BMP @ SPBH

The BMP Jazz Trio (and friends) sounded tight tonight at Sandy Point Beach House.

Best of 2024

My Favorite Albums of the Year (in alphabetical order, by artist)

1. The Black Keys - Ohio Players
2. Javon Jackson & Nikki Giovani - Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies
3. Shannon and the Clams - The Moon Is in the Wrong Place
4. The Surfrajettes - Easy as Pie
5. Jordan Vanhemert - Deep in the Soil
6. Eyal Vilner Big Band - Swingin' Uptown
   

 My Favorite Concert of the Year

Eric Essix (above) - April 5, Nashville Jazz Workshop, Nashville, TN

Holidays in Holland

This evening, I enjoyed the Holland Symphony Orchestra's Home for the Holidays concert, featuring soprano Jennie Judd Reyes, at Hope College's Dimnent Chapel.

Rolling Stone Jones joins Hope College jazz students

Rolling Stones bassist Darryl Jones joined the Hope College Jazz Arts Collective, directed by Prof. Robert Shipley, in a tribute to Duke Ellington this evening at the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.

Banding Together

Tonight, I witnessed GRAMMY-Award-winning jazz drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y perform at Hope College's Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.

The Sounds of Soul

I grooved to the sounds of soul/R&B/funk band The Soul Syndicate at the Park Theatre tonight.

Dancing with Duke

This evening, I watched the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra provide The Nutcracker Suite soundtrack -- as arranged by Duke Ellington -- for H2 Dance Company's performance at the Knickerbocker Theatre.

The VOICE returns to the stage

I experienced The VOICE's rock and roll reunion at the Park Theatre tonight.

Harpsichord and Hope

This evening, I witnessed the Parisian baroque chamber ensemble Le Consort at Hope College's Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.

Jaunty Jigs

I enjoyed Ten Penny Bit's jaunty Irish folk music this afternoon at Root Cafe.

Keep That Funk Alive

Last night, I got my groove on with funk band The Motet at Park Theatre.  Multi-instrumentalist Keller Williams served as the opener.

Michigan Rock Royalty

I saw The Verve Pipe's sold-out show at the Park Theatre last night.

Parktober Fest '24, Night 1

On Friday night, I attended the first of three nights of the annual fundraiser for Park Theatre, Parktober Fest.  I witnessed American Idol Season 3 Golden Ticket Winner Nathan Walton (of Nathan Walton and the Remedy, pictured above), bluegrass frontman Daniel Staggs (of Daniel Staggs and the Critters), and six-piece band Dawn Birds.  I left before having the opportunity to see Roosevelt Diggs or The Soul Syndicate.

Party on the Patio

Brad, of the party band Vinylicious, played to a packed patio at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery yesterday.

World Music Smorgasbord

I greatly enjoyed the main stage performers at the International Festival of Holland today.  The lineup included Klezmer-rock band Mostly Kosher (pictured above), Middle Eastern artist Firas Zreik, Caribbean-flavored band Universal Xpression, and Grammy-Award-winning Mexican family band Villalobos Brothers.

German Gypsy Jazz Guitar Genius

Tonight, I had the pleasure of witnessing the gypsy jazz genius of German guitarist Joscho Stephan (second from the left), along with Third Coast Swing Band, at the Park Theatre.

Rockin' It Two-Step Style

I just saw the terrific rockabilly two piece Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish at the Tulip City Walls Mural Festival.

Summertime Sonics

The Charlie Millard Band provided one of the best shows of the summer tonight at the City (of Fennville) Music Hall Series.

Dec. 4, 1956 at Sun Record Studios

Tonight, I saw the musical Million Dollar Quartet -- featuring the songs and stories of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Sun Records -- at Saugatuck Center for the Arts.

Saxophone Serenade

Saxophonist/vocalist Michael Hulett serenaded patio patrons this afternoon at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant and Winery.

Top Notch Latin Jazz in Full Effect

Tonight, I saw the best show of the season, Latin jazz band Lunar Octet at the City (of Fennville) Music Hall Series.

Belting the Blues

Singer/songwriter Megan Dooley belted out her beautiful blues at the Park Theatre last night.  She also played the ukulele and kazoo, and whistled, as she is a professional whistler.

Waterfront Wrap-Up

I enjoyed Nautic Bound's beach-party-dance-band vibes at Kollen Park tonight. The three piece was the final band of this year's summer concert series.

Playing the Patio, Part 2

Geoff Stockton played his beautiful guitar on the patio again yesterday afternoon at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery.

From Brazil with Love

I loved seeing Brazilian band Choro das 3 perform last night at Kollen Park, backed by the Holland Symphony Orchestra.  Comprised of three sisters, the trio began as an instrumental group but has since incorporated lyrics into their compositions, as well.

Lakeshore Big Band plays lakeside

Lakeshore Big Band brought their 17-piece big band sound to Kollen Park last night.

Mike Mains & The Branches rock independently

I witnessed indie rock band Mike Mains & The Branches, as well as openers The American Hotel System and Stay Outside, at the Park Theatre last night.

Playing the Patio

Geoff Stockton played his beautiful guitar on the patio this afternoon at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery.

Croonin' at Crane's

This afternoon, Randy Heidema crooned at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery.

Bringing the Blues

The Kelly Quinn Blues Experience brought the blues to Kollen Park tonight.

Truly Dooley

Megan Dooley showed off her musical chops this afternoon at Crane's Pie Pantry, Restaurant & Winery.

Latin Moves and Grooves

Latin band MexiCuba entertained us at Kollen Park tonight.