The Jazz Stars Series 2024
Upcoming shows include . . .
Jazz Stars is a free six-concert series aimed at broadening the accessibility and appreciation of jazz and live performance to a wider range of people.
“This isn’t just a jazz concert,” said Brian Wansink, one of organizers of the series for the Savage Club, which hosts the events. “These aren’t just stars from the City or Eastman. These people are going to share secrets, their love for jazz, their journey, things like that. It’s a concert and a conversation.”
In line with this goal of broadening the accessibility and appreciation for jazz, each of the six scheduled performances will give a different young high school “rising star” a safe and supportive opportunity to play in front of a jazz-loving audience.
Jazz Stars is made possible by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the office of the Governor and NYS Legislature, and from Tompkins County, and it is administered by the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County.
Jazz Stars Returns May 5
December’s Jazz Star —> December 3
Hank Roberts & Jazz Cello COmposition
OVER HIS NEARLY FIVE-DECADE CAREER, HANK ROBERTS HAS FORGED A COMPELLING ORIGINAL VOICE AS A CELLIST, VOCALIST AND COMPOSER, ENCOMPASSING JAZZ INFLUENCES, ABSTRACT IMPROVISATION, SOULFUL FOLK MELODIES, INTRICATE NEW-MUSIC COMPOSITIONS AND VIGOROUS ROCK SONGS. HE IS CONSIDERED A MAJOR INNOVATOR AS A CELLIST.
Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Roberts initially made his name in the 1980s legendary New York Downtown scene alongside such frequent collaborators as Bill Frisell, Tim Berne, Marc Ribot and John Zorn, finding a second home at the famed Knitting Factory.
Currently a member of Bill Frisell’s group, Harmony, he has been a regular touring partner and recording artist on many of the celebrated guitarist’s projects since 1985, and was featured on his Grammy award winning recording, Unspeakable.
Roberts has shared stages and recording studios with some of the most celebrated musicians in the world. He’s recorded 10 albums as a leader and co-leader on the ‘Winter & Winter’ label, along with numerable self-released recordings. His 2008 CD Green, with drummer Jim Black and guitarist Marc Ducret, won that year’s German Recording Critics’ Award in the Jazz category.
“There’s a wisdom and patience and catholicity in this record (‘Green’). ‘It’s all one song,’ goes the hip musician’s cliché, but Mr. Roberts walks that walk.” - Ben Ratliff, NY Times
His trio recording, featuring Jacob Sacks and Vinnie Sperrazza, Congeries of Ethereal Phenomenon was released on Newvelle Records in 2019. His most recent recording with the Hank Roberts Sextet, Science of Love, was released on Sunnyside Records in July 2021.
November’s Jazz Star
The Vocal Magic of Gizel Rodriguez
Gizelxanath Rodriguez is an internationally renowned vocalist, cellist, guitarist and educator.
Her show’s focus is on Latin music -- understanding the roots of the music and how the music developed.
She has been a featured artist at the Lincoln Center National Dance Institute and Repertorio Español. In 2014 she was the recipient of the Latin Ace Award.
She has studied at the Mozarteum Hochschule für Musik, the Conservatory of Tijuana, and the University of Baja California in Mexico.
October’s Jazz Star
September’s Jazz Star
Sax Stories from NYC’s Jessie Collins
After 15 years of navigating New York City's late night jazz world, saxophonist Jesse Collins has stories.
Behind-the-scenes stories about who's who in jazz, and practical stories about how to succeed.
Collins is the third Jazz Star to be featured in a six-show series at the Lansing Performance Hall at 1004
Auburn Road on Sunday, September 10.. The free event is sponsored by the Community Arts Project and the Savage Club of Ithaca, and music begins at 6:30 with a musical introduction by the Ira Kamp quartet.
Collins brings his effervescent Big City sound to the stage while sharing his stories as a professional performer, record label owner, and producer. "There's lots of great stories from the Big City, but there's also a lot of "how to" a person can learn from those stories," Collins said. Non-musicians will find this interesting, and young musicians will learn wrong turns to avoid and good turns to take."
