears in concert with the Clovis High School Jazz Ensembles, Wednesday May 4, at 7:00 p.m. at the Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall, on the campus of Clovis North High School.
Winner of the 2011 JazzTimes Readers and Critics polls for baritone saxophonist of the Year!
Winner of the 2009 and 2010 Jazz Journalists Award for baritone saxophonist of the Year!
Winner of the 2009 DownBeat Critics poll for baritone saxophone!
“transfixing” - New York Times
“there can be no doubting that this guitarist is a major talent to keep our eyes on; in fact we may be witnessing the future of jazz guitar in the worthy hands of Jonathan Kreisberg” - Brad Walseth--Jazz Chicago
The 
Freddie Hubbard says, "The most incredible trombone playing I've heard in a long, long time."
Since 2003, local jazz fans and musicians have had a home at one of Fresno's longtime restaurants and independent music venues, 
Local jazz educator, trombonist and occasional vocalist 
Prepare to be astonished by the bold compositions and stylish approach of the 
At the age of twenty-two, New York pianist 
May 21, 2011 ~ 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Acclaimed baritone saxophonist