Jazz at the Lesher Center 2015 Series

Jazz at the Lesher Center, presented by the Diablo Regional Arts Association, will return with a fourth season of phenomenal jazz performances by a stellar lineup of talented artists, appearing at four shows, 5pm and 8pm, every Saturday, August 1 – 29, 2015.

Kicking off the series on August 1 is the Big Band sound of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Next up is the legendary jazz pianist Dick Hyman, appearing August 8 with two of the world’s greatest reed players, Ken Peplowski and Harry Allen.

The astonishing Cyrus Chestnut, proclaimed the greatest jazz pianist of his generation by Time Magazine will continue the series August 22, and jazz guitar duo Martin Taylor and Bucky Pizzarelli will headline the closing concert on August 29. Four-concert subscriptions (5pm or 8pm), are now on sale for $125. New subscriptions will go on sale on May 5th. Any remaining tickets to single concerts will go on sale in July, for $40 each. For subscriptions and single tickets the public may visit www.LesherJazz.org or call 925.943.7469.

Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra – Sat., Aug. 1, 5pm & 8pm

Formed in 1985, the 19 piece Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra is an acclaimed big band, composed of an all-star lineup of Los Angeles-based musicians headed by Grammy-winning bass player John Clayton, multi-reed virtuoso Jeff Clayton, and master drummer Jeff Hamilton.

The CHJO has released six CDs to date, including the Grammy-nominated “Groove Shop” and can also be heard on records with Gladys Knight, Diana Krall, and John Pizzarelli. Grammy-winning bass player John Clayton’s credits include the Count Basie Orchestra, a stint as principal bassist with the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in the Netherlands, and performances with Paul McCartney, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Gladys Knight. Multi-reed master Jeff Clayton has played with such icons as Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, Patti Labelle, and Madonna, as well as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joe Cocker, B.B. King and Ray Charles. Drummer Jeff Hamilton has been on nearly 200 recordings with artists such as Natalie Cole, Barbara Streisand, and Diana Krall.

Dick Hyman with Ken Peplowski and Harry Allen- Sat., Aug. 8, 5pm & 8pm

Legendary pianist Dick Hyman has one of the most star-studded resumes in the musical world. His film scores include Academy Award-winner “Moonstruck” and the Woody Allen films “Zelig,” “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” “Broadway Danny Rose,” “Stardust Memories,” “Hanna and Her Sisters,” “Radio Days,” “Bullets Over Broadway,” “Mighty Aphrodite,” and “Everyone Says ‘I Love You.’” He has recorded over 100 albums under his own name, including his encyclopedic six-disc “Century of Jazz Piano,” released on Arbors Records. Mr. Hyman has served as music director for projects ranging from Arthur Godfrey to the acclaimed Jazz in July series at New York’s 92nd Street Y.
Called “arguably the greatest living jazz clarinetist” by BBC, Ken Peplowski has played with Sonny Stitt, Benny Goodman, Mel Torme, Peggy Lee, and Madonna. He has headlined the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, the Blue Note, and Dizzy’s Club, among other venues. Peplowski has recorded more than 50 CDs as a soloist and over 400 with other artists. Tenor saxophonist Harry Allen has been featured on many of John Pizzarelli’s recordings including the soundtrack and an on-screen cameo in the feature film “The Out of Towners” starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. Gene Lees writes, “Stan Getz was once asked his idea of the perfect tenor saxophone soloist. His answer was, ‘My technique, Al Cohn’s ideas, and Zoot’s time.’ The fulfillment of that ideal may well be embodied in thirty-year-old Harry Allen.”

Leon Joyce, Jr. on drums and John Wiitala on bass will join Hyman, Peplowski, and Allen to complete the quintet. Joyce has been studying music since childhood, and his music career was shaped by his years serving as a field band musician while serving in the Marine Corps. As a drummer he has worked with artists including Ramsey Louis, and Smokey Robinson, among others, and has appeared at international jazz festivals around the world. Wiitala has worked with some of the greatest names in jazz, including Joe Henderson, Junior Cook, Charlie Rouse, James Moody, Bud Shank, and Cecil Payne. He has toured with Richie Cole, Arturo Sandoval, Shorty Rogers, and Jessica Williams.

