Weekly Jazz Guide: 5/14 – 5/20

The VIP Listening Lounge was a success! Thanks to all of you for your support. We hope you enjoyed this wonderful experience. There is more where that came from. We are gearing up for The Mint Julep Jazz Band on 5/18 at LabourLove Gallery. Come join us for a swinging good time! Also,  follow us on Twitter/Like us on Facebook and tweet/post “Gimme those Shana Tix” to enter to win 2 tickets to Shana Tucker 5/30 7:30pm at Marsh Woodwinds. Contest ends May 20th at 5pm EST.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED: We need a few cool peeps to help hold it down at our info table at Artsplosure on this Saturday and Sunday (May 19th & 20th). Click here to sign up for a shift. Now for the Guide:

Tues. 5/15
Chris Boerner Duo @7PM
Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 414 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh
Free to the public

Wed. 5/16
Al Strong Quartet @ 5PM
Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary
Part of the Hob Nob Concert Series
Tix $5.
Click here for tickets.

Thurs. 5/17
Jazz Jam Session @ 10PM
Hosted by saxophonist Brian Horton
Whiskey, 347 W. Main St., Durham
No minors
This is a weekly event
Free to the public

Fri. 5/18
The Mint Julep Jazz Band @ 9PM
LabourLove Gallery, 807 E. Main St., Durham
After Hours Concert after the Durham Art Walk
Doors 9pm Show 9:30pm
Tix $10 in advance $15 at the door

Sat. 5/19
Yolanda Rabun @ 1PM
Moore Square & City Plaza, Raleigh
WakeMed NC Stage – Part of Artsplosure 2012
Click here for more info.

Ronda Thomas @7PM
LabourLove Gallery, 807 E. Main St., Durham
Free to the public

Sun. 5/20
Big Sam’s Funky Nation @5:30PM
Moore Square & City Plaza, Raleigh
Main Stage – Part of Artsplosure 2012
Click here for more info.

Click here for our full calendar.

To submit events to the calendar, please fill out a calendar submission for here: http://theartofcoolproject.com/calendar-submissions!

Calendar submissions are reviewed within 48 hours of form submission.
CALENDAR SUBMISSION POLICY:  A calendar submission does not guarantee a Weekly Jazz Guide listing but it does guarantee consideration for our full calendar. All listings in the Guide are listed at the discretion of our editors. The Weekly Jazz Guide is distributed at 8AM EST each Monday.

Volunteers and donations are welcome.

Yours in Total Jazz Domination,
Your Cool Friends @TheAOCProject

P.S. The Art of Cool Project has been described as “a ripe Triangle jazz advocacy organization…curating snazzy nightlife options for area listeners.” – Eric Tullis (IndyWeek.com). Click here to learn more about us.

Weekly Jazz Guide: 5/7-5/13

The word on the street is that people are still talking about our After Hours Concert with Charlotte’s own The Groove Supreme! Thanks to all who came out and enjoyed a truly talented group of young musicians. This week promises to deliver more great live music! Here’s what’s going on: 

Tues. 5/8
Chris Boerner Duo @7PM
Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 414 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh
Free to the public

Wed. 5/9
Esperanza Spalding @ 8PM
Carolina Theatre, 309 W. Morgan St., Durham
Art of Cool VIP Listening Lounge immediately following
Connie Moses Ballroom
Tix $75. If you have already purchased your show ticket click here for VIP Lounge ticket only.
Click here for more info.

.

Thurs. 5/10
Jazz Jam Session @ 10PM
Hosted by saxophonist Brian Horton
Whiskey, 347 W. Main St., Durham
No minors
This is a weekly event
Free to the public

Fri. 5/11
The Stanley Baird Group @ 7PM
Brightleaf Square, corner of W. Main and Gregson St., Durham
Outdoor concert, bring your chairs.
Free to the public

Noah Powell @ 9PM
Beyu Caffe, 335 W. Main St., Durham
Tix $6 Click here to purchase tix.

Sat. 5/12
Marie Vanderbeck Jazz Trio @ 7:30PM
Robert’s Lounge at The Franklin Hotel, 311 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill
Free to the public

Al Strong Trio @9PM
C. Grace, 407 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh
Free to the public

Sun. 5/13
Mahalo Jazz @7PM
The Station at Southern Rail, 201-C E. Main St., Carrboro
Free to the public
Click here for more info.

