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Friday, April 24 - Sunday, May 3
Jazz Week '15: Jazz in the Neighborhoods
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JazzBoston Holiday Picks
Members Connection: Free Tickets and Discounts
Local Spotlight by Claire Dickson - Maggy's Lounge
Free Events in and Around the City

JazzBoston Holiday Picks

Steve Marvin and Jim Porcella, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra.

Steve Marvin and Jim Porcella, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra.

Thanksgiving jazz, Christmas jazz...Boston has plenty of jazz to get you into the holiday spirit.

Happy Thanksgiving with the Beehive Twist
The Beehive in Boston is known for jazz brunches, dinner jazz, and now Thanksgiving jazz. Enjoy your pumpkin pie with performances by vocalist and composer Gabriela Martina, vocalist and Berklee senior Raquel Quinones, and jazz/rock/blues guitarist Bobby Keyes. Cost: $46 prix fixe menu, $18 turkey dinner, and $12 for children under 10 years old. November 27, 11 am - 12 am, The Beehive, 541 Tremont Street, South End.

Holiday Pops
The Boston Pops start their holiday show in early December. Enjoy an evening at Symphony Hall with one of the best orchestras in the world playing seasonal favorites. The Pops will be directed by Keith Lockhart and will include audience sing-a-longs and a visit from Santa Claus. Admission: $30+. December 3-24, Symphony Hall, Boston.

Holiday Jazz at the Firehouse
Steve Marvin and Jim Porcella, the 2 Swingin' Tenors, with Jim Rice on piano promise the best of holiday songs from the Great American Songbook, together with their own delivery of warmth, humor, and an evening filled with memories. Also featuring Ed Gardella, radio host of WICN's Jazz Matinee as the Guest MC. Admission: $15. December 7, 3 pm, ZUMIX Firehouse, East Boston.

Cape Ann Big Band Holiday Show
Cape Ann's own 17-piece big band will perform holiday favorites, old and new, infused with a bit of jazz, swing, and rock n' roll. Known for operating like a family, Cape Ann Big Band prides itself with having a repertoire without horizon and promises to perform the show-stopping, danceable music it's known for. Admission: $19-$35. December 7, 7 pm, Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport.

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra 42nd Annual Christmas Concert
Aardvark's annual Christmas concert, a signature event of the Boston holiday season, will include updated carols, orchestra director Mark Harvey's music in the spirit of the season, and excerpts from the magnificent Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker suite. Admission: $20. December 20, 7:30 pm, Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street, Boston.

Members Connection: Free Tickets and Discounts

Rene Marie, Women of the World.

Rene Marie, Women of the World.

If you're a JazzBoston member, write to newsletter@jazzboston.org now to enter a drawing for free tickets to any of the events listed below, and please note which shows and dates you're interested in. You must be a JazzBoston member to be eligible to win.

The Regattabar is offering a pair of tickets to each of the following shows:

Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, November 14, 7:30 pm
Johnny A., November 15, 7:30 pm
Magos Herrera & Javier Limon, November 19, 7:30 pm
Of Eden with Graham Russell of Air Supply & Katie McGhie, November 20, 7:30 pm
Women of the World, November 21, 7:30 pm
Juanito Pascual New Flamenco Trio, November 22, 7:30 pm.

Scullers is offering a pair of tickets to these shows:

Rene Marie, November 19, 8 pm
Bill Charlap, November 21, 10 pm
James Cotton, December 5, 10 pm.

There's still time to use the Arts and Business Council discount:
JazzBoston members get 20% off the 2014 Musician's Professional Toolbox, including workshops for musicians on social media, fundraising ideas, artist representation, and more. You can sign up for one workshop, or the full program - either way, it's a great opportunity for you to build your business savvy and professionalism as a musician. The next session happens November 10th, and it's "Contracts & Negotiations 101." The series ends December 15.

To get information about a particular program or register online, email D'lynne Plummer, Director of Professional Development, and give her your membership number.

Local Spotlight by Claire Dickson - Maggy's Lounge

Last month, we wrote about a new jazz venue on the South Shore. Maggy's Lounge in Quincy had its first Monday night jazz jam on November 3rd. It was a lively, successful evening that bodes well for the event's future.

