The Queens Jazz OverGround will be holding its first annual Spring Jazz Fest at Flushing Town Hall this Saturday, April 27^th from 12PM until 10:30PM.  Thanks to the generosity of The Queens Council on the Arts, Flushing Town Hall, M&T Bank and a host of local businesses, we are proud to announce that this day of jazz is not expensive.  In fact, it’s FREE, the only thing better than cheap (as Amanda Monaco always hastens to add).

The afternoon will start with a collage workshop for kids, performances by student bands from Queens starting at 12:30PM, as well as clinics and workshops aimed at the visiting students, culminating with Dr. Tom Zlabinger’s York College Jazz Ensemble from 5PM to 6PM.

The professional bands begin at 6PM, featuring some of the finest jazz Queens has to offer on two stages.  Amanda Monaco’s Formula One will kick off the festivities upstairs in the theater at 6PM, followed by Josh Deutsch’s Pannonia at 7PM.  The Mark Wade Trio will start things off downstairs in the gallery at 6:30PM, followed by Darius Jones’ Big Gurl Trio at 7:30.  Our headliner, the legendary James Spaulding, will take the stage upstairs in the theater at 8PM.  The Mike Baggetta Quartet will round out the evening in the gallery at 9PM and the Brian Woodruff Sextet will close out the festivities in the theater starting at 9:30PM.

We’re already looking forward to the support of all of our “peeps” here in Queens, and we would like to thank them for their past support as well.  For those of you in New York City, we know it’s a long trip, but you can travel OverGround, in the sunlight, through the most diverse neighborhoods in the whole city to Roosevelt Ave, just one stop past Citi Field on the train that made John Rocker infamous.  For those of you living outside the city, we’d like to reassure you that you can drive through the most diverse neighborhoods in the world and park in Flushing without taking out a home equity loan on your house.  In fact, it’s only $3 an hour in the lot at 35-15 Farrington Street or $10.00 for 8 hours.  There is free street parking to be found, but we don’t recommend it for out-of-towners, as the rules can be confounding.  If driving isn’t your thing, one never has to in NYC.  You may take the MTA to Grand Central instead and use the previously alluded to 7 train (see above).  Once you get off the 7 train, take a right on Main Street and walk north to the end, where you’ll make a right on Northern Boulevard. Walk a block and a half, cross the street, and there it is!  Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Boulevard (corner of Linden), Flushing, NY.   For those of you planning to make a day of it (or if you just get hungry), food will be sold on site by Cascarino’s of College Point.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there on Saturday.  It’s the place to be in Queens!

Sincerely,

Amanda Monaco, Mark Wade, Josh Deutsch and Brian Woodruff

www.queensjazz.org

www.brianwoodruffmusic/QueensJazzOverGround

The Queens Jazz OverGround (QJOG) is a collective of Queens-based musicians. QJOG stimulates a wider awareness of Queens as an important destination for live jazz, cultivates a diverse local audience, and enriches the cultural life of the borough. QJOG connects students and fans young and old with established Queens-based jazz musicians through performances, workshops, and festivals.

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Schedule of Events: Queens Jazz OverGround Spring Jazz Festival 2013 at Flushing Town Hall, April 27, 12 noon – 10:30 pm

Daytime Schedule: Workshops, Clinics, and Master Classes

Main Floor: 

Main Floor Gallery: Workshops and Master Classes – All Are Welcome!

Upstairs in the Concert Hall: Music Clinics with School Bands – Audiences Welcome!

Clinicians: Josh Deutsch, Amanda Monaco, Mark Wade, Brian Woodruff, Tom Zlabinger

Evening Concert Schedule 

Main Floor Gallery:

Upstairs in the Concert Hall: 

This event is made possible in part by the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Funding was also provided by M&T Bank.

Thanks to everyone who came out last week and special thanks to Alex Smith and Randy Johnston for holding down the fort until I arrived.

There were be no session this Sunday, March 17^th, as we are courteously ceding the floor to all the drunken revelers who are likely to enliven the premises in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.  We’ll see you on Sunday, March 24^th when we’ll be featuring the music of guitarist David Allen.  We hope that all of you have a safe and happy one.  “May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back.”

Best wishes,

Brian

As always, I’d like to start by thanking everyone who came out last week.  It was a great night to be there.  There were so many “heavies” in attendance that I planned on sharing the list with you, but I actually couldn’t find the sign up sheet at the end of the night, and I would hate to leave anyone out, so…I will say however, that I did learn some important new guidelines for running a session, and that is that if Matt Wilson is playing drums, people will take really long solos and one has to take such things into consideration.

