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DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260920T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260920T203000
DTSTAMP:20260820T184721Z
CREATED:20260820T184721Z
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SUMMARY:Pandit Partha Bose + Pandit Samar Saha
DESCRIPTION:Sun | Sep 20	\n\n	Set 7pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	About Pandit Partha Bose\nA leading light of the Maihar Gharana\, Pandit Partha Bose is a master Sitarist whose artistry bridges ancient tradition and modern expression. To understand Bose is to appreciate the “jazz” of India-his performances are masterclasses in raga (melodic framework) and improvisation\, built on a foundation of rigorous technical discipline. Trained under the legacy of Ustad Allauddin Khan\, Bose is renowned for his ability to weave complex\, meditative tapestries of sound that resonate with deep emotional intelligence. A veteran of the world’s most prestigious stages\, he offers an experience that is as intellectually demanding as it is profoundly soulful.\nAbout Samar Saha\nPandit Samar Saha is a titan of the Tabla-the intricate\, virtuosic hand drums that form the rhythmic heartbeat of Hindustani classical music. A master of time and nuance\, Saha commands a rhythmic vocabulary that rivals the most sophisticated modern percussionists. Hailing from the historic musical center of Kolkata\, his playing is defined by a lightning-fast precision and an uncanny ability to engage in complex rhythmic dialogues with his fellow musicians. Whether serving as a sensitive accompanist or a commanding soloist\, Saha’s performance is a display of pure technical brilliance and rhythmic invention that captivates listeners of any genre.\nAbout Hindustani Classical Music & Jazz\nHindustani classical music is a meditative\, improvisational tradition that has long shared a deep\, soulful resonance with Western jazz. For decades\, this exchange has captivated audiences\, built on a common language of spontaneous creation\, intricate rhythmic structures\, and a quest for spiritual depth.\nThis cross-cultural fascination became a defining movement in the 1960s\, famously sparked by the legendary collaboration between Ravi Shankar and John Coltrane. Coltrane saw in Shankar’s raga system a framework for his own explorations into modal jazz and transcendence\, directly influencing works like Africa/Brass and his pursuit of “universal” sounds. Simultaneously\, the global spotlight on Indian classical music was amplified by The Beatles-most notably George Harrison-who integrated the haunting timbre of the sitar into the pop lexicon\, introducing millions of Western listeners to the hypnotic\, microtonal beauty of Indian ragas. \nToday\, this dialogue remains vibrant\, as modern jazz masters continue to draw from the Hindustani well of rhythmic complexity and melodic fluidity. When Pandit Partha Bose and Pandit Samar Saha take the stage\, they are not merely performing an ancient tradition; they are continuing a storied\, high-level musical conversation-one that invites the jazz-savvy listener to lose themselves in the same sense of wonder that has bridge Eastern tradition and Western innovation for generations. \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/pandit-partha-bose-pandit-samar-saha/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260923T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260923T203000
DTSTAMP:20260824T160118Z
CREATED:20260728T180201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260824T160118Z
UID:10000355-1790190000-1790195400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Nicole Zuraitis Quartet
DESCRIPTION:Wed | Sep 23	\n\n	Set 7pm\n$85 Dinner & Show\n$40 Cover Only\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Nicole Zuraitis is a 2X GRAMMY® winning and 6X GRAMMY-nominated jazz singer-songwriter\, producer\, pianist\, arranger\, New York-based bandleader and winner of the prestigious American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal. With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice\,” (Jazz Police)\, Nicole has positioned herself as one of the top artists and “prolific songwriters” (Broadway World) to watch in jazz and beyond\, or as she likes to call it\, The Modern Songbook. \nAs a recording artist\, Nicole has released seven albums as leader\, and her sixth album\, How Love Begins\, co-produced with eight-time GRAMMY-winner Christian McBride\, won BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM at the 2024 GRAMMY® awards and features all original music. She is the only person ever to have won this award who wrote and arranged the entire album herself. Her live album Live at Vic’s Las Vegas\, which she produced\, wrote and arranged  featuring Tom Scott\, Keyon Harrold\, Rachel Eckroth\, Idan Morim\, Sam Weber and Dan Pugach\, was nominated for 2 GRAMMYS in 2026.  She will release her next studio album The Devil I Knew\, produced by Larry Klein\, in July of 2026. \nIn addition to leading her quartet\, Nicole performed and recorded with the Birdland Big Band as the premier vocalist before taking off as a large ensemble leader of her own\, co-producing the Dan Pugach Big Band and guesting for major big bands around the globe.  