Articles by Mark Robbins
Joscho Stephan and Sven Jungbeck at The Roads Bistro
by Mark Robbins
Two of the leading proponents of gypsy jazz made a special appearance at The Roads Bistro recently, Joscho Stephan and Sven Jungbeck. Stephan is a German guitarist known for his interpretations of classical, jazz and pop standards in the style of gypsy jazz. Heavily influenced by the legendary Django Reinhardt, Stephan has garnered a world wide reputation for his virtuosity and passion. Sven Jungbeck is the rhythm guitarist in Stephan's trio. He too was drawn into the world ...
read moreDavid Ambrosio's Civil Disobedience at The Roads Bistro
by Mark Robbins
The Roads Bistro--a new restaurant / listening room--has recently opened in Virginia Beach, VA. Located in a strip mall across the street from the Tidewater Community College, one would be surprised to learn it's the current home of some of the best food and best jazz in the area. Owner, Michael Baldwin, has defied the odds and fulfilled his dream of opening a club. Music is performed nightly with Tuesday reserved for a jazz jam but other nights can also ...
read moreAnthony Hervey with the John Toomey Trio at the Attucks Jazz Club
by Mark Robbins
Anthony Hervey may be fairly new on the jazz scene but he plays the trumpet with the chops of an older experienced player. A graduate of the Julliard School in 2020, Hervey has been a first-call sideman for Christian McBride, m :Jon Batiste, Michael Buble and Wynton Marsalis among others. His musical prowess was not only evident in his playing but he showcased his vocal blues talent with a couple of songs from Keb' Mo' and Muddy Waters. Equally at ...
read moreJustin Kauflin and Thomas Fonnesbaek at the Governor's School for the Arts
by Mark Robbins
At a young age Justin Kauflin's musical interest was in classical violin and piano but upon becoming totally blind by age 11 (he was born with a condition called proliferative exudative retinopathy) Kauflin switched his interest to jazz piano. Growing up in Virginia Beach, Va Kauflin was lucky enough to have two outstanding teachers in Liz Barnes of the Governor's School for the Arts and renowned pianist John Toomey of Old Dominion University. By the age of 14 he was ...
read moreDominique Eade with the John Toomey Trio at the Attucks Jazz Club
by Mark Robbins
Dominique Eade has been teaching at The New England Conservatory for over 30 years. Her students have included Roberta Gambarini, Michael Mayo and Aoife O'Donovan. Well known in jazz circles for her scatting, improvising, delivery, Eade is neither showy nor pretentious. She is more concerned with the music and the story than with the small vocal rough spots that may pop up occasionally. No vibrato, no stretching out a simple word into six syllables, she presents the composition in a ...
read moreLori Williams with the Jimmy Masters Trio at the Sandler Center
by Mark Robbins
Bassist Jimmy Masters has hosted and curated the TowneBank jazz series (formerly the Miller Jazz Series) at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts since its inception in 2017. Running from June to September, the series has offered a different theme each month played in a cabaret style setting. The 2023 season began a couple of months earlier than previous years (April) with special guest Janis Siegel. The August edition featured the fabulous vocalist Lori Williams who, due to her ...
read moreSergio Mendes at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
by Mark Robbins
The audience at the Sandler Center was on its feet cheering as the familiar sound of “Magalenha" filled the room and the cheering grew even louder as the band's leader, Sergio Mendes, took his place behind the keyboard. For 60 years Mendes has been the voice of Bossa Nova, Samba and Latin Jazz, and ever since Herb Alpert Presents: Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 made its debut in 1966 he has continually been at the top of the charts with ...
read moreBria Skonberg Quartet Plays The Perry Pavilion
by Mark Robbins
When the city of Chilliwack, British Columbia comes up in a conversation ( if it ever does), one's first thought does not turn to jazz. Now it should because jazz vocalist/trumpet player Bria Skonberg comes from that small Canadian city. Called the “shining hope of hot jazz," Skonberg has appeared on over 25 albums either as a leader or band member. She has won the Jazz At Lincoln Center Swing Award, awarded the Best Vocal and Best Trumpet from Hot ...
read moreJanis Siegel with The Jimmy Masters Trio at the Sandler Center
by Mark Robbins
In 1972 Tim Hauser, Laurel Masse, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel created a four part vocal group called The Manhattan Transfer. Cheryl Bentyne replaced Masse in 1979 and the group remained intact until October 2014 with the passing of Hauser. Trist Curless replaced Hauser and the four vocalist have been recording and traveling ever since. The group announced that the 2022 world tour, celebrating their 50th anniversary, would be their last. Who better to lead a musical evening ...
read moreSamara Joy at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center
by Mark Robbins
When Samara Joy performed last June at the Vocal Jazz Summit in Virginia Beach she was fairly new on the scene and even though she could deliver a song like a seasoned pro she was a little shy interacting with the audience. What a difference one year and two Grammys make. The singer, who appeared at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center in Newport News, VA to headline the Ella Fitzgerald Festival, was an instant hit with an audience (276 sold ...
read more
Giveaway
Days remaining: 3