Please join us next Sunday, March 10^th at 10PM.  I won’t be running the session, but as has often happened, the excellent pianist Alex Smith will take the reigns in my place.  He has put together an excellent house band for the occasion, including guitarist Randy Johnston, bassist Daniel Foose, and drummer Shawn Baltazor.  Alex will then be running off to play with Lady Gaga at midnight, but I’ll be making fish-lips on the window right around the time he “goes gaga,” so it should make for a seamless transition.  Hope to see you Sunday night.

Best wishes,

Brian

Blackbird’s has great food, a nice selection of beers on tap, and a warm, friendly vibe.  The session will run every Sunday evening from 10PM until 1AM at:

Blackbird’s

41-19 30th Avenue

Astoria,NY11103

Thank you for your continuing support.  Musicians are welcome to sit in and the session will feature many of Astoria’s and NYC’s finest musicians.  Please come by and listen or play!

*Important note: If the house band lists a guitar player, there will be some kind of keyboard available. If the house band lists a pianist, there will usually be some kind of amplifier available to guitarists.

Directions:

By Subway: Take the M or R Lines to Steinway Street in Queens. If you were traveling towards Manhattan, go up the stairs at the back of the train; if you were traveling away from Manhattan, go up the stairs at the front of the train. Continue walking in the same direction and exit at the far stairway onto Steinway Street; continue walking straight for 2-1/2 long blocks, crossing first Broadway, then 31st Avenue. When you reach 30th Avenue, turn right, then walk 2 short blocks on 30th Avenue to 42nd Street. Blackbird’s will be on the Northwest corner to your left.

By Bus: Take the Q18 directly to Blackbird’s along 30th Avenue (get off at 42nd Street), or take the Q101, which runs along Steinway Street, to 30th Avenue, then walk 2 short blocks East to 42nd Street.

By Car: Take Northern Boulevard to Steinway Street; if you were traveling West towards the 59th Street Bridge, turn right to go North on Steinway Street; if you were traveling East away from Manhattan, turn left onto Steinway Street.  Continue North on Steinway Street, across Broadway and 31st Avenue, to 30th Avenue. Turn right onto 30th Avenue, continue on 30th Avenue for 2 short blocks to 42nd Street. Blackbird’s will be on the Northwest corner to your left.

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Thanks to everyone who came out last week.  We played some really good music and had LOTS of fun, but I’ve been able to say nearly every given week for quite some time now.

If you haven’t been to Blackbird’s before, I feel obliged to inform you that it’s the perfect place to sequester yourself from the cold, the politics, and the general pageantry of the mundane for a relaxing evening of food, drink, and music.

Please join us again this Sunday, March 3^rd at 10PM.  The house band will feature Alex Clough on piano and Nadav Lachish on bass.  We’ll perform a dazzling set of music for anyone who wants to listen before opening up the session to anyone who wants to play (and is qualified to do so, of course).  As usual, I’ll be hosting the session from the drums.  We look forward to seeing you.

Best wishes,

Brian

Blackbird’s has great food, a nice selection of beers on tap, and a warm, friendly vibe.  The session will run every Sunday evening from 10PM until 1AM at:

Blackbird’s

41-19 30th Avenue

Astoria,NY11103

Thank you for your continuing support.  Musicians are welcome to sit in and the session will feature many of Astoria’s and NYC’s finest musicians.  Please come by and listen or play!

*Important note: If the house band lists a guitar player, there will be some kind of keyboard available. If the house band lists a pianist, there will usually be some kind of amplifier available to guitarists.

Directions:

By Subway: Take the M or R Lines to Steinway Street in Queens. If you were traveling towards Manhattan, go up the stairs at the back of the train; if you were traveling away from Manhattan, go up the stairs at the front of the train. Continue walking in the same direction and exit at the far stairway onto Steinway Street; continue walking straight for 2-1/2 long blocks, crossing first Broadway, then 31st Avenue. When you reach 30th Avenue, turn right, then walk 2 short blocks on 30th Avenue to 42nd Street. Blackbird’s will be on the Northwest corner to your left.

By Bus: Take the Q18 directly to Blackbird’s along 30th Avenue (get off at 42nd Street), or take the Q101, which runs along Steinway Street, to 30th Avenue, then walk 2 short blocks East to 42nd Street.

By Car: Take Northern Boulevard to Steinway Street; if you were traveling West towards the 59th Street Bridge, turn right to go North on Steinway Street; if you were traveling East away from Manhattan, turn left onto Steinway Street.  Continue North on Steinway Street, across Broadway and 31st Avenue, to 30th Avenue. Turn right onto 30th Avenue, continue on 30th Avenue for 2 short blocks to 42nd Street. Blackbird’s will be on the Northwest corner to your left.

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Thanks to everyone who came out last week.  It was a busy night and a great way to welcome Heather, our new Sunday night bartender.  She’s quick and she’s always smiling: In short, she’s a keeper.  The house set was smoking, as is always the case when Oscar and Kuriko pay us a visit, and it was topped off with the addition of my good friend Ben Smith.  Ben lent us his powerful baritone for an expressive and empowering rendition of “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” made famous by the great Fats Waller.