She has headlined at Newport Jazz Festival\, Melbourne International Jazz Festival\, Caramoor\, Saratoga Jazz Festival and Tanglewood\, along with iconic NYC jazz clubs like Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center\, Birdland\, the Blue Note\, the Carlyle\, 54 Below and the late\, great 55 Bar. She also has appeared as a featured soloist with the Savannah Philharmonic\, Asheville Symphony\, and Macon Pops as well as the Danish Radio Big Band. Her original song “Always” closed the 2025 Teyana Taylor GRAMMY Nominated album Escape Room (Def Jam Records). \nNicole is a featured artist and producer on her husband’s\, renowned drummer\, bandleader\, and composer Dan Pugach\, 2025 GRAMMY-winning album\, Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence (Best Large Ensemble) for which they composed the GRAMMY-nominated song\, “Little Fears” (Best Jazz Performance). Nicole is a vocalist on the GRAMMY-winning “Last Sunday in Plains: A Centennial Celebration” alongside Jon Batiste\, Keb’ Mo’\, and LeeAnn Rimes. In 2024\, Broadway World honored Nicole with the “Best Big Band Show” Award. Nicole’s arrangement of Dolly Parton’s Jolene\, co-written with Dan Pugach\, was nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY®\, springboarding her career and making her a household name in the modern-day jazz landscape. In 2020\, she was named in the top 40 under 40 for 2020 in Connecticut Magazine\, and her weekly live stream during the Covid-19 crisis\, “Virtual Piano Lounge\,” was featured in Forbes Magazine. Her Live at Vic’s Las Vegas album was featured on NPR Toast of the Nation 2026 in an hour long special.  \nNicole has collaborated with an extensive list of luminaries\, including Christian McBride\, Tom Scott\, Keyon Harrold\, David Cook\, Larry Klein\, Gilad Hekselman\, Veronica Swift\, Benny Benack\, Stephen Feifke\, Cyrille Aimee\, Antonio Sanchez\, Javon Jackson\, Nikki Giovanni\, Dave Stryker\, Omar Hakim\,  Rachel Z\, Helen Sung\, Melanie\, Morgan James\, Darren Criss\, Livingston Taylor\, Thana Alexa\, Rachel Eckroth\, Don Braden and Bernard Purdie. She is a proud educator and a current vocal faculty member at NYU and the Litchfield Jazz Camp. In 2024\, Post University awarded Nicole an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters. \nAn ardent activist with a decade-long track record of giving back\, her release of How Love Begins coincided with a self-produced music festival and day of activism for SavetheSound.Org. All proceeds of the GRAMMY winning album Bianca Reimagined go to pitbull rescues Nicole and Dan have fostered through the last 15 years. \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/nicole-zuraitis/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260924T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260924T213000
DTSTAMP:20260715T151921Z
CREATED:20260715T151921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260715T151921Z
UID:10000356-1790276400-1790285400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Nate Topo Group
DESCRIPTION:Thu | Sep 24	\n\n	Sets at 7pm and 8:30pm | $25 Cover \n			\n							RESERVE TABLE\n					\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Nate Topo is a Detroit-based composer\, saxophonist\, pianist\, and vocalist known for his distinctive tone and memorable live performances. A professional musician since the age of fifteen\, he has become a dynamic presence in Detroit’s music scene. \nAt an early age\, he became a regular at the legendary Bert’s Marketplace sessions in Eastern Market\, sharing the stage with artists such as Martha Reeves and James Carter. Nate has also been a staple at the Detroit Jazz Festival\, performing there three consecutive years\, most recently alongside Artist-in-Residence Jason Moran in 2025. His music has taken him beyond Detroit to Los Angeles and New Orleans\, where he has performed alongside jazz greats such as Charlie Gabriel and Shannon Powell\, including several appearances at historic Preservation Hall. \nNate’s tone is shaped by a rare collection of vintage saxophones\, blending the warmth of early jazz with a modern creative edge. Whether interpreting jazz standards\, funk classics\, or performing his original music\, often described as soul pop with a Motown influence\, he adapts each set to the room while staying true to the musical foundation that influences his work. \n\n				\n	\n			\n							RESERVE TABLE
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/nate-topo-group/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260925T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260925T213000
DTSTAMP:20260709T201039Z
CREATED:20260709T201039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260709T201039Z
UID:10000354-1790362800-1790371800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet
DESCRIPTION:Fri | Sep 25	\n\n	Sets 7pm & 9pm | $25 Cover \n			\n							RESERVE TABLE\n					\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Russ Macklem is a Windsor/Detroit based trumpet player\, composer\, educator\, and recording artist. His 2023 debut release\, The South Detroit Connection\, was nominated for a JUNO-award\, and was the first live album recorded in Windsor in over 22 years (at Phog Lounge)\, the last having been recorded by Detroit trumpet legend\, Marcus Belgrave at the Capitol Theatre. Belgrave’s son\, saxophonist/flautist Kasan Belgrave is featured both on the album\, and in Russ’ new Quintet. The new Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet makes their debut at the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival. \nAs a leader\, Russ can be heard with his quintet every first Friday of the month at MotorCity Wine in Corktown (Detroit)\, and other venues around the Midwest throughout the year. As a sideman\, Russ has played with a diverse array of artists including Amp Fiddler\, Dave Holland\, The Marley Bros (Bob Marley’s sons)\, Cecil McBee\, Frankie Valli\, Dave Liebman\, Bobby Rydell\, Frankie Avalon\, and many others. \nRuss earned his Doctor of Musical Arts while studying at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where he was on full-tuition scholarship and Teaching Assistant to Grammy-Award-winning trumpet player Brian Lynch. At New England Conservatory in Boston\, Russ earned his Master’s of Music with Honors while studying with Jerry Bergonzi\, George Garzone\, Cecil McBee\, Bob Moses\, and John McNeil. Russ earned his Bachelor of Music from McGill University where he studied with Kevin Dean\, Jocelyn Couture\, Joe Sullivan\, and Remi Bolduc. \n\n				\n	\n			\n							RESERVE TABLE
