BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Blue LLama - ECPv6.17.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://bluellamaclub.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Blue LLama REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Detroit BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261001T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261001T213000 DTSTAMP:20260731T161709Z CREATED:20260731T161709Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T161709Z UID:10000380-1790881200-1790890200@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Ellen Rowe Trio ft. Rob Bickley & Jesse Kramer DESCRIPTION:Thu | Oct 1 \n\n Sets 7pm & 8:30pm | $25 Cover \n \n Reserve Table\n \n\n About the Artist \n Ellen Rowe\, jazz pianist and composer\, is currently Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan. She is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music\, where she studied with Rayburn Wright and Bill Dobbins.  Prior to her appointment in Michigan\, she served as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut. \nWinner of the Hartford\, CT Advocate Readers’ Poll for Best Acoustic Jazz\, Ms. Rowe has performed at jazz clubs and on concert series throughout the U.S.\, as well as touring in Germany\, Holland\, Switzerland\, Ireland\, Poland\, South Africa and Australia. CDs out under her own name include “Sylvan Way”\, “Wishing Well”\, “Denali Pass” and “Courage Music.”  Her latest project\, “Momentum – Portraits of Women In Motion”\, featuring Ingrid Jensen\, Tia Fuller\, Marion Hayden and Allison Miller was released in January of 2019. Also active as a clinician\, she has given workshops and master classes at the Melbourne Conservatory\, Hochshule fur Musik in Cologne\, Grieg Academy in Bergen and the Royal Academy of Music in London\, in addition to many appearances as a guest artist at festivals and Universities around the country. \nWhen not leading her own trio\, quartet or quintet\, she is in demand as a sideman\, having performed with a wide variety of jazz artists including Kenny Wheeler\, Tim Ries\, Tom Harrell\, John Clayton\, Ingrid Jensen and Steve Turre.  She was also a guest on two installments of Marian McPartland’s  “Piano Jazz” on National Public Radio. \nMs. Rowe’s compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by jazz ensembles and orchestras around the world\, including the Village Vanguard Orchestra\, BBC Jazz Orchestra\, U.S. Navy Commodores\, Berlin and NDR Radio Jazz Orchestras\, London Symphony\, DIVA and the Perth Jazz Orchestra.  Many of these works can be heard on recordings including “Leave It To DIVA”\, “The Perth Jazz Orchestra”\, “Bingo” (The Bird of Paradise Orchestra) and “I Believe In You” (DIVA). She has recently been a composer-in-residence at the Eastman School of Music and the University of Wisconsin at Madison.  Recent jazz ensemble commissions include the Minnesota Band Directors Association\, Belleville (MI) High School\,  Illinois Music Educators and Lawrence University’s Fred Sturm Jazz Festival. Her big band compositions are currently published by Sierra Music Publications\, Doug Beach Music and Kendor Music. \nHaving been selected to conduct the NAfME All-Eastern and All-Northwest Jazz Ensembles as well as All-State jazz ensembles throughout the country\, she has also been an invited clinician at the National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Convention \, International Society for Jazz Composition and Arranging Symposium and Jazz Education Network conferences.  She is on the Board of the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers and also serves as the Coordinator for the JEN Sisters In Jazz Collegiate Combo Competition. Her quintet has performed at the San Jose Jazz Festival\, Jazz Education Network Conference\, Michigan Jazz Festival\, Detroit International Jazz Festival and in jazz clubs around the country. \n\n \n \n \n Reserve Table URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/ellen-rowe-trio/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/ellen-rowe.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261002T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261002T220000 DTSTAMP:20260803T185728Z CREATED:20260803T185728Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T185728Z UID:10000387-1790967600-1790978400@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Erena Terakubo Quartet DESCRIPTION:Fri | Oct 2 \n\n Sets 7pm & 9pm | $25 Cover \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n \n\n About the Artist \n Erena Terakubo is an internationally acclaimed saxophonist\, flutist\, composer\, and educator from Sapporo\, Japan. Known for her expressive artistry and technical mastery\, she has performed worldwide with leading jazz artists including Kenny Barron\, Ron Carter\, Louis Hayes\, Jon Faddis\, and Christian McBride.