lauracoylemusic

jazz jam session at Twain's 8/26/08

Every Tuesday, Atlanta jazz trumpeter Joe Gransden hosts a very happening jam session at Twain's in Decatur. See if you don't agree:

Mace Hibbard on alto sax

Tyrone Jackson on piano

Justin Varnes on drums, Craig Shaw on bass

and then... like a whole marching baltic brass band showed up! Russell Gunn and Joe Gransden joined in.

baritone, sousaphone, Mace Hibbard and fantastic clarinet player

and a little later, a conga drummer

and I got to play one with Marcus Printup

and then Kemba Cofield was tellin' it like it is.

go Twain's! And go visit iwasdoingallright.com for the video!

photos by Laura Coyle

Heidi Pollyea student cabaret at Shorty's Pizza 8/24/08

 

Alicia Moore. I wish I knew the name of the singer in the above photo. So beautiful!

My music teacher, Heidi Pollyea, puts together a quarterly showcase to give her vocal students a chance to get up on stage and have the backing of a great band. 

I met Vince (pictured above) at the Twain's jazz jam session, and now he's started lessons with Heidi. He did a great job on "Nature Boy."

I've been going to these shows for years and I remember my first ones well; they gave me the opportunity to get over my stage fright bit by bit. We're all in the same boat, singing through nervousness and learning to let our expression come through.

And then there's Teresa Williams (above) who is a pro - there are singers at all levels working with Heidi Pollyea (who is at the piano in this shot). There's always a mix of musical styles and it is a thrill to see singers develop from show to show. 

And she has great musician friends too, like Bruce (above) who always provides the tastiest solos on violin. Doug Morton plays guitar.

Here's the lovely Kitty Ray Swain with husband Mark Jones (of Deja Blue Grass fame) on bass.

Heidi's a great teacher, pianist and singer - and she's the reason I'm singing!

thanks to Shorty's in Tucker

photos by Laura Coyle

jazz jam session at Twains 8/19/08

Every Tuesday, Atlanta jazz trumpeter Joe Gransden hosts a very happening jam session at Twain's in Decatur.

vocalist Nicole Chillemi

guitarist David (help me with his last name please) first time at Twain's

trumpeter Marcus Printup with Che Marshall on drums

Marcus Printup and Joe Gransden

Kingsized vocalist Mike Geier

drummer Che Marshall

photos by Laura Coyle

jazz jam session at Twains 8/6/08

Joe Gransden leads the session every Tuesday night at Twain's

Brian Hogans

Brandy Brewer

Russell Gunn

Craig Shaw

Kemba Cofield

Kinah Boto

Robby Handley, bass

Janet Metzger

Chris Burroughs

Ede Wright

Craig Shaw

Terry Corcoran

Girl from Ipanema

enjoying the music

Tyrone Jackson

Gransden and Gunn

photos by Laura Coyle

for more info about the jam plus video, visit iwasdoingallright.com

jazz appreciation

On Monday February 4th there will be some of Atlanta's best jazz vocalists and musicians performing at SOJA's (Southeastern Organization for Jazz Arts) first Jazz Appreciation Night at Star in Castleberry Hill, near downtown Atlanta. This event will take place on the first Monday night of every month. For more details, see SOJA's website

Atlanta jazz video

Rick G's jazz and trumpet blog, iwasdoingallright.com has some great video clips of local Atlanta jazz happenings. Click the link above to see and hear the likes of Mace Hibbard, Melvin Jones, Julie Dexter, Bernard Linnette and more.

Mary Jo's Jazz Soiree 12/2/07

an evening of music with Obie Jessie, vocals; Bernard Linnette, drums; Louis Heriveaux, piano; and Craig Shaw, bass.

Louis Heriveaux before the show

Obie Jessie takes the stage

Posey Miller and Takana Miyamoto listen from the kitchen

Craig Shaw takes a solo

everybody digs Obie Jessie

the second set

ends with a stirring 'Round Midnight

Thanks to Mary Jo for hosting this beautiful evening of music in her home. And to Phil and Rhae Clore for bringing these events together every month. I'll remember this night for a long time. I was fortunate to get to sing a couple of tunes as an opener to Obie's sets and meet a lot of fellow jazz lovers. If you'd like to attend in the future, keep an eye on SOJA's website.

photos by Laura Coyle

holidays on brunch

This week the band has moved "into the pit" to make more room for Santa and Mrs. Claus and all the holiday trappings, but you can still enjoy the music and even pay us a visit in this lovely lounge area in the middle of all the action. This week brought special guests Chanda McKnight on keys and Russell Gunn on trumpet.

Chanda McKnight and Craig Shaw

Bernard Linnette and Russell Gunn

Happy Holidays!

and FYI coming up next friday is Kemba Cofield's CD Release party at club 29. Go hear this woman!!

Thankful

Laura Coyle

It's been a wonderful few days with a houseful of family and maybe just a little too much good cooking. On Wednesday I sang at Ray's on the River, this time with Rich Rowlinson on piano and Tim Delaney on bass. We had never played together before, but they are both so accomplished that it was a breeze. It also gave me a chance to try a few tunes I haven't done much, since our newness was bound to make everything a little outside the comfort zone - so why not? Continuing education! And it was so much fun to listen to Rich and Tim, who are fantastic and so entertaining - they play together all the time and most often accompanying Mike Geier of Kingsized.

On Sunday I'm back with Bernard, Louis and Craig at the brunch. And now that November is almost gone, things are about to get really busy - here are a few of the dates right around the corner I'm hoping to catch (if I'm not playing them) around Atlanta:

Wed. Nov 28 - Bernard Linnette Interactive with Julie Dexter at Club 29

Sat. Dec 1 - Kingsized Holiday Extravaganza - Variety Playhouse

Sun. Dec 2 - Waverly brunch 11:30 am (I'm singing) then at 5 pm - Mary Jo's SOJA Jazz Soiree with Obie Jessie, Bernard Linnette and company

Wed. Nov 28 - Bernard Linnette Interactive with Julie Dexter at Club 29

Sat. Dec 8 - Holiday Jazz Vespers with the Atlanta Jazz Chorus - Rialto theatre (I'll be singin' with the altos!)

Hope your Thanksgiving was a happy one! see you soon, Laura

Brunchin' with Russell Gunn

Finally! I got to meet the much-talked about trumpeter Russell Gunn, and hear his unique take on lots of tunes this past Sunday. Inspiring. You gotta come out - you never know who's gonna show up! This was a treat. I have the best job; I get to sing, and then I get to listen!

Next week, November 4th, I'm taking a break and vocalist Julie Dexter is on the mic. On Sunday afternoon, you can catch Julie, Bernard, Louis, Craig and horns at Paris On Ponce for the next Mary Jo's Jazz Soiree. There was so much response for this show, that Mary Jo had to move the party from her house to a bigger location! It promises to be a great evening of jazz, 5pm-9pm.