West Michigan Jazz Society - promoting, preserving, and perpetuating live jazz.

The B.O.B.

WMJS will present Libby York on May 20th, 2013 at their Monday Night Jazz series at the B.O.B., 20 Monroe NW., Downtown Grand Rapids at Bobarinos on the second floor. There will be table service for food and beverages, featuring $4.00 wines and special price on either a Jazz burger or pepperoni pizza. Free parking is offered in the B.O.B. parking lot as long as there is availability. Some metered parking is free after 5:00 PM as well.

Photo courtesy of Linda Schwartz

MAY 20

Vocalist Libby York, a native Chicagoan, lived in New York City for many years performing and recording three award winning CD releases. Her "Sunday in New York" album garnered a rare 4 stars from Downbeat.
"Stylish and cosmopolitan, York has a sound that recalls Anita O'Day, Rosemary Clooney and Sarah Vaughn" - John McDonough, Downbeat.
The New York Times reviewing her CD "Here with You" calls York "..a jazz singer of cool composure and artful subtlety."
She is known nationally and internationally for her "cool school" renderings of Great American Songbook classics and her recordings are featured on jazz radio stations around the country including Sirius Radio and Blue Lake public Radio.
"With a voice like amber, York proves that simple beauty is often the most stunning" - JazzTimes.
York has performed at the Metropolitan Room in Manhattan, The Green Mill and Jazz Showcase Chicago , The Vic in LA, Zanzibar Blue in Philadelphia and Cafe Laurent Paris. Now a summer Saugatuck resident, she is delighted to be working with some of the many wonderful jazz musicians in the Grand Rapids area. She has recently recorded a new CD in New York with world famous jazz guitarist Russell Malone and cornetist Warren Vache, due for release late 2013.

Catch Libby's appearance on WZZM TV's "Take Five" show on Tuesday May 7 at 9am.

Warren Jones

Terry Kresler

The band:
Jeff Kresler- piano
Warren Jones - bass
Fred Knapp - drums
Mike Frost - tenor sax

to open on June 3!

Click here for dates, times, and programming!

New Phone Number for WMJS!
616-490-9506

April 2013

Dear Friend of Jazz:

Our thirteenth annual season of offering free weekly jazz concerts at John Ball Zoo's band shell is fast approaching. Jazz at the Zoo has been a great success with our regular audiences of over 1200 fans enjoying local and regional musicians in a relaxed outdoor setting.

Our Summer Monday evening concerts begin June 3rd and end August 12th. In keeping with our efforts to promote jazz in the high schools, our opening show will feature the Northview High School Jazz Band. A complete listing of performers will be posted on our website (www.wmichjazz.org) and in our newsletter.

Once again we are reaching out to past and potential future supporters to help us fund this endeavor. Please see the sponsorship form and consider a level of support that works for you. Since we are an all-volunteer tax exempt organization under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, all contributions are tax deductible.

Each donor will be listed in our newsletter and Jazz at the Zoo programs. You may also dedicate your contribution in someone's memory. Please advise us if you know of someone who might be interested in a corporate sponsorship.

We hope you will help us in our continuing efforts to promote live jazz in the Grand Rapids area.

Sincerely,
John Miller, President
West Michigan Jazz Society

The WMJS
April/May
2013 Newsletter
is now available!

Click Here!

GRandJazzFest
a FREE 2 day event
Rosa Parks Circle Grand Rapids
August 17-18, 2013
Chicago jazz guitarist/vocalist Nick Colionne headlines

GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy Foundation announces the lineup.
Chicago-based guitarist and vocalist Nick Colionne headlines GRandJazzFest. Expanding in this second year to two days, a total of 10 jazz performers/bands are slated. A student jazz jam session has also been added.
In addition to Colionne, artists for 2013 include saxophonist Deon Yates, The Paul Keller AT SUNDOWN Quintet, Sheila Landis & Brazilian Love Affair, The Kinsey Report, Randy Marsh Organ Trio and Mind’s Eye. Performers returning from GRandJazzFest 2012 include Lansing-based saxophonist Phil Denny and the homegrown Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra (GRJO). Popular local vocalist Edye Evans Hyde returns to perform with GRJO and also performs with her own band at the festival. Street-funk blues-rock band The Kinsey Report hails from Gary, Ind., the other bands and performers are all from Michigan.

“We’re so excited to be expanding the festival and bringing internationally known jazz guitarist and vocalist Nick Colionne and his band to Grand Rapids to headline our festival,” GRandJazzFest Founder Audrey Sundstrom said. “The complete lineup is an eclectic offering that expresses the full diversity of the jazz art form.”