Results for "Grand Rapids"

Wayne Powers

From jazz vocalist/bandleader to actor/comedian/radio talk show host, it's easy to see why Wayne Powers is often referred to as a “renaissance man”. Wayne started out as a “boy singer” in New York nightclubs at age 16. “I wasn’t very good,” he freely admits, “but you’ve gotta start someplace – and I grew up with this music inside me – in my heart and soul – and treasure it enough to gladly do whatever it takes for me to live inside the music. You see, when I was growing up we couldn’t afford a piano (and we had no room for one, anyway). so I just learned to play the human voice.” Persistence paid off as Powers eventually studied in New York with renowned vocal coach of the day, Fred Steele, mentor to Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Eddie Fisher and widely credited with helping restore Tony Bennett’s voice

Charlie Hoats

Born: January 21, 1969

Over a lengthy professional career, Charlie Hoats has had the privilege of performing with Rick Margitza, Marvin Stamm, Gunnar Mossblad, Marcus Roberts, Denis DiBlasio, Gene Bertoncini, Phil Keaggy, Claudio Roditi, Chris Vadala, Jack Wilkins, Jimmy Bruno, Clay Jenkins, Kim Richmond, Christian Howes, Sunny Wilkinson, Ray Kaczinski, Danny Draher, The Butterfat Trio, Walt Weiskopf, Edye Evans Hyde, Melvin Rynes, Michael Brecker, and many others. Additional performance experience includes the National Touring Company of Grease; regional productions of Pump Boys and Dinettes, Ten November, Beehive, and other small- and large- scale musicals; and numerous performances with local and regional jazz, blues, and pop groups

Spring Quartet at Dalton Recital Hall

by John Ephland
May 24, 2019

Spring Quartet Dalton Recital Hall, Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI May 4, 2019 They had to add chairs. The 435-seat Dalton Recital Hall, on the campus of Western Michigan University, was filled with multiple generations of music fans from all walks of life. The alluring ticket, brought to town by ...

Gilmore Keyboard Festival

by John Ephland
June 3, 2018

Gilmore Keyboard Festival Kalamazoo, Michigan April 25 to May 12, 2018 Thursday night is always the second night of the biennial Gilmore Keyboard Festival. Thursday night is also the first night for jazz, the festival putatively a classical music rollout with jazz confections, albeit well-considered, strewn throughout this 22-day cultural jewel based ...

Dr. Lonnie, Monaco & Gibbs: Hope College’s Jazz Organ Summit

February 23, 2018

By C. Andrew Hovan The old saying goes that everything old is new again. The same can also be said for the current resurgence in the use of the Hammond organ. Although the instrument never really went out of style with jazz practitioners, a new crop of players are dedicating themselves to advancing the vernacular established ...

Karuna at LaFontsee Gallery

by John Ephland
May 2, 2017

Karuna LaFontsee Gallery Grand Rapids, Michigan April 23, 2017 Flute loops were the first sounds heard. Part of a music arsenal, the inconspicuous electronics served to heighten what was a vast array of traditional percussion instruments on hand. The duet Karuna was ending their spring 2017 Midwest tour before a modestly ...

West Michigan's Free Weekend-Long Jazz Festival Announces 2016 Lineup

May 18, 2016

GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy Foundation has announced the performance lineup for the fifth annual festival being held Saturday, August 20, and Sunday, August 21, at Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Eleven diverse acts are on tap for West Michigan’s only free, weekend-long jazz festival. The performance lineup: Saturday night headliner / main headline ...

Get Ready For The Free 4th Annual GRandJazzFest Aug. 15-16 In Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan

July 11, 2015

GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy Foundation brings 10 diverse jazz performance acts to the Rosa Parks Circle stage in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Aug. 15-16, West Michigan’s only free, weekend-long jazz festival. This year’s headline act brings together three internationally acclaimed musicians—Paul Brown and Nate Harasim with special guest Deon Yates – under the billing “The ...

Jazz Near You Adds Three New U.S. Cities: Huntsville, Rockford, and Grand Rapids

May 7, 2015

Jazz Near You added the following three user-requested websites: Huntsville, Alabama huntsville.jazznearyou.com Rockford, Illinois rockford.jazznearyou.com Grand Rapids, Michigan grandrapids.jazznearyou.com With the addition of Huntsville, Rockford, and Grand Rapids, Jazz Near You now provides jazz event and jazz venue listings for 257 cities worldwide. If you have ...