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/russ-macklem-detroit-quintet-4/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260927T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260927T220000
DTSTAMP:20260729T204451Z
CREATED:20260729T204451Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260729T204451Z
UID:10000369-1790535600-1790546400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Women in Jazz Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Sun | Sep 27\nSets at 6pm and 7:30pm | $25 Cover \n RESERVE TABLE  \nAbout the Artist\nWomen in Jazz ShowcaseFeaturing Pamela Wise\, Lady Vonne & Naima Shambourger \nJoin us for an elegant evening celebrating the powerhouse women of jazz. The performance features an extraordinary rhythm section with Pamela Wise on piano\, Laura Simone on bass\, and Gayelynn McKinney on drums. \nThe showcase highlights two exceptional vocal sets. Opening the evening at 6:00 PM is Naima Shambourger. Praised as a modern heir to Sarah Vaughan’s legacy\, Ms. Shambourger delivers a masterful presence shaped by classical training\, a deep jazz lineage\, and heartfelt phrasing. At 7:30 PM\, the stage welcomes Lady Vonne\, a renowned Detroit jazz\, R&B\, and soul vocalist celebrated for her glamorous stage presence and timeless voice. \nAbout NaimaNaima Shamborguer was born and raised in Detroit Michigan. Born to a musical family\, professional musicians surrounded her. From her early days of musical training\, Naima developed highly artistic and finely polished vocal abilities through extensive training in classical and jazz music\, but jazz music is where Naima has made a successful career. On two occasions Naima received The Spirit of Detroit award from the City Council of Detroit. Recognizing the exceptional achievement\, outstanding leadership\, and dedication to improving the quality of life and “The Women in Jazz.” The late Hugh Lawson deemed her “the closest that he has ever heard to Sarah Vaughan\, all she needs is to be heard.” Inducted into the Kresge Fellow program in 2020. And with performances ranging from the Blue Llama in Ann Arbor to the Peacock Jazz Café in Toledo\, Ohio and back up to the Dirty Dog Jazz Café in Detroit\, MI. About Lady VonneLady Vonne (born Yvonne Dowell) is an acclaimed jazz\, R&B\, and standards vocalist based in Detroit\, Michigan. Often described as a musical blend of Ella Fitzgerald\, Phyllis Hyman\, and Diana Ross\, she is highly regarded as one of Detroit’s premier jazz greats. About Pamela WiseBuilding upon the Detroit jazz connection established with Lady Vonne\, Pamela Wise (also known as Pamela Wise Harrison) is an acclaimed contemporary jazz pianist\, composer\, and educator based in Detroit\, Michigan. She is highly revered for her unique style that fuses post-bop jazz with fiery Afro-Cuban and West African rhythms. About Gayelynn McKinneyContinuing the deep exploration of Detroit’s iconic jazz legacy\, Gayelynn McKinney is one of the most decorated\, formidable\, and trailblazing drummers in the history of the Detroit jazz scene. With a career spanning multiple decades\, she has served as a master rhythmist\, composer\, educator\, and a crucial anchor for women in percussion. About Laura SimoneContinuing the thread of exceptional women in jazz\, Laura Simone is a rising 20-year-old jazz bassist\, vocalist\, and activist. Originally from Lawrenceville\, New Jersey\, she is currently a junior at Michigan State University studying under the mentorship of renowned bassist Rodney Whitaker. \n\n RESERVE TABLE
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/women-in-jazz-showcase/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260930T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260930T213000
DTSTAMP:20260820T185056Z
CREATED:20260805T184051Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T185056Z
UID:10000362-1790794800-1790803800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Date Night: Jacob Hart Piano Duo
DESCRIPTION:Wed | Sep 30	\n\n	Sets 7pm & 8pm | Free Cover! \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	This September\, join us for dinner\, or date night\, with Date Night 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. \nJacob Hart is a 17-year-old multi downbeat award-winning pianist\, composer\, and arranger\, hailing from Detroit\, Michigan. He has performed at the Michigan Jazz Festival\,  the Detroit Jazz Festival\, and the Toledo-Peacock jazz festival\, with artists like Herlin Riley\, Ryan Devlin\, and others. Jacob has opened for several famous jazz artists such as Herbie Hancock\, Branford Marsalis\, and Terence Blanchard. He has also performed at several known jazz clubs in the area\, including Baker’s Keyboard Lounge\, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe\, the Blue Llama\, and Cliff Bell’s. Hart is a student at the esteemed Detroit School of Arts and also takes part in many Detroit jazz programs\, such as the DSO Civic Jazz Orchestra and the MSU Spartan Youth Jazz Program. On top of all of this\, Jacob is releasing his second album\, “Short Circuit” in the near future\, so stay on the look out! \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/jacob-hart-piano-duo-1/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261001T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261001T213000
