MAXJAZZ 5th Anniversary Party @ IAJE a Sold-Out Star Event

MAXJAZZ, the stylish, successful boutique jazz label out of St. Louis, MO, celebrated its 5th year anniversary with a major party and label showcase at Sweet Rhythm in New York City. Coinciding with the annual IAJE jazz conference, MAXJAZZ packed the house for all shows and showcased some of its great newcomers to the label. See below for a full recap of each night's show and a complete listing of all series and artists on the label.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21
NYC debut of new vocalist on the label, Erin Bode, a young Peggy Lee-meets-Helen Merill sophisticated singer whose CD will come out in the spring. She joined Peter Martin & his trio of Reuben Rogers on bass & Greg Hutchinson on drums.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22
First Dena DeRose knocked the crowd out with her talent on piano & vocals. Her trio was Martin Wind on bass and Matt Wilson on drums. Her special guests were vocalist Rene Marie, saxophonist Steve Wilson & trumpeter Jeremy Pelt. THEN Pelt and his quartet held forth in a midnight show and was joined by surprise guests Nicholas Payton & Terence Blanchard, who was headlining down the street at the Village Vanguard. A real NYC treat having that star trio of trumpeters!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23
Bruce Barth always surprises people with how he burns on the piano considering his mellow personality. Burn he did, with his trio of Ugonna Okegwo on bass and Montez Coleman on drums. Special guests were saxophonist Steve Wilson & trumpeter Terell Stafford & vocalist Carla Cook, who had the crowd roaring for more with her take on “God's Unchanging Hands".

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24
The closing night was classic. Vocalist Claudia Acuna was the special opening act for Mulgrew Miller. Acuna put on a passionate, moving performance backed by her long-time collaborator Jason Lindner on piano, John Benitez on bass and Gene Jackson on drums. Luna, her debut on MAXJAZZ comes out March 16. Then Miller came on with his young 20-something trio of Derrick Hodge on bass and Karriem Riggins (who supplies drumbeats for rappers & hip hoppers like Q-Tip & Common) and demonstrated why he is one of the finest pianists in jazz. Joining him as a special guest was guitarist Russell Malone, whose label debut, Playground, comes out April 6.

VOCAL SERIES
Claudia Acuna*
Erin Bode*
LaVerne Butler
Carla Cook
Rene Marie
Rebecca Martin*
Mary Stallings

PIANO SERIES
Bruce Barth
Geoffrey Keezer
Peter Martin
Mulgrew Miller
Eric Reed
Jessica Williams
Denny Zeitlin*

HORN SERIES
Jeremy Pelt
Terell Stafford
Steve Wilson

VOCAL/PIANO SERIES
Dena DeRose*
Patti Wicks

STRINGS SERIES
Russell Malone*

* = planned debut in 2004