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JOSH HENDERSON NONET. Henderson is enjoying a multi-faceted career as a cross-genre violinist, violist, and composer, who is carving out a reputation in jazz, rock, hip-hop, and country-fiddle for his dynamic performances. The nonet will be rounded out with Caroline Davis – alto sax; Sylver Wallace – vocals; Brendon Randall-Myers – electric guitar; Rick Martinez – drum set; and the Desdemona String Quartet with Caroline Drexler & Adrianne Munden-Dixon – violins; Erica Gailing -viola and Julia Henderson – cello.  Presented by Blue Stem Jazz.  North Street Cabaret, 610 North St.  6pm.  Tickets $20.

4/22:  UW JAZZ COMPOSERS GROUP & AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ ENSEMBLE.  Directed by Anders Svanoe, the Composers Group is a small jazz ensemble focused primarily on student compositions, consisting of trumpet, alto saxophone and tenor saxophone with woodwind doubles, trombone, piano, bass, and guitar.  Directed by Nick Moran, the Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble covers a wide range of Afro Cuban music including Son, Son-Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Bembe, Danzon, Guaguanco, Cha-cha-cha, Mozambique, Rumba and Bolero. Students work with the rhythmic concepts of clave in practical application including improvisation and theoretical knowledge. Hamel Music Center, 740 University Ave.  7:30pm.  Free event.

A Madison institution for over 15 years, this jam session features some of the city’s finest jazz musicians. Instrumentalists, vocalists, emcees and poets are encouraged to sit-in for a fun night of collaborative music.

For more info on special guests and theme nights please visit us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNewBreedJazzJam

Leopold’s proudly hosts Madison Django Jazz Jam every Wednesday. Come enjoy live acoustic gypsy jazz music in the style of Django Reinhardt!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT FLIX AT CAFÉ CODA.  Can the middle of your week get a little bland?  Come out for Café CODA’s FREE jazz documentary film series every 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month, from 7:00-8:30pm, starting February 8th.  Each week will be a showing of different selections of artist highlights, noteworthy trends and important musical history, and you’ll be able to enjoy the show in the company of like-minded individuals.

UW RESISTANCE MUSIC ENSEMBLE plus CUMBIA CACHACA.  Led by director Nick Moran, the student Resistance Music Ensemble explores a variety of musical styles created from social movements and generational and cultural identity, including but not limited to Hip Hop, Reggae, Jazz, and Cumbia.  CumbiaCachaca is an electronic cumbia duet which investigates traditional Colombian musical styles—including bullerengue, gaita musics, tambora musics, Creole Therapy—and reinterprets them according to its urban vision. Arts+Literature Laboratory, 111 S. Livingston St.  7pm.  Free admission.

Calling all musicians, seasoned improvisers, and those curious to dive into the world of spontaneous music-making!

No need to worry about sheet music or rehearsed performances here. It’s all about going with the flow and embracing the unexpected.

Highlights of the evening include:

🎵 A vibrant atmosphere where musicians of all abilities are encouraged to participate and explore their improvisational skills.
🎵 A supportive and inclusive environment that fosters collaboration and experimentation.
🎵 Freedom to create unique and spontaneous musical pieces, without boundaries or predefined rules.
🎵 Opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and form impromptu bands or collaborations.
🎵 A chance to discover new musical styles, learn from others, and broaden your horizons.

Whether you’re a virtuoso or a beginner, this jam session is open to all. It’s an incredible chance to learn, grow, and experience the thrill of making music in the moment. So, don’t miss out on this extraordinary gathering of musical souls.

Remember, the event is free, so invite your friends, family, and fellow music enthusiasts. Let’s come together and create a night of unforgettable melodies, harmonies, and rhythms. See you there!