\nShe launched her career in high school with her debut album North Bird\, which topped the Japanese jazz charts and earned a Gold Disc award from Swing Journal. Since then\, she has released multiple albums and performed at premier venues including Blue Note New York and Kennedy Center. \nA graduate of Berklee College of Music and Manhattan School of Music\, she joined Michigan State University in 2025 as Assistant Professor of Jazz Saxophone. \n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/erena-terakubo-quartet/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/erena.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261007T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261007T220000 DTSTAMP:20260807T162618Z CREATED:20260807T162618Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260807T162618Z UID:10000381-1791399600-1791410400@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Aris Chalin Piano Duo DESCRIPTION:Wed | Oct 7 \n\n Sets 7pm & 8pm | Free Cover! \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n \n\n About the Artist \n This October\, join us for dinner\, or date night\, with Piano Wednesdays at Blue LLama. Enjoy no cover\, our full dinner menu\, plus a special $95 Dinner for Two with your choice of 1 appetizer\, 2 entrees\, and 1 dessert to share. \nAris Chalin is an award-winning jazz pianist and keyboardist based in South-East MI. His music seeks to challenge the conventional barriers between genres\, while still remaining true to the craft and soul of jazz. His newest single “Constellations\,” a collaboration with producer/artist Eyan Kills explores electronic\, funk\, and ambient textures. \nHis musical influences hail as much from classical and jazz as they do from hip-hop\, rock\, electronic and many more\, from Oscar Peterson to Parliament to Pink Floyd. Aris is currently based in the Ann Arbor/Detroit area and tours the Midwest and Northeast to showcase his music. His groups have been featured in different venues around the area\, such as the Blue LLama Jazz Club\, Dabney and Co.\, Merriman’s Playhouse\, and the North American International Auto Show COBO Center in Detroit. \nAris is also a collaborative partner with Expressive E’s “Osmose” keyboard project\, bringing their flagship keyboard to live performance. \n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/aris-chalin-piano-duo-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aris-chanlin.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261009T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261009T220000 DTSTAMP:20260731T162914Z CREATED:20260731T162914Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T162914Z UID:10000372-1791572400-1791583200@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Marcus Elliot DESCRIPTION:Fri | Oct 9 \n\n Sets at 7pm & 9pm | $25 Cover \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n \n\n About the Artist \n Multifaceted saxophonist and composer\, Marcus Elliot\, has emerged as one of the leading voices of the Detroit music scene. The New York Times has called him “convincing and confident\, evolved in touch and tone…”\, and the Detroit Free Press has said\, “Marcus Elliot represents next generation of jazz”. Marcus creates music with the hope of  “reminding myself and listeners that we are human beings\, and what a gift that is.” He is a recipient of the Joyce Awards (2024)\, a prestigious award for innovative new projects by pioneered by artists spanning the visual\, performing\, and multidisciplinary arts that engage diverse communities in the Mid-West. He is also a recipient of the Kresge Fellowship(2020)\, awarded to artist that are recognized for their creative vision and commitment to excellence within a wide range of artistic disciplines. Marcus is instructor of jazz saxophone at Wayne State University and is director of the Creative Arts Orchestra at University of Michigan. Marcus has performed and/or collaborated with Terence Blanchard\, Karriem Riggins\, Talib Kwali\, Marcus Belgrave\, Brian Eno\, Shigeto\, Robert Hurst\, Anthony Davis\, Jeff Tain Watts\, and many others. \n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/marcus-elliot-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/marcus-elliot.