Check out this video of my band performing Oscar Brown Jr’s classic “Humdrum Blues!”

I’m excited about my upcoming visit to Brigham Young University, where I’ll be giving a talk on jazz in classic film noir. After that we’ll visit the Herman Leonard jazz photography exhibit. Should be fun!

The photo is of the fabulous actress and director Ida Lupino in Road House, where she sings a mean rendition of “One for My Baby.”

In this show, Cold Spring Jazz Quartet showcases the full range of Charles Mingus’s work, punctuating the selections with humorous, informative stories about the man and his music.

Virtuoso bassist, innovative bandleader, composer of genius and legendary jazz character, Charles Mingus was a man driven by many passions. His music is as varied and passionate as his personality, embracing everything from joyous gospel (“Better Get Hit in Your Soul”) and a myriad of blues, all the way to quasi-classical suites like “Sue’s Changes,” political commentaries such as “Fables of Faubus,” and tender tributes to his musical heroes (“Duke Ellington’s Sound of Love,” “Reincarnation of a Lovebird”). We’ll also present vocal versions of some tunes, featuring lyrics by luminaries like Joni Mitchell (“The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines”), Elvis Costello (“Jelly Roll”), Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown (“Devil Blues”) and Mingus himself.

If you haven’t been officially introduced to this amazing jazz artist’s work, or if you’re already a Mingus maven, this is your chance to celebrate his music. Come on out, tap your feet, clap your hands, and feed your brain!
October 16th, 2015 7:30-9:30
Germano’s Piattini
300 S. High St.
Tickets: 410-752-4515 or visit ticket source.

Virtuoso bassist, innovative bandleader, composer of genius and legendary jazz character, Charles Mingus was a man driven by many passions. Mingus’s music is as varied and passionate as his personality, running the gamut from joyous gospel and a multitude of blues all the way to quasi-classical suites, political commentaries, and tender tributes to his musical heroes. In this show, Cold Spring Jazz Quartet showcases the full range of Mingus’s work, punctuating the selections with humorous, informative stories about the man and his music. Come on out, tap your feet, clap your hands, and feed your brain!
October 16th, 2015 7:30-9:30
Germano’s Piattini
300 S. High St.
Tickets: 410-752-4515 or visit ticket source.

Cold Spring Jazz Quartet will be appearing at 49 West, Annapolis’s finest coffeehouse and wine bar, on Friday, July 10th, from 8-11 pm. It’s a great place to listen to music while enjoying your favorite beverage. Get tickets by calling 410-752-4515. Hope you can join us!

By popular demand, we’re reprising our Horace Silver show. Come on out to Germano’s on May 29th and enjoy an evening of delicious Italian food, cool beverages, and scintillating Silver songs.

Open for dinner at 6; the music starts at 7:30, at Germano’s Piattini, 300 St. High St., in Baltimore’s Little Italy. Call 410-752-4515 for reservations, or click here for tickets.

I’ll be appearing on Chesapeake Collectibles, talking about the Louis G. and Shirley Hecht collection of jazz records now housed at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. This collection is amazing: it contains most of the significant jazz records of the 20s to the 40s, and even a copy of the very first jazz hit, “Livery Stable Blues.” The show airs at 8 pm on Maryland Public Television this Thursday, April 2nd. Tune in and find out more about this collection and jazz history!