DTSTAMP:20260907T135344Z
CREATED:20260731T161709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260907T135344Z
UID:10000380-1790881200-1790890200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Ellen Rowe Trio ft. Rob Bickley & Pete Siers
DESCRIPTION:Thu | Oct 1\nSets 7pm & 8:30pm | $25 Cover \n Reserve Table  \nAbout the Artist\nEllen 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 Reserve Table
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/ellen-rowe-trio/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261002T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261002T180000
DTSTAMP:20260825T163518Z
CREATED:20260731T171553Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T163518Z
UID:10000384-1790956800-1790964000@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:WEMU 5:01 Jazz Series: Sean Dobbins Trio's Tribute to Stevie Wonder
DESCRIPTION:Fri | Oct 2	\n\n	Set 5:01pm | No Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\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. Due to Sean’s great talent both as a player and an educator\, he has been the focus of countless news articles\, jazz radio programs\, and documentaries. \nThough still young by jazz standards\, Dobbins has amassed an impressive list of playing companions. He has performed/toured/recorded with Johnny Basset\, Benny Golson\, Dr. Lonnie Smith\, Frank Morgan\, Joey DeFrancesco\, George Cables\, James “Blood” Ulmer\, Marcus Belgrave\, Larry Willis\, Rodney Whittaker\, Claude Black\, Johnny O’Neal\, Paul Keller\, Tad Weed\, Kurt Krahnke\, Jon Hendricks\, David “Fathead” Newman\, Donald Walden\, Cyrus Chesnut\, Barry Harris\, David Baker\, Randy Johnston\, Marion Hayden\, Mose Allison\, and a host of other great musicians. \nSean’s sound can best be described as hard-driving\, solid rhythm with refreshing melodic sensibility. Some of Sean’s influences include Art Blakey\, Jeff Hamilton\, Jeff “Tain” Watts\, Ed Thigpen\, Sonny Payne\, as well as Detroit area greats Gerald Cleaver and the one and only Elvin Jones. \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/wemu-501-sean-dobbins-trio/
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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/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261003T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261003T213000
DTSTAMP:20260909T173239Z
CREATED:20260909T173239Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T173239Z
UID:10000414-1791054000-1791063000@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:John Arnold Trio ft. Pathe Jassi and Rick Beamon
DESCRIPTION:Wed | Jul 1	\n\n	Sets 7pm & 8:30pm | $25 Cover \n		https://bluellamaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pathe_jassi_jesse_kramer__john_arnold_live_at_blue_llama_jazz_club-1080p.mp4	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			About the Artist	\n	This power trio combines John Arnold’s virtuosic guitar\, Pathe Jassi’s intricate bass lines and multilingual vocals\, and Rick Beamon’s creative and versatile drumming! Together these master musicians join forces to create an eclectic and unique experience of world music spanning from traditional to contemporary that includes original compositions and explorations of American Jazz\, Afro-Cuban\, Brazilian\, and African music. The result – a performance that is energetic\, vibrant\, powerful and profound!\nJohn Arnold- guitar\nPathe Jassi- bass\nRick Beamon- drums\n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/john-arnold-trio/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261004T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261004T203000
DTSTAMP:20260831T164343Z
CREATED:20260831T164343Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T164343Z
UID:10000406-1791136800-1791145800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:The NOW Trio ft. Travis Aukerman
DESCRIPTION:Sun | Oct 4	\n\n	Sets 6pm & 7:30pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	NoW Trio features pianist Ben Maloney\, bassist Jeff Pedraz\, and drummer Travis Aukerman. The group was formed in 2024 as a collaborative effort to present each member’s distinct sound and wealth of experience on the bandstand. Their live performance features a unique combination of Jazz standards\, original compositions\, and lesser-known arrangements by prolific composers of years past. \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/the-now-trio-5/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261007T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261007T220000
DTSTAMP:20260831T183742Z
CREATED:20260807T162618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T183742Z
UID:10000381-1791399600-1791410400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Date Night: Jacob Hart Piano Duo
DESCRIPTION:Wed | Oct 7	\n\n	Sets 7pm & 8pm | Free Cover! \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	This October\, join us for dinner\, or date night\, with Wednesday Date Nights at Blue LLama. Enjoy no cover\, our full dinner menu\, wine specials\, plus a special $95 Dinner for Two with your choice of 1 appetizer\, 2 entrees\, and 1 dessert to share. \nJacob Hart is a 17-year-old multi downbeat award-winning pianist\, composer\, and arranger\, hailing from Detroit\, Michigan. He has performed at the Michigan Jazz Festival\,  the Detroit Jazz Festival\, and the Toledo-Peacock jazz festival\, with artists like Herlin Riley\, Ryan Devlin\, and others. Jacob has opened for several famous jazz artists such as Herbie Hancock\, Branford Marsalis\, and Terence Blanchard. He has also performed at several known jazz clubs in the area\, including Baker’s Keyboard Lounge\, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe\, the Blue Llama\, and Cliff Bell’s. Hart is a student at the esteemed Detroit School of Arts and also takes part in many Detroit jazz programs\, such as the DSO Civic Jazz Orchestra and the MSU Spartan Youth Jazz Program. On top of all of this\, Jacob is releasing his second album\, “Short Circuit” in the near future\, so stay on the look out! \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/jacob-hart-piano/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261008T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261008T213000
