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John Yao and His 17-piece Instrument (JY-17 for short) is the long-standing passion project of trombonist and composer John Yao featuring his original compositions for big band. The 17-piece ensemble is comprised of New York City’s finest jazz musicians including members of Grammy- award winning ensembles such as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, both of which Yao has been a regular substitute for many years. Yao’s compositions and arrangements are post-bop, experimental and aim to explore new sounds for big band. The Midwest Record proclaims JY-17 debut album Flip-Flop (See Tao Recordings) “A must set for big band fans that want to hear something that takes the form in to the future, this blows the ears open in a mighty way”. Downbeat says, "[Flip-Flop] showcased Yao's unpredictable compositions and inventive arrangements, which spring from tradition while pointing toward future portals." In 2016, Yao founded the Big Band & Beyond Concert Series which featured the premier of new works for the JY-17 as well as a six-month residency at the ShapeShifter Lab in Brookyln, NY. Yao currently is Professor of Trombone at Berklee College of Music.

The northern hemisphere’s winter sky hosts some of the most amazing constellations, star clusters and deep-sky objects seen from Earth. During this program, we will explore the current night sky and view some amazing sights with a telescope (weather permitting). The stargazing session will be facilitated by April Whitt of the Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta, GA . This program will be available on Zoom and live on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch. ASL interpretation will be available only on Zoom.

Join NYC award winning critically acclaimed vocalist Svetlana and her Big Band for a fun and uplifting evening of great music at Birdland! About this event Svetlana's Big Band combines classic big band sound, thrilling arrangements by the best up and coming big band arrangers, and Svetlana's own captivating front woman stage presence and vocals that are at once "lush" (NY Music Daily) and "energetic" (Wall Street Journal)! Svetlana’s Big Band reflects the idealism of the sound of classic swing big bands while at the same time offering a thrilling experience that can be appreciated both by the jazz lovers and the 21st century modern audiences alike! Just for this Valentine's Day Eve Svetlana has prepared a lustrous dynamic (and romantic!) set of her favorite love songs, including big band arrangements of her chart-topping movie soundtracks' record, the serpentine jazz love song classics and her uplifting originals. The band's Music Director is Emily Fredrickson - a trombonist, arranger, and composer currently based in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is the director of the Dee Dee Bridgewater Big Band and has arranged over 200 performed works for various ensembles including Kurt Elling, Ledisi, Eric Benét, Aaron Neville, Allen Toussaint, and many more. The band includes NYC top talent, including Jason Marshall, Willerm Delisfort, Curtis Nowosad, Wayne Tucker, Anthony Hervey, Gina Benalcazar, and more. So "prepare to swing and be moved!" (JazzLives) and experience the "sweet and naughty" (JazzLives) magic in this special Valentine's Day Eve show celebrating Love - and feel your pulse quicken and your hearts thaw out from the winter blues!

Vermont Jazz Center 2022 Spring Educational Semester Vermont Jazz Center continues to offer an exciting array of in-person and online classes and has a wide selection of ensembles for all interested musicians. On February 13th, 2022 the VJC will launch its Winter-Spring educational programs. This season’s offerings are a hybrid of in-person and online opportunities that make good use of the Jazz Center’s remarkable summer faculty who can Zoom in from afar, as well as local instructors.  For those able to commute to Brattleboro, VJC is once again hosting onsite ensembles and Jam Sessions at their Cotton Mill venue. The Jazz Center has outlined Covid protocols that are above and beyond those required by the state of Vermont and the CDC. All attendees will be vaccinated, wear masks when not playing an instrument, and follow responsible distancing.  https://vtjazz.org/2021-safety-protocols-for-in-person-activities/ The following ensembles will hold in-person sessions: Guitar Ensembles, levels 1 and 2, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Youth Jazz Ensemble, portions of the Soubrette Jazz Choir, Blue Note Ensemble (levels 1 and 2), and Samba Percussion Ensemble.  Online offerings include: Singing the Standards with Jay Clayton, Interpreting Jazz Ballads on Guitar with Freddie Bryant, Jazz and Spirituality with Claire Arenius, and Zoom Tunes with Malik McLaurine, Franz Robert and Ben Barnett. Anna Patton’s Soubrette Jazz Choir will begin with a 5 week online course starting on Feb. 8th and move to an in-person format on March 15th if conditions permit (see below for more information). In-person Jam Sessions are now ongoing and the VJC welcomes musicians of all ages and abilities to attend. Join a class at the Vermont Jazz Center. The Winter-Spring semester will run for 10 weeks, from February 13th until the beginning of May. The program will culminate in a concert where all in-person ensembles will perform. The fee for most classes is $250 with the exception of Latin Jazz, and Blue Note I ($200), Samba and Youth Jazz ($100) and Zoom Tunes ($15 per session). No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. To register, please contact Ginger Morawski at gingervjc@gmail.com. For questions about class content contact Eugene Uman eugene@vtjazz.org. www.vtjazz.org 802 258 9088 Vermont Jazz Center 72 Cotton Mill Hill #222 Brattleboro VT 05301 VJC Educational Offerings, Winter/Spring 2022: Sunday        Guitar Ensemble         Draa Hobbs        1:30 – 3:00 at VJC Sunday        Guitar Ensemble         Draa Hobbs        3:30 – 5:00 at VJC Sunday Zoom Tunes Malik Mclaurine, Franz Robert, Ben Barnett. 7- 8:30 pm (one Sunday per month) Monday    Rhythm Lab            Brian Shankar Adler    10:30 – 12:00 online    Monday    Blue Note Ens. I (beginners)    Claire Arenius        3:00 – 4:30 at VJC Monday     Blue Note Ens. II        Claire Arenius        4:45 – 6:15 at VJC Tuesday    Youth Jazz Ensemble    Eugene and Mike McKinney    3:45 – 5:00 at VJC Tuesday    Soubrette Jazz Choir        Anna Patton    5:30 – 7:15 online, starts Feb. 8 Tuesday    Soubrette Jazz Choir        Anna Patton    5:30 – 7:15 in-person, starts March 15 Wednesday    Latin Jazz            Julian and Eugene    4:15 – 5:45 at VJC Wednesday    Jam Session (public)        Robby Roiter/Eugene    8:00 PM – 10:00 at VJC Thursday    Singing the Standards        Jay Clayton        5:30 to 7:00 online Thursday     Interp. Jazz Ballads on Guitar    Freddie Bryant         6:00 – 7:30 online Thursday    Jazz and Spirituality        Claire Arenius        8:00 – 9:00 online