On that same night, jazz bassoonist, Walter Read, brings his uniquely innovative jazz rock improv skills on the bassoon. While Collins in the Jazz Star on the evenings program, Read is the Rising Star on the program. Read is a Freshman at Ithaca College, and a native of Lansing.
"This isn't just a jazz concert," said Brian Wansink, one of organizers of the series for the Savage Club, which hosts the events. "These aren't just stars from the City or Eastman. These people are going to share secrets, their love for jazz, their journey, things like that. It's a concert and a conversation."
The goal of the free six concert series is to broaden the accessibility and appreciation of jazz and live performance to a wider range of people. "There's parking, no traffic, it's free, and it's only 9 miles north of the Triphammer Mall," said Wansink.
Collins brings his sax virtuosity to the Lansing Performance Hall thanks the Savage Club of Ithaca and to funds from the Statewide Community Regrants program from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the office of the Governor and NYS Legislature, and from Tompkins County;
administered by the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County.
The Lansing Performance Hall is sponsored by the Savage Club of Ithaca, a 125-year-old organization founded on creating happiness through music and the performing arts. In December 2020, the Savage Club purchased the former Faith Bible Fellowship Church on 1004 Auburn Road in North Lansing. The Club has been working to repair and renovate this historic building, so it can be a performance space for the community.
You learn more about Jesse Collins and his performance schedule at jessecollinssaxophone.com.
June’s Jazz Stars:
Dennis Winge with Jacob Merrill
Take Five with Dennis Winge and the Jazz Star Series
Award-winning jazz guitarist Dennis Winge brings his playful and inventive style to the next Jazz Star series on June. After just releasing Sketches, his third album in three years, he will be the featured Jazz Star at the Lansing Performance Hall (1004 Auburn Road). Winge will be joined with rising jazz star Jacob Merrill on sax from Ithaca High, who leads the band Three Sharp Minors."
Music starts at 6:30 on Sunday June 4 with a musical introduction by the Ira Kamp trio. It moves right to Winge, who both plays and talks about inspirations and musical insights at points during the evening. Merrill follows, and then unites with Winge for the final numbers.
You learn more about Dennis from the All About Jazz interview, “Take 5 with Dennis Winge” and you can learn more about the Jazz Star Concert and Conversation series here.
May’s Jazz Stars:
Peter Rothbart with Domo Ronnsvalle
In addition to our featured Jazz Star, Peter Rothbar on saxophone, the first Jazz Stars performance is pleased to introduce Lansing High School’s own Dominick “Domo” Ronsvalle on piano.
Internationally renowned Peter Rothbart and Domo Ronsvalle (Lansing High) jam out with the Ira Kamp Trio at the first Jazz Stars performance.
An appreciative crowd lets the musicians take a break before starting a second set.
The Jazz Stars Series Kicks off with a Saxy Start
Peter Rothbart has a secret about how to succeed in the jazz and pop world of music, and he even has a sequined disco tux to prove it. He’s learned about success through a lifetime of composing movie music, teaching music, and playing the sax across US and Canada. Rothbart is sharing his music and his secrets at the first of six Jazz Stars performances at the new Lansing Performance Hall at 1004 Auburn Road at 6:30 on Sunday, May 7. Accompanying Rothbart will be a trio led by Ira Kamp on jazz guitar.
Rothbart is an Ithaca College Professor Emeritus of Music Theory and Composition. He has three Carnegie Hall premiers to his credit and has written six film scores and composed incidental music for many theatrical productions.
“This isn’t just a jazz concert,” said Brian Wansink, one of organizers of the series for the Savage Club, which hosts the events. “These aren’t just stars from the City or Eastman. These people are going to share secrets, their love for jazz, their journey, things like that. It’s a concert and a conversation.”
The goal of the free six concert series is to broaden the accessibility and appreciation of jazz and live performance to a wider range of people. “There’s parking, no traffic, it’s free, and it’s only 9 miles north of the Triphammer Mall,” said Wansink.
Rothbart will bring his saxophone magic to the Lansing Performance Hall thanks the Savage Club of Ithaca and to funds from the Statewide Community Regrants program from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the office of the Governor and NYS Legislature, and from Tompkins County; administered by the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County.