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261010T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261010T213000 DTSTAMP:20260731T163016Z CREATED:20260731T163016Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T163016Z UID:10000373-1791657000-1791667800@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Sean Dobbins DESCRIPTION:Sat | Oct 10 \n\n Sets 7pm & 9pm | $25 Cover \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n \n\n About the Artist \n Sean Dobbins got his start as sought-after Detroit area jazz sideman at a young age\, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith. As Sean’s Career progressed\, he found himself the recipient of many awards and accolades including the “Woody Herman Jazz Award”\, an award for outstanding musicianship\, as well as the Louis Armstrong Scholarship. Sean is a professor of music in jazz studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Dobbins got his start as a sought-after Detroit-area jazz sideman at a young age\, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith. Dobbin’s sound can best be described as hard-driving\, solid rhythm with refreshing melodic sensibility. Some of his influences include Art Blakey\, Jeff Hamilton\, Sonny Payne\, Ed Thigpen\, and Detroit-area greats Gerald Cleaver and Elvin Jones.  \n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/sean-dobbins-9/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SeanDobbinsBNW.jpg-sqLg.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261011T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261011T213000 DTSTAMP:20260608T160326Z CREATED:20260608T160326Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260608T160326Z UID:10000324-1791741600-1791754200@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Joshua Redman Quartet DESCRIPTION:Sun | Oct 11 \n\n Sets 6pm & 8pm\n$125 Dinner & Show\n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n \n\n About the Artist \n Joshua Redman acknowledges that the title of his new Blue Note album\, Words Fall Short\, could be viewed ironically. His previous and widely acclaimed where are we was his first to pair a vocalist with one of his many monumental Quartets; yet Words Fall Short is anything but a comment on the saxophonist’s last triumph. More accurately\, his latest offering is an organic next step\, a collection of previously unheard originals brought to life by inspiring new collaborators. “It’s impossible for me to will a project into being\,” he says of the wide-ranging adventures he has embarked upon in what is now his fourth decade as a recording artist. “This album came out of a working environment that inspired me to dig into compositions that hadn’t found a home yet.” \nThe process began as the first leg of Redman’s where are we tour concluded and pianist Aaron Parks\, bassist Joe Sanders\, and drummer Brian Blade each left to honor other commitments. In building a new rhythm section\, Redman found himself drawn to younger players he had recently encountered. Bassist Philip Norris and drummer Nazir Ebo came aboard first\, and Redman quickly knew he had made the right moves. “Not since Christian McBride can I recall experiencing an acoustic jazz bassist who seemingly has it all together at such a young age\,” he says of Norris\, “and Nazir has groove in spades\, a groove that is super-flexible\, in the flow of the moment\, and with an innate sense of architecture that always serves the song.” By the summer of 2023\, pianist Paul Cornish had completed the quartet’s transformation. “Paul is the perfect balance of empath and contrarian\, challenging everyone to break away from established patterns\, while still always making the music feel good and natural in the moment.” \nAs the new quartet performed steadily over the next several months\, Redman felt a vibe developing\, one brought to fruition by a stack of music the saxophonist created during the pandemic. “My dry writing periods lead me to question whether I’m really a ‘Composer\,”’ he confesses. “I might not have a gig for months\, but I touch my horn every day. I don’t compose regularly\, but during the pandemic I had nothing but time to develop ideas… Still\, until I can play a tune with other human beings\, it remains more theory than a reality.” \nRedman’s unheard new music made the transition in September 2024\, when his new quartet had logged almost a year of performances. “We were at a soundcheck\, and I decided to try one of the tunes. It felt good\, and I said\, ‘Let’s try another.’ After we ran through maybe three more in ten minutes\, I realized that we were ‘ready.'” \nCornish\, Norris\, and Ebo impress on each of the album’s eight tracks. While they have moments to emerge and take the spotlight\, they also provide a distinctive ensemble personality\, one in which spontaneity and sensitivity keep the music fluid yet coherent. They are a rhythm section with character\, one in sync with the priorities of their leader. “My approach to bandleading is unchanged\,” Redman says. “Play with the best musicians I can find\, virtuosos who have mastered all the different jazz vocabularies\, but who are also great listeners and collaborators – who know how to express their individual brilliance through group improvisation and collective interaction.” \nThat description applies equally well to the guest artists heard on three tracks. Two of those\, “So It Goes” and “Icarus\,” grew out of Redman the Composer’s desire to give each piece added depth. “I was sort of struggling with the melody to ‘So It Goes'” he says of the track featuring saxophonist Melissa Aldana\, “and immediately thought of Melissa\, who has such a gift for lyrical expression… the way she uses breath and air and contour to really give melodies shape and make them come alive… I sent her the tune… and once I knew she was game\, I began torethink the overall approach as more conversational.” As to the misguided perception that any encounter between two tenors is a ‘battle\,’ he adds that “I’ve never been a fan of that sort of thing. I realize of course that it’s part of the so-called ‘tradition.’ So\, yeah\, I’ll bring my axe if I must\, but I prefer to come in peace!… I really feel like what Melissa and I created here is the antithesis of conflict.” \nRedman first heard trumpeter Skylar Tang – who is featured on the funky\, nine-meter “Icarus” – when she was just a sophomore in high school. “She had huge ears\,” he recalls\, “and she already had tremendous patience\, a deep maturity and sensitivity… Every note had a meaning.” Tang is now a student in a joint Columbia University/Julliard School program. When Redman invited her to attend a soundcheck before the quartet’s Jazz at Lincoln Center concert\, he texted her the sheet music for “Icarus” on a whim the night before. “She came in the next day with the whole thing memorized… She played it perfectly… and sounded like she understood the song better than I did! Once again I heard how that melody benefitted from the presence of another voice\, and we recorded it with her a few weeks later.” \nThe final track\, “Era’s End” (a lyrical recasting of the instrumental album-opener “A Message To Unsend”)\, finds vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa matching her stunning contribution to where are we on only the second recorded composition with both words and lyrics by Joshua Redman. “Writing lyrics is tough\,” he emphasizes\, “and I can’t be satisfied until someone like Gabrielle convinces me that they work. I said ‘never again’ when I finished writing ‘After Minneapolis’ for the last album\, and that was clearly not the case… I could tell early on as the music for ‘Era’s End’ emerged that it would not be a walk in the park\, and then the lyrics that followed were just so dark… but Gabrielle’s gift for expressing melancholy really found the beauty (and perhaps also the hope) in the tune’s darkness. Maybe the lyrics describe the end of a love affair… Maybe they are a metaphor for another sort of loss or mourning or resolution…” \nSeveral of the titles are borrowed from passages Redman admires in books by Cormac McCarthy (“Borrowed Eyes”)\, W.G. Sebald (“Over the Jelly-Green Sea”) and Kurt Vonnegut (“So It Goes”). The album’s title track is taken from Yiyun Li’s PEN/Jean Stein Award winning Where Reasons End. “The novel is short and incisively beautiful\, a conversation the author imagines with a son who recently committed suicide\,” Redman explains. “She grapples with language and how to understand the incomprehensible; and at the end she tells her son that ‘Words fall short\, yes\, but sometimes their shadows can reach the unspeakable.’ That’s also true of notes\, of ideas\, of actions… Any attempt to express our meanings and feelings will never fully succeed\, as perfection is unattainable. But it’s that struggle\, that fallibility\, that makes us so marvelously and exquisitely human.” \nFor Joshua Redman\, the shifting moods of wistfulness\, aspiration\, sadness and resolve contained in Words Fall Short signify his embrace of what he describes as “the beauty of human imperfection. We face huge questions about what our future looks like\,” he stresses\, “and a mathematical approach to language has even left us questioning what it means to be ‘intelligent’ or ‘productive’ or ‘creative.’ At heart I’m a humanist\, and I believe in the shadows of the words\, the things you can’t crunch with technology.” Words Fall Short is Redman’s latest exploration of the words – and the shadows. \n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/joshua-redman-quartet/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/joshua-redman.