Jazzin'
This month's exercise in deciphering Louisville Jazz brings you a few small pieces of news and some instructions – and a plea, of sorts – from me.
Jeff Sherman of Bellarmine College sent a pair of emails detailing a few things going on in his realm of jazz. A CD he's been working on with Bruce Morrow and Ben Ingram is nearing completion after two years' work. It will be released by Stork Music. Along with a forthcoming CD, Jeff will be also part of the Jerry Tolson Quintet as it tours Europe this summer. The tour will run from July 8 to the 23 and includes performances at the Montreaux Jazz Festival and Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy. They also have stops planned Rome, Sienna, Perugia, and Florence.
They have chartered a private motor coach and, as of March 10, had some room available for guests. The cost will be $2,500 and includes most expenses except for meals. A small deposit was due by March 15, but you still might be able to wrangle yourself a place if there were few initial takers. In Jeff's words, "It could be a great vacation, and it would be nice to have a number of friends come along."
If you're interested, call Jeff at 452-8182. And be sure to pack a toothbrush.
The Java Men will be on the air. Tune in WHAS-AM (840) on Sunday, April 2 to the "Denton Randall Show" from noon to 3 p.m. The trio will play some tunes and have some conversation. On April 3 they will open for jazz violinist Christian Howes at the Comedy Caravan. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, call 452-6520. On Wednesday, April 5 they will play a special free lunchtime show at the Cathedral of the Assumption on Fifth Street from 12:40 to 1:40 p.m. They will return to the Twice Told Coffeehouse on Saturday, April 8 at 10 p.m. Admission is a bargain at $5. Plus you get to sit in a room decorated with movie posters and glow-in-the-dark paintings of Janis Joplin and Eric Clapton gazing at the audience. You'll feel you're in the presence of archangels.
April marks my third anniversary as "Jazzin'" columnist. From my first monthly bylined piece – a brief story about guitarist Ron Hayden and his new release In the Spirit – to this month's collection of tidbits, I've enjoyed bringing a little piece of Louisville Jazz to you. We're heading straight into the spring, summer and autumn music festivals, which include the Bellarmine Jazz Guitar Clinic, Jazz in Central Park, the Aebersold clinic and a number of others smaller summer gigs, which means lots of dates and acts to mention. Just as this publication is considered to contain the most comprehensive music calendar in the city, I try to bring that same level information specifically for jazz fans and performers.
Sometimes I hit it all. Sometimes I miss a lot. And that is why I'm asking for some help.
It works this way. My copy deadline is the 20th of each month (give or take a day). If you want me to mention in this column your act, your upcoming CD, a performance I can mention or pass along any news, then email me at tim@troberts.win.net or call me at 581-9785 before my deadline. If you don't have complete information for your show, such as ticket prices or time, give me the number of the venue or contact person who will know that information before the show date.
If you just want to send in a list of dates for the LMN Live Music Calendar (the center-spread in each issue) and our website, fax them to Paul Moffett at 502.721.7482, or email them to LouMusNews@louisville.net. And please remember: you do not have to send them to both me and our editorial offices in order for them to appear in the paper. However, I'll be glad to mention them as well if you get them to me before the 20th of each month.
I thank you for your time over the past three years.
< class="normal">"Jazzin'" columnist Tim Roberts invites you to send your jazz-related dispatches to tim@troberts.win.net, or to his attention to the editorial offices of Louisville Music News. You can also call him at 581-9785.