Is This Jazz? A Swinging Season: Hot jazz for cool nights

Don’t hibernate just yet! There are plenty of regular jazz gigs happening around this part of the Northeast in the fall — let’s get acquainted with those. Catch the Dave Schneider Trio every second Friday at UxLocale. The Leland Baker Quartet has moved their weekly Wednesday night performances over at The Parlour in Providence. Over at Ten Rocks in Pawtucket, the Jhony Keys Trio hosts a Jazz Jam every Tuesday. Nico Bella’s in downtown PVD has become quite the happening spot with a rotation of exceptional weekly jazz trios each Saturday including Tom Casale Trio on September 7, Brian Kotch Trio on September 14, Rich Huntley Trio w/Brian Rizzuto & Tom Petterutti on September 21 and Jim Robitaille Trio w/ Bill Miele and Chris Poudrier on September 28. Drummer Max Goldman takes over Nick-A-Nees every fourth Sunday with John Mckenna, Brendan Carniaux, and Evan Carley. Norey’s in Newport also hosts a regular rotating schedule on Thursday nights with Alan Bernstein on the first Thursday, John Monllos on the second, Dino Govoni on the third, and John Allmark Quintet on rhe fourth. Also, if you’re in Newport on Monday, catch the Groove Merchants at the 5th Element from 7 – 10pm. Lastly, go see the Swinglane Orchestra at the Parlor in Newport every third Wednesday of the month, and Jazz Candy (Art Manchester and John Monllos) is at Jo’s American Bistro in Newport on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.

There are also plenty of one-off shows to check out. Local sax virtuoso Greg Abate returns to the Newport Playhouse on September 5 with his quartet. On Tuesday, September 17 at Nick-A-Nees, check out guitarist Chris Flory’s soulful take on the American Songbook and Jazz Originals featuring Marty Richards on drums and Marty Ballou on bass. On Labor Day Weekend, local vocalist Michelle Cruz and her band will be playing the Boston Jazz Fest with a lot of other amazing groups; visit bostonjazzfest.org for more information. The 42nd Annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert takes place on October 5 at Northeastern University’s Blackman Auditorium and will be a celebration of the music and legacy of John Coltrane as well as a special tribute to the legacy of JCMC co-founder Leonard Brown; head to friendsofjcmc.org for information.

The Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Mass, has always been a beacon of great music, and will feature some heavy names in the next couple of months. On Saturday, October 12, catch guitarist Charlie Hunter and vocalist Lucy Woodward who are touring on an album they recorded based on pocket heavy renditions of vintage pop and classic standards ranging from Blind Willie Johnson to Terence Trent D’Arby to Nina Simone. In addition, check out drummer and composer Antonio Sánchez with his band Migration (John Escreet on keys, Matt Brewer on bass; Thana Alexa on vocals, and Chase Baird on tenor saxophone and EWI) on Thursday, October 24. Sanchez is touring on his latest album Lines In The Sand, which as the Narrows’ puts it, “Sanchez turns his anguish and anger into a moving musical statement, as much a protest against injustice as a tribute to every immigrant’s journey.”

Chan’s in Woonsocket also has a couple of great shows coming up. First, on September 27, join Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame saxophonists Dan Moretti and Greg Abate as they celebrate the 25th year anniversary of the Brazilia “Live at Chan’s” recording with special guests like multi-Grammy award winning bassist Oscar Stagnaro, pianist Tim Ray, drummer Bertram Lehmann and Phil Grenadier on trumpet. Then on Saturday, October 5, saxophonist Scott Hamilton has his homecoming concert featuring the lovely and talented vocalist Donna Byrne, Tim Ray on piano, Marshall Wood on bass, and Jim Gwin on drums.

Happening Around Town

The John Allmark Jazz Orchestra; first Monday monthly @ The Met (Pawtucket)Leland Baker Quartet; Wednesdays @ The Parlour (Providence)

Jazz At The Parlour; Sundays (Jam third Sunday, Ed Tomassi fourth Sunday) @ The Parlour (Providence)

Modern Sound Series; last Sunday monthly @ Tea In Sahara (Providence)

Is This Jazz?; (Providence) visit isthisjazz.tumblr.com for listings

To add your listing, email isthisjazzri@gmail.com. Ben Shaw is a local composer, performer, and writer. Find him at benjaminshawmusic.com