DTSTAMP:20260831T164823Z
CREATED:20260831T164823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T164823Z
UID:10000407-1791486000-1791495000@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Rick Roe Trio
DESCRIPTION:THURS | Oct 8	\n\n	Sets 7pm and 8:30pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Rick Roe is a jazz pianist\, composer\, performer\, and educator in the southeastern Michigan music community. He has produced and co-produced over a dozen recordings with original compositions and jazz classics with some of the most accomplished jazz musicians in the world.  \nMonkʼs Modern Music\, Rickʼs first recording on his RNR Unknown Records label\, has become highly regarded by many jazz greats around the world. It features Rodney Whitaker and Greg Hutchinson. His subsequent recordings have also received praise for his compositions and arrangements of jazz classics and popular culture hits.  \nHis teaching experience includes being an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Jazz Piano at Michigan State University from 2001-2011\, and he has been a guest artist and clinician at the University of Arizona\, North Texas University\, the University of Nevada\, Las Vegas\, Juilliard Jazz in N.Y.\, and the University of Michigan.  \nRick has performed with jazz greats Wynton Marsalis\, Marcus Belgrave\, Frank Morgan\, Louis Hayes\, Clark Terry\, Louis Smith\, Rodney Whitaker\, Donald Walden\, Greg Hutchinson\, Karriem Riggins\, Robert Hurst\, Buster Williams\, Emily Remler\, Wycliffe Gordon\, Barbara Morrison\, Wess Anderson\, Jon Faddis\, Walter Blanding\, Randy Gelispie\, Ron Brooks\, George Davidson\, Wendall Harrison\, Vincent York\, Michael Dease\, Gerald Cleaver\, Frank Foster\, Joe Magnarelli\, Derrick Gardner\, Joe Farnsworth\, James Carter\, Jim Snidero\, Randy Napoleon\, Dwight Adams\, and many more.  \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/rick-roe-trio-4/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261009T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261009T220000
DTSTAMP:20260902T153926Z
CREATED:20260731T162914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260902T153926Z
UID:10000372-1791572400-1791583200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Marcus Elliot Quartet
DESCRIPTION:Fri | Oct 9	\n\n	Sets at 7pm & 9pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\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. \nLineup:\nJosef Deas- Bass\nIan Finkelstein- Piano\nNate Winn- Drums\n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/marcus-elliot-quartet/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261010T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261010T213000
DTSTAMP:20260901T153840Z
CREATED:20260731T163016Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T153840Z
UID:10000373-1791658800-1791667800@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/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261011T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261011T213000
DTSTAMP:20260909T160253Z
CREATED:20260608T160326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T160253Z
UID:10000324-1791741600-1791754200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Joshua Redman Quartet
DESCRIPTION:Sun | Oct 11	\n\n	Sets 6pm & 8pm\n$125 Dinner & Show\n$75 Cover Only\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\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	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/joshua-redman-quartet/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261014T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261014T213000
DTSTAMP:20260902T201439Z
CREATED:20260902T201439Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260902T201439Z
UID:10000382-1792004400-1792013400@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Paul Keller's Ray Brown Tribute
DESCRIPTION:Wed | Oct 14	\n\n	Sets 7pm & 8:30pm | Free Cover! \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\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. \nJoin Paul Keller for this special tribute to legendary jazz bassist\, Ray Brown! \nJazz string bassist Paul Keller wear many hats: He is a well-respected master of his instrument; he is a prolific composer and an outstanding arranger of music for small and large ensembles; he is an educator\, an entertainer and impresario; he is a lover of\, a student of\, and a proponent of The Great American Songbook; he is a successful bandleader of several different groups and he is an in-demand sideman who has performed all over the world with a myriad of jazz luminaries. Paul has earned the nick-name “The House Bass Player For The State Of Michigan” as each year\, he logs so many miles traveling across the state to perform at various music venues. Since 1989\, Paul has led his 15-piece Paul Keller Orchestra every Monday night in Ann Arbor – that over 1\,300 Monday nights! The PKO plays original\, obscure and classic big band material from the entire history of jazz . Under Paul’s expert leadership\, the PKO has garnered popular and critical acclaim including several Detroit Music Awards for excellence in performing arts. \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/paul-keller-ray-brown-tribute/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261015T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261015T213000
