Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Lunar Octet Performance at the Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor


There's a great new jazz club in Ann Arbor, MI called the Blue Llama. When our group, in its 36th year of performing original jazz/latin music, played there for brunch a couple weeks back,  I knew from the moment I walked in the door that it would be a special experience. Beautifully designed for jazz and world music, it's the kind of space that makes you feel good just being there.


The place has an art deco feel, and the acoustics were designed by the same team that did Dizzy's Club in New York.

Here's conguero and composer Aron Kaufman, playing a solo on my composition, Mambossa. In the background is drummer Jon Krosnick, prime mover in getting our group playing again after a hiatus in the aughts, or however you describe a century's first decade, lost from history, or at least from conversation, for lack of a good name.

The ceiling lighting gives our pianist Keaton Royer multiple halos.


Bassist Jeff Dalton took out his acoustic bass for Jon Krosnick's gorgeous ballad, A Smile of Love.

A great gig in a great venue. Check out the Blue Llama if you're ever in Ann Arbor, and you can find our music at LunarOctet.com. Our new CD will be released early in 2020.

Thanks to Chuck Anderson for the photo that captured the whole band.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Sustainable Jazz to Perform for Women and Wildlife Awards Event


Keith Franklin and bassist Jerry D'Anna will be joining me for a jaunt to Duke Farms as Sustainable Jazz performs again this year at the annual Women and Wildlife awards event, a fundraiser for the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ.

The reception is on Nov. 13 at 6pm, and includes a silent auction with some tasty hors d’oeuvres, and some tastefully short but inspiring speeches.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

New CD With the Lunar Octet


An Ann Arbor-based band I've been in since the 1980s came out with a new recording this summer. The group began as a composers' workshop that soon began performing its all original repertoire at clubs and festivals in Michigan and elsewhere. The drummer, Jon Krosnick, a professor at Stanford, organized a tour for us in California two summers ago, and this past July we received a standing ovation for our debut performance of the CD at the Ark in Ann Arbor.



I've long played the role of musical director for the group, composing and arranging much of the material. More info about the band, and some past recordings to listen to, can be found at LunarOctet.com.

Friday, May 10, 2019

Performing at Princeton Community Housing Gala

The Sustainable Jazz duo will perform at the Home Springs Eternal Gala this Saturday, May 11. The gala celebrates Princeton Community Housing's 52 years of building community in Princeton, and honors the work of Carol Golden and Lance Liverman.

Friday, March 8, 2019

March 28 Performance at Jazz On Broad - March 28


We're headin' to Hopewell, NJ Thursday, March 28 to be part of the Jazz On Broad series. Phil on piano, myself on sax and clarinet, playing original compositions from our new CD, Until I Find the Words.

The Hopewell Valley Bistro has good food and drink, and a comfortable space for checking out some jazz. Join us from 6-9pm.