ANITA SORENSEN JAZZ WEEK – DAYNA STEPHENS WITH THE UW CONTEMPORARY JAZZ & JAZZ STANDARDS ENSEMBLES.  New Yorker Dayna Stephens is internationally renowned as a saxophonist, composer and arranger, and was the first place recipient of the 2019 DownBeat Critics Poll in the category Rising Star—Tenor Saxophone.  In this first of two concerts with UW student bands, he’ll be performing with the Contemporary Jazz Ensemble directed by Chad McCullough, and Jazz Standards Ensemble directed by Peter Dominguez.  Both ensembles consist of 2–3 frontline instruments (trumpets, trombones, saxophones, other woodwinds or high strings), 1–2 comping instruments (piano, guitar, vibraphone), bass, and drums. The CJE performs contemporary, mainstream jazz repertoire from the last two decades (such as the music of Dave Douglas, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Wheeler, Chris Potter, David Binney, Dave Holland, and Brian Blade) as well as student compositions.  The JSE performs music from the standard jazz repertoire.  Hamel Music Center, 740 University Ave.  7:30pm.  Tickets $15, but free for UW students with tickets.

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY FROM THE UNITED NATIONS (TV).  Jazz stars from around the globe come together to celebrate the unifying power of music, featuring performances by Herbie Hancock, David Sanborn, Gregory Porter, Lizz Wright, José James, Hiromi, Marcus Miller, Ravi Coltrane and more.11:00pm, Wisconsin Public TV (WIS Channel)

AN EVENING OF TRUMPET MAGIC WITH ERIC JACOBSON AND KEYON HARROLD. Opening for this double-header concert is Milwaukee Jazz Institute faculty member Eric Jacobson and his quartet, starting at 7:00pm.  Jacobson is a top call trumpeter for high-profile gigs in Milwaukee and Chicago.  Of Jacobson, the celebrated trumpeter Brian Lynch says “Eric is the real deal! a truly world-class jazz trumpeter with a gift to inspire, motivate and teach.”  Closing the show will be Grammy-winning trumpeter Keyon Harrold and his quintet, starting at 9:00pm.  A notable crossover performer, Harrold has been a staple of New York jazz clubs while providing instrumentation for recordings by Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Gregory Porter among others, and supplying all of the trumpet playing in Don Cheadle’s Miles Davis biopic, “Miles Ahead.” Café CODA, 1224 Williamson Street.  Tickets $40.

JOHN HARMON:  BOOK READING & SOLO PIANO CONCERT.  Pianist, composer, and author, Harmon will read excerpts from his new book, From the Heart: The Story of Matrix. In 1974, nine musicians led by Harmon came together in Appleton, Wisconsin, to form Matrix, a jazz fusion ensemble. The group rose to prominence through performances on the festival circuit, including the Monterey Jazz Festival and Newport Jazz Festival.  The program will also include the world premiere of a 25-minute video for Harmon’s Earth Day Portrait.  Following the video, Harmon will perform a solo jazz piano set consisting of his own compositions.  Arts+Literature Laboratory, 111 S. Livingston St.  7pm.  Tickets $10/$15/$20.

ANITA SORENSON JAZZ WEEK – DAYNA STEPHENS WITH BLUE NOTE ENSEMBLE, FACULTY JAZZ GROUP & UW JAZZ ORCHESTRA.  In his second of two concerts with UW student bands, Dayna Stephens will perform with the Blue Note Ensemble and UW Jazz Orchestra.  Directed by Chad McCullough, the BNE is small jazz group performing music from the post-bop jazz period of the 1950s and 1960s.  Directed by Johannes Wallmann, the UW Jazz Orchestra performs music ranging from the classic big band repertoire to contemporary and cutting-edge concert jazz music by today’s leading jazz composers.  This concert will also see Dayna perform with the UW Faculty Jazz Group (members TBD). Hamel Music Center, 740 University Ave.  7:30pm.   Tickets $15, but free for UW students with tickets.

THE BRIDGE #2.10.  The Bridge represents sharing musical histories between two contemporary cultures:  French and American.  Version 2.10 features America’s Nick Mazzarella, alto saxophone; Tim Stine, guitar and Katie Ernst, double bass and voice and France’s Céline Rivoal, accordion and Sylvain Lemêtre, percussion.  Presented by Blue Stem Jazz.  Audio For The Arts, 7 S. Blair St.  8pm.  Tickets $20.