DTSTAMP:20260831T165340Z
CREATED:20260831T165340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T165340Z
UID:10000408-1792090800-1792099800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Aguankó
DESCRIPTION:Thu | Oct 15	\n\n	Sets at 7pm and 8:30pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Aguanko is a Latin jazz septet from the Detroit area\, led by percussionist and composer Alberto Nacif. The band’s music is deeply rooted in Cuban jazz and features original compositions that blend jazz with Son-Salsa rhythms. Nacif\, who was born in Oaxaca\, Mexico\, began playing percussion at a young age and has studied with renowned Cuban masters. Aguanko has gained national and international recognition for their music\, including performances with prominent jazz musicians and multiple award nominations. \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/aguanko-6/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261016T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261016T220000
DTSTAMP:20260825T170343Z
CREATED:20260825T170343Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T170343Z
UID:10000383-1792177200-1792188000@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Don Hicks & Friends
DESCRIPTION:Fri | Oct 16	\n\n	Sets 7pm & 9pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Enjoy Blue LLama’s own! Blue LLama’s proprieter Don Hicks on trumpet and his friends bring down the house in Ann Arbor\, Michigan for two special sets. Bring yourself plus a friend or two and spend an October night with us! \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/don-hicks-and-friends-3/
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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/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261018T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261018T220000
DTSTAMP:20260909T195737Z
CREATED:20260909T195737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T195737Z
UID:10000430-1792346400-1792360800@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Tim Ries Quartet
DESCRIPTION:Sun | Oct 18	\n\n	Sets 6pm & 7:30pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Saxophonist\, composer\, arranger\, producer and educator Tim Ries received degrees from both The University of North Texas (BM) and The University of Michigan (MM). He has had a unique and varied career\, which began in 1983 with the great Maynard Ferguson. \nTim moved to New York City in 1985 and since that time his performing and recording credits include a who’s who of jazz\, rock\, pop and world music icons: The Rolling Stones from 1999 to the present\, Stevie Wonder\, Paul Simon\, Donald Fagen\, Michael Jackson\, Blood\, Sweat and Tears\, Rod Stewart\, Lyle Lovette\, and jazz greats Red Garland\, Donald Byrd\, Hank Jones\, Jack DeJohnette\, Phil Woods\, Tom Harrell\, Chico Hamilton\, Michael Brecker\, Joe Henderson\, Tony Bennett\, Louie Bellson\, Dave Liebman\, Al Foster\, John Patitucci\, Danilo Perez\, Bela Szakcsi Lakatos and Maria Schneider. \nTim was a member of the Prism Saxophone Quartet from 1993-2003. He has released 9 CDs as a leader. His last two discs\, Tim Ries Quintet and Tim Ries Quintet Vol II\, are live perfomances at Smalls Jazz Club. In 2005 and 2008 respectively\, he released The Rolling Stones Project (Concord) and Stones World (Sunnyside)\, both are his versions of Stones classics arranged in jazz and world music genres. Both CDs have drawn rave reviews across the globe. \nSome of the guest artists featured on these discs include: all four Rolling Stones\, Norah Jones\, Sheryl Crow\, Milton Nascimento\, Sara Baras\, Bill Frisell\, John Scofield\, Jack DeJohnette\, Lisa Fischer\, Bernard Fowler\, Larry Goldings\, Franck Amsallem\, Eddie Palmieri\, Brian Blade and Ana Moura. His latest colaborations are performing with the great flamenco dancer Sara Baras and with The East Gipsy Band from Budapest. \nTim has taught saxophone and composition at The New School\, Rutgers University\, The City University of New York and The University of Toronto. \nTim Ries plays Francois Louis mouthpieces\, reeds and ligatures and The Virtuoso tenor and alto saxophones by RS Berkely. \nLineup:\nTim Ries- Saxophones\nDwight Adams- Trumpet\nRodney Whitaker- Bass\nNate Winn- Drums\n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/tim-ries-quartet/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261021T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261021T220000
DTSTAMP:20260831T184100Z
CREATED:20260831T184100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T184100Z
UID:10000413-1792609200-1792620000@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Date Night: Aris Chalin Piano Duo
DESCRIPTION:Wed | Oct 21	\n\n	Sets 7pm & 8pm | Free Cover! \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	This October\, join us for dinner\, or date night\, with Wednesday Date Nights 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	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/aris-chalin-piano-duo-2/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261022T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261022T213000
DTSTAMP:20260825T170651Z
CREATED:20260821T151458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T170651Z
UID:10000402-1792695600-1792704600@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Kenji Lee Quartet