Please join us again this Sunday, February 24^th at 10PM.  The house band will feature Astoria expatriate Sebastian Noelle on guitar, accompanied by Greek expatriate and long-time Astoria resident Apostolos Sideris on bass.  We’ll perform a carefully negotiated mix of our originals for your dining and drinking pleasure before we open up the session to the rest of the musicians.  I’ll be hosting the session with my usual diplomacy from the drums.

Best wishes,

Brian

Blackbird’s has great food, a nice selection of beers on tap, and a warm, friendly vibe.  The session will run every Sunday evening from 10PM until 1AM at:

Blackbird’s

41-19 30th Avenue

Astoria,NY11103

Thank you for your continuing support.  Musicians are welcome to sit in and the session will feature many of Astoria’s and NYC’s finest musicians.  Please come by and listen or play!

*Important note: If the house band lists a guitar player, there will be some kind of keyboard available. If the house band lists a pianist, there will usually be some kind of amplifier available to guitarists.

Directions:

By Subway: Take the M or R Lines to Steinway Street in Queens. If you were traveling towards Manhattan, go up the stairs at the back of the train; if you were traveling away from Manhattan, go up the stairs at the front of the train. Continue walking in the same direction and exit at the far stairway onto Steinway Street; continue walking straight for 2-1/2 long blocks, crossing first Broadway, then 31st Avenue. When you reach 30th Avenue, turn right, then walk 2 short blocks on 30th Avenue to 42nd Street. Blackbird’s will be on the Northwest corner to your left.

By Bus: Take the Q18 directly to Blackbird’s along 30th Avenue (get off at 42nd Street), or take the Q101, which runs along Steinway Street, to 30th Avenue, then walk 2 short blocks East to 42nd Street.

By Car: Take Northern Boulevard to Steinway Street; if you were traveling West towards the 59th Street Bridge, turn right to go North on Steinway Street; if you were traveling East away from Manhattan, turn left onto Steinway Street.  Continue North on Steinway Street, across Broadway and 31st Avenue, to 30th Avenue. Turn right onto 30th Avenue, continue on 30th Avenue for 2 short blocks to 42nd Street. Blackbird’s will be on the Northwest corner to your left.

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http://www.brianwoodruffmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/woodruffbrian

Thanks so much to everyone who came out last week for the Blackbird’s Session and the QJOG Mid-Winter Jazz Party.  Both nights were fun and successful and we owe that success to many, but we owe quite a lot of it to you.  We would also like to thank all the businesses who donated prizes to our fundraising efforts, including Astoria Shell, Alba’s Pizza, MatrixFitnessCenter, Bella Via, Inside Astoria, Queens Kickshaw, and the Greenwich Village Historic Society.  We would like to extend a very heartfelt and special thank you to the owner’s of Blackbirds.  They like to keep a lower profile than I’ve allowed them in the past, but our “fairy godmother” and our “DMIC” (decision-maker –in-chief) have helped us immeasurably.  They donated a prize worth over $100 and they help us secure over $500 in other prizes, gave us a drink special to fatten up the pot, gave us a place to host the party, and set the room up for us as well.  We owe much of our success to them.  Please patronize these local businesses.  By doing so, you can show them that supporting jazz is a worthwhile endeavor.  Information on all of these businesses can be found on the QJOG page on my website, www.brianwoodruffmusic.com/QueensJazzOverGround.

You can start by joining us again at Blackbird’s this Sunday, February 17^th at 10PM.  It’s our first chance to welcome Heather into the fold.  She’ll be our new Sunday night bartender and we’re very excited to have her with us.  We’ll also be welcoming back pianist Oscar Perez and bassist Kuriko Tsugawa.  As I’ve said before, they swing so hard you’ve got to add another “ing.”  This swinging trio only comes through twice a year and it’s always a pleasure to play with them.  We’ve also cooked up an interesting surprise for the house set, so I’m really looking forward to Sunday night.  As usual, I’ll be hosting the session from the drums.

Best wishes,

Brian

Blackbird’s has great food, a nice selection of beers on tap, and a warm, friendly vibe.  The session will run every Sunday evening from 10PM until 1AM at:

Blackbird’s

41-19 30th Avenue

Astoria,NY11103

Thank you for your continuing support.  Musicians are welcome to sit in and the session will feature many of Astoria’s and NYC’s finest musicians.  Please come by and listen or play!

*Important note: If the house band lists a guitar player, there will be some kind of keyboard available. If the house band lists a pianist, there will usually be some kind of amplifier available to guitarists.