Click here for our full calendar.

To submit events to the calendar, please fill out a calendar submission for here: http://theartofcoolproject.com/calendar-submissions!
Calendar submissions are reviewed within 48 hours of form submission.

CALENDAR SUBMISSION POLICY:  A calendar submission does not guarantee a Weekly Jazz Guide listing but it does guarantee consideration for our full calendar. All listings in the Guide are listed at the discretion of our editors. The Weekly Jazz Guide is distributed at 8AM EST each Monday.

Volunteers and donations are welcome.

Yours in Total Jazz Domination,
Your Cool Friends @TheAOCProject

P.S. The Art of Cool Project has been described as “a ripe Triangle jazz advocacy organization…curating snazzy nightlife options for area listeners.” – Eric Tullis (IndyWeek.com). Click here to learn more about us.

Groove Supreme :: First Friday :: Flanders Gallery :: May 2012

Joining The Art of Cool Project’s After Hours Concert for May at Flanders Gallery was Groove Supreme.

The Groove Supreme is a Charlotte-based jazz quintet heavily influenced by hip/hop. The lineup for the Groove Supreme is:

Harvey Cummings II – Alto Saxophone/Piano
Jonny Fung – Guitar/Piano
Tim Singh – Bass
Tim Scott – Drums
Eleazar Shafer – Trumpet

Follow Groove Supreme on twitter to keep up to date with the fellows and find out about their upcoming gigs.

Volunteers Nicole Beatty, of the Durham Chamber of Commerce, and Sharon Mullen working the front door!  Our volunteers are just too cool.

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Another Volunteer our emcee extraordinaire’  Dasan Ahanu was back with us to get the crowd ready and bring on Groove Supreme.   Excellent job as usual Mr. Ahanu.

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The guys hit the stage running and didn’t let up the entire evening.

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Here are a few images of Harvey Cummings II, front man playing tenor sax!

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Eleazar Shafer blowing the trumpet.

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Here are a few images showcasing Tim Singh playing the 5-five string bass.

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Next are a few shots of Tim Scott playing the drums with precision and passion, which is a pretty tough balance to maintain!

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Johnny Fung featured here playing the keyboards.

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An amazing rendition of Takin’ the A train…

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Visual Artist FRANCO and volunteer Joye Speight from Virtue Planning and Events enjoy the show!

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Great band in a great venue up close and personal, what more can you ask for in an evening of live music…

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Thank you to Groove Supreme. Special thanks go out to Flanders Gallery and Marjorie Hodges for hosting the event and, of course, my fellow volunteers at the Art of Cool Project that make it all possible. Get tickets early to the third Friday show in Durham featuring the “Mint Julep Jazz Band”.


Frank Myers :: Sweet Life Studios
volunteers his services to the Art of Cool project. If you would like to help sign up using our new volunteer page.

Yolanda Rabun:: Art Walk :: Labourlove Gallery :: April 2012

Joining The Art of Cool Project’s After Hours Concert for April at Labour Love Gallery was Yolanda Rabun.

Here is how Soul Tracks describes Yolanda…

Yolanda Rabun is a throwback artist of sorts. She strives to have her music heard by the masses on a global level, but unlike a number of artists today, she’s willing to put in the hard work required to make it happen. And as you may have guessed, the Atlanta native is no newbie to the music industry. Yolanda Rabun has been singing and touring both the country and world since she was a grade school student, and she’s armed with poise, grace, showmanship and pure, natural born talent — all the required tools to make a name for herself and leave a lasting impression on her audience.

Click here to read the entire review…

She has been singing with the Stanley Baird Group since 2007. Stanley Baird is a renowned jazz musician, who has played along side the likes of Otis Redding, Gladys Knight, Kirk Whalum, Patti LaBelle, Najee, Richard Elliott and Donald Byrd to name a few. The Stanley Baird Group toured Asia Pacific in 2007/08. The line up for the group is:

Stanley Baird, Sax
James Perry, Guitar
Cedric Hardin, Drums
Christopher Thompson, Bass
and Chris Evans, Keyboards

Vocals: Yolanda Rabun
BG Vocals: Felicia Wright, Bobby Caddell

The normal pre-show shuffle was minimized this evening, since we were not going on after Third Friday festivities at the gallery, so we did an early sound check and people had lots of time to socialize.