DESCRIPTION:Thur | Oct 22	\n\n	Sets at 7pm and 8:30pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Kenji Lee is a Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist\, composer-improviser\, arts advocate\, and educator merging the intersections of art\, community\, and equity. Lee “has quickly become a mainstay in the local jazz and improvisational music scene\, while also making a name for himself nationally.” (A2 Pulp). \nAs a saxophonist and double-bassist\, Lee has performed with many of the leading forces in Jazz and Creative Music including Wayne Horvitz\, Pete Siers\, Robert Hurst\, Dr. Prof. Leonard King\, Marion Hayden\, Kayvon Gordon\, Mr. B\, Lex Korten\, RJ Spangler and the Planet D Nonet\, Jeff Pedraz\, and Andy Milne. \nLee’s debut full-length album\, “Kyudo”\, inspired by the Japanese martial art of archery\, features his Fortune Teller Trio (Lee on saxophones\, Andy Peck on double bass and Jonathan Barahal Taylor on percussion) with special guest\, vocalist Estar Cohen. The album was released to critical acclaim and the ensemble was subsequently selected as a featured artist at both the 2023 Detroit International Jazz Festival and Edgefest 28 in Ann Arbor. \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/kenji-lee-quartet-copy/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261023T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261023T183000
DTSTAMP:20260831T183253Z
CREATED:20260831T183253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T183253Z
UID:10000412-1792771200-1792780200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Swing Happy Hour: Kerrytown Stompers
DESCRIPTION:Fri | Oct 23	\n\n	5:00 – 6:30pm | No Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	The Kerrytown Stompers are thrilled to return to the Blue Llama Jazz Club to bring Swingin’ “Hot Jazz”\, performed by an All-Star Sextet. Specializing in Early Jazz from 1917 to 1940\, you will hear\, see and feel the reason this music has become so important in American culture. This music is instantly uplifting and fun. Not to be missed! \nDave Kosmyna- cornet\nRay Heitger- clarinet\nChris Smith- trombone\nChris Tabaczynski- bass saxophone\nAlex Belhaj- guitar\nPete Siers- drums\, washboard\n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/swing-happy-hour-kerrytown-stompers-11/
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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/
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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/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261025T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261025T203000
DTSTAMP:20260831T170331Z
CREATED:20260831T170331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T170331Z
UID:10000409-1792951200-1792960200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Jacob Hart Quartet
DESCRIPTION:Sun | Oct 25	\n\n	Sets 6pm & 7:30pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Jacob Hart is a 17-year-old multi downbeat award-winning pianist\, composer\, and arranger\, hailing from Detroit\, Michigan. He has performed at the Michigan Jazz Festival\,  the Detroit Jazz Festival\, and the Toledo-Peacock jazz festival\, with artists like Herlin Riley\, Ryan Devlin\, and others. Jacob has opened for several famous jazz artists such as Herbie Hancock\, Branford Marsalis\, and Terence Blanchard. He has also performed at several known jazz clubs in the area\, including Baker’s Keyboard Lounge\, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe\, the Blue Llama\, and Cliff Bell’s. Hart is a student at the esteemed Detroit School of Arts and also takes part in many Detroit jazz programs\, such as the DSO Civic Jazz Orchestra and the MSU Spartan Youth Jazz Program. On top of all of this\, Jacob is releasing his second album\, “Short Circuit” in the near future\, so stay on the look out! \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/jacob-hart-quartet/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261028T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261028T213000
DTSTAMP:20260831T175037Z
CREATED:20260831T175037Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T175037Z
UID:10000410-1793214000-1793223000@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Steve Nelson + Kzoo Jazz Collective
DESCRIPTION:Wed | Oct 28	\n\n	Sets 7pm & 8:30pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Described as “the most completely realized and original performer on the vibraphone\,” Steve Nelson began his career in Pittsburgh\, Pennsylvania choosing an instrument not often seen on the bandstand. He was introduced to the vibraphone in high school by George A. Monroe\, a steel worker by day\, and a gifted vibraphonist in the Milt Jackson tradition. Along with early instruction in jazz\, Monroe also taught him the piano. Steve dedicates “Blues for George A.(opens in new tab)” to his teacher on his album\, Full Nelson(opens in new tab).(opens in new tab) \nA career spanning five decades\, Steve has distinguished himself by making consequential contributions to the improvisatory development of his instrument\, as well as the tradition of jazz. By the early ’70s he was performing regularly and honed his skills alongside local Pittsburgh luminaries as drummers Roger Humphries and J.C. Moses\, trumpeter Tommy Turrentine\, saxophonists Eric Kloss and Nathan Davis. He completed his Master’s at Rutgers University’s Jazz Studies program helmed by Kenny Barron\, music education pioneers bassist Larry Ridley and drummer Ted Dunbar. Steve’s debut recording was James Spaulding Plays the Legacy of Duke Ellington\, and throughout the early ’80s he worked with Kenny Barron\, David “Fathead” Newman\, Bobby Watson\, and was featured in the George Shearing big band. Steve has been the instrumentalist of choice for the most iconic jazz artists as Kenny Barron\, Jackie McLean\, Lewis Nash\, James Williams\, Curtis Lundy\, and Mulgrew Miller (Wingspan Sextet) and Dave Holland (Dave Holland Quintet and Big Band) with whom he has shared decades long collaborations through composing\, performing and touring. Steve continues to tour and record with Donald Brown\, Renee Rosnes\, Geoffrey Keezer and Jeremy Pelt\, among others.