Maggy's Lounge is a restaurant with two rooms. It's a music-friendly venue, with a stage and dance floor in one area, nicely separated from the more noisy bar and TV area. Maggy's presents live rock, hip-hop, and other musical genres almost every night, and now they've added jazz to the mix.

Quincy native George Pepdjonovic, who books the club, says he'd been thinking about having jazz there for a while. When Monday nights opened up, Pepdjonovic enlisted an old high school friend, drummer Robert Buttomer, to field a band. Enter Andrew J. Hickman's Jazz-Works featuring Buttomer, Michael Angelo, and Jack Arpano, who thought a jam would be a perfect fit.

An energetic crowd gathered at Maggy's last Monday night. The music got started around 8:30 and opened up to volunteers shortly after. With Hickman's laid-back and supportive lead, vocalists, horn players, and pianists got up to jam.(Maggy's doesn't have a piano at the moment, but there's a keyboard.)

Pepdjonovic says he's dedicated to keeping music as a main component of Maggy's - good news since the South Shore has a dearth of jazz venues. Stop by Maggy's and bring your instrument, or just go to listen! The pizza is excellent, the atmosphere is friendly, and the music is great. Look out for a feature artist segment in the future, and spread the word about Maggy's.

Visit Maggy's website, and a special Facebook group for the jazz nights.

Free Events in and Around the City

Dominique Eade, Danilo Perez, and Jihye Lee.

Dominique Eade, Danilo Perez, and Jihye Lee.

In the Mix

New England Conservatory's In the Mix series is back. Starting Monday, November 10, there will be 34 one-hour concerts over 13 evenings at NEC's Pierce Hall showcasing the Jazz Studies and Contemporary Improvisation ensembles.

November 10, 8 pm: John Lockwood Ensemble
November 11, 7 pm: Jerry Bergonzi Ensembles
November 12, 7 pm: Dominique Eade Ensembles
November 18, 7 pm: Rakalam Bob Moses Ensemble, Cecil McBee Ensemble, Ted Reichman Ensemble
November 19, 7 pm: Bob Nieske Ensembles
November 20, 7 pm: Bert Seager Ensemble, Henrique Eisenmann Ensemble, Brian Levy Ensemble
November 24, 8 pm (Brown Hall): Jazz Composers Ensemble and Prescod Gospel Ensemble
December 1, 7 pm: John McNeil Ensemble, Joe Morris Ensembles
December 3, 7 pm: Anthony Coleman Early Jazz Ensemble, Jason Moran Ensembles
December 8, 7 pm: Frank Carlberg Ensembles, John McNeil Ensemble
December 9, 7 pm: Tanya Kalmanovitch Ensemble, Anthony Coleman's Survivor's Breakfast Ensemble, Amir Milstein World Music Ensemble

Tufts Small Jazz Concert
Paul Ahlstrand and Nando Michelin's small jazz ensembles perform works for smaller combos by Nat Adderly, Benny Golson, and others. November 13, 8 pm, Fisher Performance Room, Granoff Music Center.

Berklee Global Jazz Institute Concert Series and Jam
The Berklee Global Jazz Institute, a program designed and led by Panamanian pianist and UNESCO Artist for Peace Danilo Perez, will present a concert series featuring original repertoire as well as arranged standards. November 13, 18, and 22, 8 pm, Zero Gravity Room, 1260 Boylston Street.

Jihye Lee Jazz Orchestra
Berklee jazz composition major and singer Jihye Lee will present her original large-ensemble compositions at this afternoon concert. November 21, 1 pm, Cafe 939, 939 Boylston Street.

BlueJazz Strings and Combos

The Wellesley College BlueJazz Strings and BlueJazz Combos, directed by Paula Zeitlin, will perform improvised jazz and world music. November 21, 7 pm, Jewett Art Center Auditorium, Wellesley College.

A Salute to Duke Ellington

A Brandeis University Jazz Ensemble led by Bob Nieske will perform music by Duke Ellington. November 23, 3 pm, Slosberg Music Center at Brandeis.

Cooperative Big Band
Senior year students from the Berklee jazz composition department present arrangements and compositions they have written for a large jazz ensemble. December 3, 7 pm, Berk Recital Hall, 1140 Boylston Street.


In the spirit of Thanksgiving, JazzBoston sends a big thank-you to all the amazingly talented jazz musicians who call Boston home and the devoted jazz fans who go out to hear the music live.