Cyrus Chestnut with Joel Frahm and Warren Wolf - Sat., Aug. 22, 5pm & 8pm

Pianist Cyrus Chestnut’s hard swinging, soulful sounds have long delighted both serious jazz fans and general music lovers. Blending contemporary jazz, traditional jazz, and gospel, plus the occasional seasonings of Latin and samba, Chestnut has a wide vocabulary of lush chords, playful grace notes, worshipful tremolos, and effortless runs. The New York Daily News heralded Chestnut as the rightful heir to Bud Powell, Art Tatum, and Erroll Garner, and The New York Times has described Chestnut as a “highly intelligent improviser with one of the surest senses of swing in jazz.” He has played with such jazz stars as Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Branford Marsalis, Chick Corea, Dizzy Gillespie, Jon Hendricks, and Betty Carter as well as such diverse luminaries as Vanessa Williams, Kathleen Battle, Bette Midler, and Isaac Hayes.
On the bill with Chestnut will be tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm, currently one of the brightest stars of New York City’s jazz scene. Frahm’s credits include performances with Jane Monheit, Brad Mehldau, Maynard Ferguson, Betty Carter, Matt Wilson, Dewey Redman, Lee Konitz, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Pat Martino. Also performing will be vibes virtuoso Warren Wolf, who has performed on many of the world’s greatest stages and is currently the artist of choice for Tina Fuller.

Martin Taylor and Bucky Pizzarelli- Sat., Aug. 29, 5pm & 8pm

Grammy nominated musician Dr. Martin Taylor, MBE, is a virtuoso guitarist, composer, educator, and musical innovator whom Acoustic Guitar Magazine calls “the acoustic guitarist of his generation.” Taylor has enjoyed a remarkable musical career spanning across five decades, with more than 100 recordings to his credit. Completely self-taught beginning at the early age of four, he has invented and developed a unique way of playing the guitar that is admired, and often emulated, by guitarists all over the world. In addition to his solo concerts and recordings, he has also collaborated with musicians from many different musical genres, including Jeff Beck, Tommy Emmanuel, Bill Wyman, Chet Atkins, Stephane Grappelli, David Grisman, George Harrison, Jamie Cullum, Bryn Terfel, Dianne Schuur, and Gary Burton. Over his stellar career, Taylor has amassed a record fourteen British Jazz Awards as a guitarist and several of his albums have been in the Top 10 in the USA and Europe.
Bucky Pizzarelli began his professional career in 1943 at the age of seventeen, playing in the Vaughn Monroe dance band. He toured and recorded with Monroe through 1951, and in 1952 joined NBC as a staff musician where he played in the Doc Severinson Band on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” He also toured and recorded with Benny Goodman into the 1980’s. Pizzarelli has played with many other legendary guitarists such as Les Paul, George Barnes and other jazz players like Stephane Grappelli and John Bunch, among others. Pizzarelli is also known as one of the first jazz guitarists to master the seven-string guitar. Recently he recorded with former Beatle Paul McCartney on his Grammy Award winning album, “Kisses on the Bottom.”

Jazz at the Lesher Center is produced by Diablo Regional Arts Association. According to DRAA Executive Director Peggy White, who presents the series in conjunction with DRAA Jazz Chair Tom Donahoe and Artistic Advisor Daniel Levenstein, the Diablo Regional Arts Association is committed to elevating the quality and professionalism of performing arts in Contra Costa County. Its support of drama, classical music, dance, and musical theater at the Lesher Center has enriched the theater-going experience in the region. “We felt that missing from the area’s performing arts scene was jazz as performed by instrumentalists and vocalists of the top rank. Now as a presenter, DRAA is producing a concert series featuring internationally acclaimed jazz artists and the public’s response has been wonderful.”

Launched in the summer of 2012, the jazz series proved immensely popular with an initial 8pm series selling out by subscription within a few weeks of its announcement. A second, very popular 5 pm series was added, and both series were repeated in 2013 and 2014, to enthusiastic audiences. All performances are given in the intimate (300 seat) Margaret Lesher Theatre, an ideal venue for this highly personal art form.

For subscriptions and single tickets the public may visit www.LesherJazz.org or call 925.943.7469.