​ \n​​Recognized for his inventive and fluidly harmonic approach and chromatic quality\, Steve is acknoeledged as one of the pre-eminent modernist vibraphone and marimba players. He has appeared on numerous recordings and performed at concert venues and festivals worldwide including Carnegie Hall\, Jazz at the Lincoln Center\, JVC Jazz Festival\, Montreux Jazz Festival\, Montreal International Jazz Festival\, Newport Jazz Festival\, Netherlands International Jazz Festival\, Village Vanguard\, and festivals across Asia and Australia. He has over a dozen original recordings as a bandleader\, and has lent a distinct compositional signature to several albums of legendary bandleaders. Steve is currently a member of 2025 Grammy Nominated Kenny Barron Quartet. In 2021\, Steve received a commission from the Doris Duke Foundation supported New Jazz Works program.​ \nHe is a dedicated and beloved educator with prior positions at Princeton University\, William Paterson University\, and Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He appears on the documentary Sparni\, as mentor to a talented vibraphone student struggling with mental health. \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/steve-nelson-kzoo-jazz-collective/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261029T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261029T220000
DTSTAMP:20260831T181038Z
CREATED:20260831T181038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T181038Z
UID:10000411-1793300400-1793311200@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Alex Harding & Organ Nation
DESCRIPTION:Thu | Oct 29	\n\n	Sets at 7pm & 8:30pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\n			\n\n			About the Artist	\n	Alex Harding was born on April 5\, 1967 in Detroit\, Michigan. At the age of six\, Alex knew what he wanted to do in his lifetime: to be a musician. He started to pursue his dream. Alex started on the tenor sax as a child\, but as time went by he mastered playing the tenor\, soprano\, alto\, baritone\, clarinet and flute. Mr. Harding took band classes in elementary and middle school\, entering musical competitions and shows. He chose to attend Northwestern High School so he could study music under the direction of Mr. Ernest Rogers\, a renowned musician. It was during high school that Alex decided to make the baritone sax and bass clarinet his main instruments.Alex Harding studied music in his early years with Yusef Lateef\, Beans Bows and Herbie Williams\, and had a chance to play with Wynton Marsalis and Donald Byrd while still in high school. Alex went on to win music scholarships to the University of Massachusetts and the Aspen School of Music. Alex’s first European engagement in 1990 was in Porgy and Bess. A year later\, he went to Mexico to the Arts and Music Festival with percussionist Francisco Mora. \nAfter settling in New York in 1993\, and a stint touring with Phatoms\, a Haitian group\, Alex joined Julius Hemphill’s Saxophone Sextet. He also began performing with Muhal Richard Abrams\, Craig Harris\, Lester Bowie\, Frank Lacey\, Oliver Lake and David Murray’s Big Band. \nIn 1996\, Alex joined Hamiet Bluiett’s Baritone Group and appeared with the Mingus Big Band\, Jayne Cortez Firespitters and Lester Bowie’s Hip-Hop Philharmonic. He also recorded with Greg Osby\, Frank Lowe\, David Lee Roth and Rodney Whittaker. The following year\, Alex recorded At Doctor King’s Table with the Julius Hemphill Sextet\, a CD with Hamiet Bluiett’s Baritone Group\, and he made his debut with the Sun Ra Arkestra under Marshall Allen’s leadership. In 1998\, Alex was part of the Sun Ra All-Star Project that premiered at the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Montreux-Detroit Jazz Festival. More recently Alex has performed with the Roy Hargrove Big Band and with Aretha Franklin. \nIn the October ’97 issue of Jazz Times\, the review of Hamiet Bluiett’s Baritone Band said that Alex Harding: “…attacked the music with steamroller momentum and uncommon ferocity…it was sheer fireworks.” \nA powerful and innovative saxophonist\, Alex Harding has a unique and contemporary baritone sound. The sincerity of his musical expression and the dynamism of his performance reach out and touch the human spirit and soul. \n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/alex-harding-organ-nation/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261030T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261030T220000
DTSTAMP:20260903T153722Z
CREATED:20260803T191229Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T153722Z
UID:10000377-1793386800-1793397600@bluellamaclub.com
SUMMARY:Rodney Whitaker Group
DESCRIPTION:Fri | Oct 30	\n\n	Sets at 7pm & 9pm | $25 Cover \nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)\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. \nLineup:\nRodney Whitaker- Bass\nRockelle Whitaker- Voice\nSarah Whitaker- Drums\nDwight Adams- Trumpet\nAlvin Paige- Tenor Sax\nRufus Ferguson- Piano\n\n					\n	\nRESERVE TABLE(opens in new tab)
URL:https://bluellamaclub.com/event/rodney-whitaker-group-3/
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