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Lauren, one of our new volunteers helps out with the front of the house getting folks checked in.  We still have lots of opportunity for volunteers if you are interested in helping out go here and we will be happy to put your talents to work for us.

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Michelle, another of our awesome volunteers, looking smooth and greeting our guests

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Lauren, Jocelyn who is our volunteer coordinator and co-founder Cicely take a break for what we in the photography industry call a “grip and grin”

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Tai Allen was the MC for the evening and started us out with a little bit of song and spoken words to get everyone ready for the show!

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Bobby Cadell and Felicia Wright bring Yolanda out and provided strong backing vocals all night long.

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Yolanda comes out strong and striking.

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The band is smoking and the vocals and players are tight!  The set list is a mix of songs from the So Real release and some re imagined  standards that really get you moving, even if your dancing (like mine) leaves much to be desired!

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Stanley Baird and James Perry keeping it in check with….

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… Chris Thompson and Chris Evans

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And Cedric Hardin keeps it going.

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Love this image of Yolanda singing in a quiet moment.

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Al Strong sat in for an arrangement of “Good Morning Heartache” and a smoking rendition of “I Will Be Loved Tonight”, which nearly brought down the house!

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My favorite shot of Yolanda from the night.

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Thank you to Yolanda, Stanley, James, Chris T, Cedric, Chris E, Felicia, Bobby and Al for a great evening of music during Durham’s Spring Art Walk.   Special thanks go out to John and Kelly, as always, at Labourlove Gallery for hosting the event and, of course, my fellow volunteers at the Art of Cool Project (especially Cathy Foreman, who will be taking over some of the photography duties going forward) that make it all possible. Get tickets early to the first Friday show in Raleigh featuring “Groove Supreme”.


Frank Myers :: Sweet Life Studios
volunteers his services to the Art of Cool project. If you would like to help sign up using our new volunteer page.

Weekly Jazz Guide: April 30-May 6, 2012

Yolanda Rabun
Photo Credit: Cathy Foreman of Reflections by Cathy Foreman

We are just off a BAM weekend for jazz vocalists! Thanks to all who came out to LabourLove Gallery on Friday to witness the soulful, sultry and powerful stylings of Yolanda Rabun for our After Hours Concert. She thrilled the audience to the rhythms of the funky Stanley Baird Group. Then Saturday YahZarah was incredible with her tribute to The Beatles. Her rendition of “Hey Jude” was truly amazing! Here’s this week’s guide:

Tues. 5/1
Chris Boerner Duo @ 7PM
Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 414 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh
Free to the public

Wed. 5/2
The Stanley Baird Group featuring vocalist Yolanda Rabun (opener: Will Darity Trio) @ 5PM
Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary
Tix $5. Click here for more info.

Thurs. 5/3
Live Jazz @ 8:30PM
C Grace, 407 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh
Free to the public

Fri. 5/4
Kirk Whalum @ 8PM
Carolina Theatre, 309 West Morgan Street, Durham
Tix range from $20-$44. Click here to purchase tix.

The Groove Supreme @9PM
Flanders Gallery, 302 South West Street, Raleigh
Advance tix $10 | $15 at the door
Click here to purchase tix.

Sat. 5/5
Robert Trowers Quartet @9PM
Beyu Caffe, 335 West Main Street, Durham
Tix $6. Click here to purchase tix.

Sun. 5/6
Charlie Hunter @7PM
Marsh Woodwinds, 707 North Person Street, Raleigh
Tix $15. Seating is limited.
Call 919-839-0536 for more info.

Mallarme Chamber Players in collaboration with New Music Raleigh @7PM
Motorco Music Hall, 723 Riggsbee Ave, Durham
Click here for more info.

These are a partial list of Art of Cool Approved events.Click here to view the full calendar. 

To submit events to the calendar, please fill out a calendar submission form here: http://theartofcoolproject.com/calendar-submissions!

Yours in Total Jazz Domination,
Your Cool Friends @TheAOCProject

P.S. The Art of Cool Project has been described as “a ripe Triangle jazz advocacy organization…curating snazzy nightlife options for area listeners.” – Eric Tullis (IndyWeek.com). Click here to learn more about us.

Sneak Peeks from Yolanda Rabun :: After Hours :: Labourlove

Just a few of my black and white favorites from last night’s show. A full review will be on the site later in the week…

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Photos copyright Sweet Life Studios 2012