Michael Hashim tenor sax, Jack Walrath trumpet, John Mosca trombone, Marcus Persiani piano, Ralph Hamperian bass, Art Lillard drums & bandleader, Michelle Collier vocals

For more information, please visit - https://www.soapboxgallery.org/events/julie-benko-amp-jason-yeager-hand-in-hand

This year, the Les Paul Festival will explore contemporary artists who represent Pauls’ innovative and progressive spirit. Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe is an artist, curator and composer that works primarily with voice and modular synthesizer for sound in the realm of spontaneous music. Susie Ibarra is a composer, percussionist, and sound artist.

Saxophonist and composer Stan Killian hosts the Queens Brewery Monday Night Jam Session every week. Located on the edge of Bushwick, Brooklyn and Ridgewood, Queens, the Queens Brewery is a huge space that offers plenty of beers and cocktails and great food by Cento Percento. Featuring great veteran jazz artists like Paul Bollenback and Stacy Dillard, the Stan Killian band kicks off the night with an opening set of originals and then opens up the jam session to some of New York and New Jersey's best and brightest jazz artists. It's a jazz party every Monday at the Queens Brewery where instrumentalists and vocalists are welcomed to sit in, play and join the fun before the lively audience at New York City's best kept secret!

Make the most of your weekend with a warm welcome, delicious food and a glass of our award winning Bluestone Vineyards English Sparkling Wine, in our beautiful Bluestone Barn. Come along to our beautiful farm and vineyards and enjoy music from local Jazz Artists, Salisbury Big Band ft. Damien Hayes on Vocals, on Saturday 12th February 2022, from 7:30pm-10pm, with music from 8pm, when the food will begin to be served. Guests will be welcomed and seated, when the music starts, the food will begin to be served straight to your table. Drinks can be ordered to your tables or guests are welcomed to pop to the bar while the Jazz Music fills the room. The ticket for an evening of this fabulous entertainment is GBP 45 per ticket, which includes a three course menu and an arrival glass of our own Bluestone Vineyards, English Sparkling Wine. Or perhaps you'd prefer to join in as a balcony guest and purchase your own drinks thorough the night for a ticket only, adults are GBP 20 or GBP 25 with a glass of our own Bluestone Vineyards, English Sparkling Wine* *Please note, we have a very limited number of balcony tickets, these tickets are ideal for those who intend to mingle and dance! Running order: Doors Open at 7:30pm Music Starts, first set, starters and mains served at 8pm Interval at 8:45pm Music Starts, second set, desserts and cheese boards* served at 9:15pm Music finishes at 10pm *Cheese boards are an additional GBP 10pp Menu Starters: Patê Crostini and Red Onion Chutney OR Seasonal Soup, Roll and Butter (v) Mains: Roast Lamb OR Vegan Wellington (v) both served with Boulangere Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables and Au Jus Desserts: Lemon Posset with a Shortbread Crumb and Thyme OR Vegan Brownie with a Berry Fruit Sorbet (v) Drinks can also be pre-ordered for an ice bucket on the table if required.

Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center is pleased to present a new Professional Virtual Industry Series offering for those interested in theater. This free winter series features industry professionals who have had years of experience in the film, television, theatre and music industry as producers, writers, casting agents, directors, managers and performing artists. Emerging artists, ages 14-24, will have an opportunity to hear about their journey and gain from the experiences. The sessions will be moderated by PYT Director, Hilda Willis followed by Q&A with the artists. Session #3 will be on February 2, 5:30 - 7:00PM with Aaron Patterson, Broadway Actor, Dancer, Singer. Advance registration is required.