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261017T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261017T213000 DTSTAMP:20260803T190431Z CREATED:20260803T190431Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T190431Z UID:10000374-1792263600-1792272600@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Tumbao Bravo DESCRIPTION:Sat | Oct 17 \n\n Sets at 7pm and 9pm | $25 Cover \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n \n\n About the Artist \n Formed in August 2003 by reedman Paul VornHagen\, Tumbao Bravo has released five critically acclaimed CDs of mostly original compositions that have been featured on all the major jazz public radio stations throughout the United States.   Winner of the 2005\, 2007 and 2013 Detroit Music Awards for Best Jazz Recording and Best World Music Band\, this combo has performed at all the major Michigan jazz/music festivals including Detroit\, Michigan\, Lansing\, Birmingham\, Raisin River\, Great Lakes Folk\, Blissfest\, Wheatland Dance and Ann Arbor to name a few. \nThe title cut of their 2009 Cd was used as a soundtrack for the USA Network TV show\, Burn Notice. Five of their songs were also used in the soundtrack for the feature length romantic comedy\, “Bride Plus 1” released in 2018 and filmed in Los Angeles.   In September 2018\, the band released their 5th Cd\, “El Nido-The Nest” which was featured on many National Public Radio (NPR) programs including the top rated\, JAZZ AFTER HOURS and Miami\, Florida’s WDNA-a mecca for latin jazz recordings. All band members have won or been nominated for individual Detroit Music Awards as well  teachers at U of Michigan\, Washtenaw CC\, Jazz Camps and music studios.  For the past 12 years\, Tumbao Bravo has been presenting a  program called “The Rhythms of Cuba”  at numerous libraries throughout southeastern Michigan and the San Francisco Bay area. Other music  performance venues include Chicago\, Toledo\, OH\, Windsor\, CAN and Oklahoma. Presently\, the band performs monthly at the stellar  jazz club in Ann Arbor called THE BLUE LLAMA  as well as the DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFE in Grosse Pte Woods and the new LUCILLE’S JAZZ LOUNGE in Toledo\, OH.  Our newest band members include Armando Vega on congas and Kurt Schreitmueller on piano. \n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/tumbao-bravo-4/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tumbao-bravo.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261023T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261023T213000 DTSTAMP:20260803T190704Z CREATED:20260803T190704Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T190704Z UID:10000375-1792782000-1792791000@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Tiffany Gridiron DESCRIPTION:Fri | Oct 23 \n\n Sets 7pm & 9pm | $25 Cover \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n \n\n About the Artist \n Tiffany Gridiron is a gifted jazz vocalist and songwriter who radiates joy and generosity on stage\, even when singing the most haunting of songs. Her sultry vocals and playful approach have excited audiences in the United States\, Japan\, Finland and South Korea.   \nTiffany’s love of singing began as a child in her family church where both of her parents served as musicians. In her early twenties\, inspired by the debut album of Jill Scott\, Tiffany sought out voice lessons that serendipitously put her in contact with the amazing jazz vocalist and educator Sunny Wilkinson. Through jazz standards\, Sunny introduced Tiffany to a world of poetry and improvisation that would profoundly impact the rest of her life. Studying works of  Billie Holiday\, Ella Fitzgerald\, Sarah Vaughn and many other vocal legends helped Tiffany to find her own voice and style.  \nTiffany recorded five CDs of jazz standards\, released by SONY RECORDS in Japan that have featured such greats as pianists Hank Jones\, Tadataka Unno\, drummer Omar Hakim\, and many others.   \nIn 2019\, Tiffany’s longtime friend and collaborator Kris Johnson approached her about producing a project where her gifts as a songwriter could be featured.  The result was “From My Heart to Yours”\, Tiffany’s  most personal album to date. Released in September of 2023 on all digital platforms\, five of the album’s eight songs feature lyrics penned by Tiffany Gridiron and co-composed by Kris Johnson. Kris also arranged\, played trumpet and served as producer on the project\, with Brendon Davis (piano)\, Jonathan Muir-Cotton (bass)\, Nate Winn (drums)\, and Vivienne Smith (background vocals) also adding their breathtaking artistry to this material.  \nYou can now catch Tiffany at venues in the Midwest and East coast\, performing her originals\, jazz standards\, and other songs that explore the nuances of  the human condition. Her deep appreciation for music as a tool for healing\, inspires Tiffany  to use her voice to nurture connections between people and hearts. \n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/tiffany-gridiron-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TiffanyGridironBNW.jpg-sqLg.