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Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Hero John D’earth on WTJU’s “Jazz at 100 Now!” April 23 from 9:00 – Noon

The Jazz Journalists Association is recognizing Charlottesville’s own John D’earth as a 2024 Jazz Hero, in a national program that celebrates a select group of “advocates who have had significant impact in their local communities.”

To honor John and his long-term and significant contributions to our Jazz community, Rus Perry will host him on “Jazz at 100 Now!” for a trip through his extensive catalog of music recorded over the past fifty-plus years.

Please join us.

The Charlottesville Jazz Society and WTJU are pleased to present The Howard Levy 4 in concert on Tuesday May 7th. The concert will be held at Belmont Arts Collaborative on Carlton Road at 8 pm.

Led by the Grammy-Award winning diatonic harmonica master, pianist and composer Howard Levy, well known for his long time tenure with Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, this powerhouse ensemble delivers musical magic in a range of styles that includes Jazz, Latin, World Music, and Blues. Besides several distinctively reworked American and Brazilian compositions, the band has a diverse repertoire of original compositions that combine and blend many cultures and rhythms, creating an extraordinary original sound.

In addition to Howard, this amazingly accomplished Chicago-based quartet is comprised of guitarist Chris Siebold, the outstanding upright and electric bassist Joshua Ramos, and the exceptional Brazilian drummer Luiz Ewerling

A prolific recording artist, Howard Levy has released 17 albums under his own name and appeared on hundreds more. He was a founding member of Bela The Flecktones and has performed and recorded with an incredibly diverse range of artists including Paquito D’Rivera, Donald Fagen, and Kurt Elling. The revolutionary technique that he developed on the diatonic harmonica transformed it into a fully chromatic instrument for the first time, opening up possibilities for limitless musical exploration while still retaining the cry of the Blues.  Sounding like no other on stage, it has been said of Howard’s unparalleled harmonica playing, “As Art Tatum was to the piano, so is Levy to the harmonica: a hyper-virtuoso whose feats can be admired and studied but never really replicated.”

The rest of this remarkable band is very much up to the task of complementing a virtuoso like Howard. Chris Siebold, house guitarist for A Prairie Home Companion for four years, has recorded and toured with Chicago’s most eclectic Jazz and fusion groups; Joshua Ramos, one of Chicago’s most in-demand bassists, spent five years with jazz legend Ramsey Lewis, while drummer/composer Luiz Ewerling contributes rhythmic and compositional fire and depth to The Howard Levy 4.

Tickets to see The Howard Levy 4 at Belmont Arts Collaborative on Tuesday May 7th at 8 pm are available online. General admission tickets are $22. CJS paid supporters pay $18. All tickets will be $25 at the door. For more information visit cvillejazz.org, or call 434-249-6191.

HOTEL HEROES PROGRAM

Many thanks to those of you who have donated to our Hotel Heroes program, it means a lot. We still need your help with housing touring musicians in the future. Donate $200 or more and note Hotel Heroes.


Upcoming events: (can also be viewed at the CJS website)

Please check our Facebook page for updates and more events!

Note: Consider calling ahead before traveling as events can sometimes be canceled or postponed last-minute.

  • Friday April 19: No BS! Brass Band, Fridays After Five, Ting Pavilion, 5:30-8:30 pm, Free
  • Friday April 19: Charles Owens Trio with Charles Owens/sax, Randall Pharr/bass, Kofi Shepsu/drums, Miller’s Downtown, 10 pm
  • Saturday April 20: Jelly St. Jazz featuring Bob Bennetta/keys with Susanna Rosen/vocals, Larry Bisgaier/guitar, Albemarle Ciderworks, 2:30 pm, 434-297-2326
  • Saturday April 20: The Michael Elswick Gathering with Michael Elswick/sax, Bill Edmonds/guitar, Eric Franzen/keys, David Drubin/drums, Glass House Winery, 5-8 pm, 434-975-0094
  • Saturday April 20: Opening for Victor Haskins & Skein 7-9 pm – Louisa High School Jazz Band, 6 pm, Everleigh Vineyards and Brewing Co. [tickets]
  • Saturday April 20: Free Bridge Quintet with The Charlottesville Symphony, Old Cabell Hall, 8 pm, [tickets], 434-924-3052
  • Sunday April 21: The Trio with Danny Barrale/vocals & drums, Bill Edmonds/guitar, Eric Franzen/keys, Chisholm Vineyards, 1-4 pm, 434-971-8796
  • Sunday April 21: Free Bridge Quintet with Charlottesville Symphony, Martin Luther King Performing Arts Center, 2 pm, 924-3139
  • Sunday April 21: The Hard Modes, Kardinal Hall, 5-7 pm, 434-295-4255
  • Sunday April 21: Jazz Vespers, University Baptist, Carlehr Brown/keys, 7 pm
  • Tuesday April 23: John D’earth feature on WTJU’s “Jazz at 100 Now!” 9 am – noon. See details above.
  • Friday April 26: UVA Jazz Ensemble directed by John Dearth, Pollak Vineyards, 5:30-8:30 pm, benefitting the Walker Elementary School Band, first come, first serve seating, blankets, lawn chairs, picnics welcome, 540-456-8844
  • Saturday April 27: Michael Sokolowski Trio with Michael Sokolowski/keys, Drew Pompano/bass, Jim Ralston/drums, Second Stage | Amherst, 6-8 pm, tickets in advance or at the door $12
  • Sunday April 28: Vocalist Paulien with Bill Edmonds/guitar, Joseph Nichols/bass, Kardinal Hall, 5-7 pm, 434-295-4255
  • Sunday April 28: Charlottesville Jazz Society Local Jazz Spotlight presents Greg Weaver and the Jazz Collective with Greg Weaver/sax, Gabe Planas/keys, Garrett Moore/drums, Miller’s Downtown, 6-9 pm, 434-249-6191

SAVE THE DATE!

  • Tuesday May 7th: The Howard Levy 4, featuring the harmonica master from The Flecktones, at Belmont Arts Collaborative, 8pm, details above.

The Charlottesville Jazz Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The Charlottesville Jazz Society, Inc.
1004 Grove St| Charlottesville, VA 22903 | 434.249.6191
info@cvillejazz.org | www.cvillejazz.org