Directions:

By Subway: Take the M or R Lines to Steinway Street in Queens. If you were traveling towards Manhattan, go up the stairs at the back of the train; if you were traveling away from Manhattan, go up the stairs at the front of the train. Continue walking in the same direction and exit at the far stairway onto Steinway Street; continue walking straight for 2-1/2 long blocks, crossing first Broadway, then 31st Avenue. When you reach 30th Avenue, turn right, then walk 2 short blocks on 30th Avenue to 42nd Street. Blackbird’s will be on the Northwest corner to your left.

By Bus: Take the Q18 directly to Blackbird’s along 30th Avenue (get off at 42nd Street), or take the Q101, which runs along Steinway Street, to 30th Avenue, then walk 2 short blocks East to 42nd Street.

By Car: Take Northern Boulevard to Steinway Street; if you were traveling West towards the 59th Street Bridge, turn right to go North on Steinway Street; if you were traveling East away from Manhattan, turn left onto Steinway Street.  Continue North on Steinway Street, across Broadway and 31st Avenue, to 30th Avenue. Turn right onto 30th Avenue, continue on 30th Avenue for 2 short blocks to 42nd Street. Blackbird’s will be on the Northwest corner to your left.

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http://www.brianwoodruffmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/woodruffbrian

For those of you who think our hours are too late or can’t make it to Blackbird’s on Sundays, we’re giving you another opportunity on Monday, February 11^th at 7PM.  The Queens Jazz OverGround will be throwing a Mid-Winter Jazz Party.  $10 at the door gets you happy-hour priced drinks ($1 off) until midnight, 3 tickets to our selective raffle, and admission to hear some great music.  First twenty people at the door receive a free two-week pass to Matrix Fitness Club.

Musical events include the Amanda Monaco/Mark Wade Duo (guitar/bass) at 7:30PM and The Josh Deutsch Quintet will follow at 9PM, with Jon Irabagon on tenor sax, Mike Baggetta on guitar, Peter Brendler on bass, and Alex Wyatt on drums.  We’ll round out the evening with a jam session from 10:30PM until midnight.

Raffle prizes include a liquor basket that will be on display at the event, two tickets for the Greenwich Village House Tour Benefit on May 5^th, 2013 (a $350 value), a 1-month free pass to Matrix Fitness Club, including two sessions with a personal trainer (a $194 value), a $100 gas card from Astoria Shell, $50 gift certificates to Alba’s Pizza and Bella Via, and a $25 gift certificate to the Queens-centric gift shop Inside Astoria.  More exciting raffle prizes will be added, and you may apply your tickets towards whatever interests you most.  Additional tickets can be purchased for $2, 3 tickets for $5, or 8 tickets for $10.  Please visit www.brianwoodruffmusic.com/QueensJazzOverGround.html for more specifics on the prizes and the businesses donating them.

All proceeds will go to the Queens Jazz OverGround’s Spring Jazz Fest, a free event being held at FlushingTown Hall on Saturday April 27^th.

I’ll be hosting the event from the floor.  Come on out to Blackbird’s next Sunday AND Monday to celebrate Queens jazz along with us!   Hope to see you lots!

Best wishes,

Brian

Blackbird’s has great food, a nice selection of beers on tap, and a warm, friendly vibe.  The session will run every Sunday evening from 10PM until 1AM at:

Blackbird’s

41-19 30th Avenue

Astoria,NY11103

Thank you for your continuing support.  Musicians are welcome to sit in and the session will feature many of Astoria’s and NYC’s finest musicians.  Please come by and listen or play!

*Important note: If the house band lists a guitar player, there will be some kind of keyboard available. If the house band lists a pianist, there will usually be some kind of amplifier available to guitarists.

Directions:

By Subway: Take the M or R Lines to Steinway Street in Queens. If you were traveling towards Manhattan, go up the stairs at the back of the train; if you were traveling away from Manhattan, go up the stairs at the front of the train. Continue walking in the same direction and exit at the far stairway onto Steinway Street; continue walking straight for 2-1/2 long blocks, crossing first Broadway, then 31st Avenue. When you reach 30th Avenue, turn right, then walk 2 short blocks on 30th Avenue to 42nd Street. Blackbird’s will be on the Northwest corner to your left.

By Bus: Take the Q18 directly to Blackbird’s along 30th Avenue (get off at 42nd Street), or take the Q101, which runs along Steinway Street, to 30th Avenue, then walk 2 short blocks East to 42nd Street.

By Car: Take Northern Boulevard to Steinway Street; if you were traveling West towards the 59th Street Bridge, turn right to go North on Steinway Street; if you were traveling East away from Manhattan, turn left onto Steinway Street.  Continue North on Steinway Street, across Broadway and 31st Avenue, to 30th Avenue. Turn right onto 30th Avenue, continue on 30th Avenue for 2 short blocks to 42nd Street. Blackbird’s will be on the Northwest corner to your left.

Sent from my old desktop with a dial-up connection.
http://www.brianwoodruffmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/woodruffbrian