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261024T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261024T213000 DTSTAMP:20260803T191105Z CREATED:20260803T191105Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T191105Z UID:10000376-1792868400-1792877400@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Demetrius Nabors DESCRIPTION:Sat | Oct 24 \n\n Sets 7pm & 9pm | $25 Cover \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n \n\n About the Artist \n Demetrius “Krayon” Nabors is a prominent pianist\, composer\, producer\, and arranger\, celebrated in both the Detroit area and the national contemporary jazz scene. His music reflects a rich tapestry of influences\, including gospel\, jazz\, classical\, and blues\, all of which are evident in his compositions and performances. A two-time winner of the Detroit Music Award for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Musician\, Demetrius holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Jazz Studies from the University of Michigan. His talents have taken him to stages in Europe and Africa\, as well as to national television\, including a memorable appearance on the former “Arsenio Hall” show. \nHis exceptional skills have drawn the attention of numerous high-profile artists\, including R&B singer KEM\, flutist Althea Rene\, guitarist Tim Bowman\, and trumpeter Willie Bradley. Demetrius’s productions have achieved notable success on the Billboard charts\, including two #1 hits for KEM’s singles “Nobody” and “It’s You” (2014)\, a #2 for Willie Bradley’s “It’s On Now” (2020)\, a #5 for Althea Rene’s “Barbara Mae” (2019)\, and a #1 for Tim Bowman’s “Fireball” (2021). Additionally\, “Nobody” was nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 57th Grammy Awards. \nDemetrius’s discography features five critically acclaimed releases: “A Journey Within Part I” (2011)\, “Christmas with Krayon” (2012)\, “A Journey Within Part II” (2014)\, “Perseverance” (2021)\, and “Evolution EP” (2022). \nHe thrives on the energy of live performance\, a passion that shines through in his music and resonates deeply with his dedicated fan base. \n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/demetrius-nabors-2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DemetriusNaborsBW1.jpg-sqLg.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261030T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261030T220000 DTSTAMP:20260803T191229Z CREATED:20260803T191229Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T191229Z UID:10000377-1793386800-1793397600@bluellamaclub.com SUMMARY:Rodney Whitaker Group DESCRIPTION:Fri | Oct 30 \n\n Sets at 7pm & 9pm | $25 Cover \n \n RESERVE TABLE\n \n \n\n About the Artist \n Internationally renowned bassist and Mack Avenue recording artist\, Rodney Whitaker is one of the world’s renowned double bass performers\, educators\, mentors and is dedicated to inspiring and growing the next generation of jazz educators and musicians. \nA Detroit native\, he grew up in the city soaking in the sounds of jazz and classical music and working with the finest musicians in the city.  Building on his Detroit roots and enormous talent\, Whitaker went on to earn an international reputation as one of the world’s finest jazz double bass performers. He completed a seven-year tenure as bassist with the Wynton Marsalis’ Sextet\, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and has toured the world over the last twenty-six years\, collaborating with over 100+ legendary performing jazz artists and leading symphony orchestras across the world. \nFeatured on more than 100+ recordings – from film to compact discs – Whitaker’s film scores\, China\, directed by Jeff Wray\, was released on PBS Fall 2002 and Malaria and Malawi\, released on PBS Fall 2010. In 2011\, he was nominated for an EMMY for the ‘Original Music’ category\, “Malawi and Malaria: Fighting to Save the Children” produced by Robert Gould and Sue Carter.  Whitaker collaborated with musicians Phil Dwyer and Alan Jones on “Let Me Tell You About My Day\,” produced by Alma Records and was nominated for a Juno Award in 2006 for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year\, Canada’s equivalent to the United State of America’s Grammy. \nHe is a full professor of jazz double bass and director of jazz studies at Michigan State University where he has built one of the leading jazz degree granting programs offering both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Jazz Performance. \n\n \n \n \n RESERVE TABLE URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/rodney-whitaker-group-3/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/rodney-whitaker-group.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR