Cliff Bell's

Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra
2018-03-01 19:00 (America/Detroit)
This is the 20th anniversary for the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra, which initially started as a rehearsal band for Gwinnell to hear his compositions and arrangements played. With encouragement from friends/musicians and an offer of a weekly gig at the Music Menu Cafe in Detroit’s Greektown. Gwinnell and his musicians made a commitment to present high quality big band jazz music. After the Menu, the band moved to the Cadieux Cafe on the east side of Detroit where gigs were routinely accented with the playing of Detroit trumpet legend Marcus Belgrave, who eventually joined the SGJO for their first record in 2002, “Basement Vibes.”
During this time the band also began to branch out. Gigs with the late great tenor player Donald Walden, a feature performance in Toronto at the International Association of Jazz Educators with sax virtuoso Dave Liebman, and WDET radio dates highlight this period.
Next, the band began its exciting Wednesday gigs at the then brand new Cliff Bells. With the addition of some more skilled players, the SGJO reached a higher artistic plateau. Working together every week, the band gelled and impressed new audiences of jazz fans, musicians, and critics. SGJO then released a CD “Brush Fire” (2010 WSG Music) which won two Detroit Music Awards and also did performances with Aria Hendricks and Dominic Faranacci, as well as performances at the Detroit Jazz Festival and other festivals which gave the SGJO more notoriety.
In 2009, the SGJO was chosen to be part of a big project proposed by the Detroit Jazz Festival. The artist-in-residence, the acclaimed bassist/composer John Clayton, was commissioned to write a suite based on Detroit jazz legends. The SGJO would play a series of summer concerts, with the finale being a performance to close that year’s festival. The suite paired the Clayton Brothers Quintet with the SGJO in a 55 minute concerto grosso. All of the musicians performed greatly, receiving a 5 minute standing ovation.
Some of the frequent musicians involved with the Cliff Bells SGJO group are: Keith Kaminski, James Hughes, Steve Wood, Carl Cafagna, and Mark Berger on saxes. Dave Jensen, Terry Kimura, Tony Buccilli, and Stefan Stolarchuk on trombone. Trumpets are Bob Jensen, Paul Finkbeiner, John Douglas, and Justin Walter. Jordan Schug plays bass and Scott Kretzer plays the drums.
The most recent project has been a recording of the music of Mulgrew Miller (Detroit Music Factory label).
TheTroy Athens HS Band will open.
https://www.wscottjazz.com/orchestra-groups/

Laila Biali - SPECIAL CONCERT SHOW
2018-02-27 20:00 - 22:30
Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and pianist Laila Biali melds “traditional jazz with contemporary pop so effortlessly that neither style seems out of place on the same record” (Spinner Magazine). Sought after for tours with GRAMMY winning artists Chris Botti, Paula Cole, Suzanne Vega and Sting, Laila has also headlined festivals and venues spanning five continents including Carnegie Hall. In 2016, Laila was a featured performer at the first-ever global TEDSummit. Her studio recording, Tracing Light, received a JUNO nomination for “Best Vocal Jazz Album of the Year”, and her follow-up, Live in Concert, was named one of the “Best Albums of 2013” by DownBeat Magazine. In September of 2017, Laila became the host of CBC Radio’s national show, Saturday Night Jazz. Her new self-titled album releases January 26, 2018.
There will be two shows: 8pm and 9:30pm

Rob Crozier Trio
2018-02-25 19:00 - 22:00
Rob’s latest release is “Tall Trees,” where he stretches his music to explore the world of sound adding color, adventure, and newness through re-imagining standards, the use of electronics, and ethnic instruments.

Aguanko (Latin Jazz)
2018-02-24 21:30
Conga player and composer Alberto Nacif and the superlative musicians who make up the sizzling Latin Jazz septet Aguanko are working on a new Latin Jazz recording titled “Pattern Recognition” which will be available in late 2017/early 2018! This recording will feature the core group of Aguanko musicians from the incredibly rich Detroit and Ann Arbor area Jazz scene performing original music which will further the trajectory of this exciting group.
These tasteful musicians’ interpretation of Alberto Nacif’s original music is evocative and sensuous, and true to its Cuban roots. Aguanko has received local and national attention, and their live concerts have dazzled capacity crowds at the multiple venues where they have performed. They are also able to offer educational lecture-demonstrations and instructional seminars.
Aguanko’s first recording, “Elemental“, released in 2013 was on the Jazzweek national charts for 32 weeks, their second release (“Invisible“) in 2015 was on the charts for 20 weeks! The last release “Latin Jazz Christmas in Havana” which creatively turned Christmas standards into traditional Cuban music jewels, reached #48 in the national Jazz Charts (Jazzweek), and the second most added to on-air playlists in Dec 2016! All three releases have received excellent reviews around the world (see our review section)!

Jeff Cuny Trio
2018-02-23 17:30 - 20:15
Jeff is finishing his masters in jazz studies at WSU and is a fine young string bassist. He is also the chief arranger for the band Midtown Sounds and appears around the city with Tbone Paxton and also the Gary Greenfelder Orchestra.

Speakeasy Sundays with Holly Hock
2018-02-18 20:30 - 21:29
Speakeasy Sundays is a monthly burlesque revue featuring burlesque entertainment from around the globe.
Doors 7:30pm/Show 8:30pm
Featuring performances by:
Musette
Eva La Feva
Lilly Rascal
Tila Von Twirl
Ray Ray Sunshine
Joseph CR Vourteque
Samantha Siren
Miss Holly Hock
Emcee: Kitten Von Mitten
Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/speakeasy-sundays-love-lust-february-tickets-42146003832
FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/169709927123705

The Jeff Cuny Trio
2018-02-16 17:30 - 20:15, 2018-02-09 17:30 - 20:15, 2018-02-02 17:30 - 20:15, 2018-01-19 17:30 - 20:15, 2018-01-12 17:15 - 20:15

The Meg Brennan Quartet wsg Hadassah Greensky
2018-02-14 17:30 - 23:45
Valentine’s Day Dinner Package: includes a 4-Course Dinner and an evening of live jazz music for $75 a person (tax and gratuity not included) Please call 313 961-2543 for more information and to book your reservation.
Meg Brennan is a flutist and saxophonist from Northville, Michigan. She first fell in love with the flute in the 5th grade. In high school, she was a three time winner of the MSBOA soloist competition. At age 15 she was accepted into the Interlochen Arts Academy where she studied under classical and jazz flutist, Nancy Stagnitta. After graduating in 2011, she went on to graduate from MSU and now reaches and performs around town, often with her friend Haddash Greensky, an up-and-coming vocalist.

WSU Student Jam Session
2018-02-11 19:00 - 22:00, 2018-01-21 19:00 - 22:00
Wayne State University’s long history of producing world class musicians is one of the great attributes for the City of Detroit. Hosted by Professor Chris Collins, the WSU Director of Jazz Studies. WSU students will perform on the stage at Cliff Bell’s.

Alexis Lombre
2018-02-06 20:00
Alexis Lombre is a young jazz pianist who discovered early that the true essence of music is not just about what you hear but how music makes you feel. Her musical mission is to keep the ‘Soul’ in music alive. The recent release of her debut album, Southside Sounds, does just that, as it is a soulful reflection of her upbringing on Chicago’s Southside. This collection of her original compositions is an attempt to pay homage to the southside’s lively artistic, cultural heritage. Since its release, Southside Sounds has been aired on radio stations across the US and is currently charting at #70 on JazzWeek.
Alexis has performed at some of jazz’s major venues in Chicago, Detroit, New York City, Newark, St. Louis and Kansas City. Most recently, she celebrated the release of her debut CD at Chicago’s historic Jazz Showcase. She appeared at the 2013 Chicago Jazz Festival performing the National Anthem opening for Jimmy Heath, the Robert Glasper Experiment and the Donald Harrison Quintet. As an experienced bandleader, the Alexis Lombre Quintet was featured most recently at the 2016 Chicago Jazz Festival, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival in 2013 and 2015, the Bucktown Arts Festival, the Trinity UCC ‘Jazzapalooza’ Festival and many other festivals around Chicago. As a sidewoman, she performed at the 2016 Detroit Jazz Festival with the John Douglas Quartet, the 2016 Englewood Jazz Festival in Chicago with the Donald Harrison Quartet and, the 2016 Taste of Chicago with Donnie Trumpet (now Nico Segal) & the Social Experiment. She has also played with other internationally known jazz artists such as Pharez Whitted, Bobby Broom, Ernest Dawkins, Ingrid Jensen, Kendrick Scott, James Carter, Bobby Watson and, currently studies with former Jazz Messenger, legendary pianist, Benny Green at the University of Michigan.

Dawn Giblin Trio
2018-01-28 19:30 - 22:30
Dawn Giblin is a trained vocalist with wide experience, concentrating here on her real love, the 1920s – 1940s jazz and popular music that gave the whole world a huge fantastic repertoire through the singing of Connee Boswell, Billie Holiday, Mildred Bailey and Ella Fitzgerald.
Cellist Mike Karoub, another Detroiter, is not only the greatest exponent of jazz cello, but its inventor as well. His immersion in the music of this era’s great horn players–Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagarden, Lester Young, Bunny Berigan–and his formidable technique give his idiomatic cello-playing the same freedom and power his heroes had.
And with expertise in jazz piano from its beginnings through swing, veteran James Dapogny–a Chicagoan transplanted to Ann Arbor–provides the rest of the fireworks, soloing and accompanying, by turns, with the full-throated roar of Jelly Roll Morton, the romping stride of Fats Waller or the sophisticated swing of Teddy Wilson.
Convincing jazz artist by themselves, they make up a unique and powerful trio: you’ll be amazed at how much music comes out of these three

Sean Dobbins SMA Jazz Session
2018-01-28 17:00 - 19:00
The Southeastern Music Academy has an outstanding music faculty – successful performers with strong academic credentials that perform regularly with professional groups. This is a student jam session. http://southeasternmusicacademy.org/sma-performance-opportunities-cliff-bells/

Closed for Private Event Until 8pm
2018-01-26 17:00 - 20:00

The Tristan Cappel Unit
2018-01-18 20:00
Tristan Cappel, local multi-instrumentalist & composer and student of Benny Green, Miles Okazaki, & Lee Konitz, will be joined by Peter Formanek, Jordan Anderson, Michael Perlman, & Everett Reid. The band formed in 2016, and released an album early 2017. The Tristan Cappel Quintet will be performing sets of original music and standards.

Paul Carey Organ Group featuring Mark Loduca
2018-01-17 20:00
Veteran Detroit area guitarist Paul Carey leads organ Trio his longtime friend Mark Loduca on organ and vocals, playing swinging and funky soul jazz. Paul’s son Max Bauhof is on drums.

The Paul VornHagen Quartet
2018-01-12 21:00
Paul VornHagen is an accomplished jazz saxophonist, flutist, and vocalist who has won Detroit Music Awards on six separate occasions and categories: Jazz Reeds, Talent Deserving Wider Recognition, Instrumentalist, World Music Recording (2) and Jazz Recording. Presently living in Ann Arbor, Michigan where Paul got his start on the flute in 1972. Mostly self-taught initially, he studied music at City College Of San Francisco in 1978-79.

The Charlie Miller Quartet
2018-01-10 20:00
The Charlie Miller quartet is a group of musicians refining the craft of standards and exploring new sounds with original compositions.
Charlie on trumpet, with Rocco Popielarski on string bass, Evan Mercer on piano, and Kayvon Gordon on drums.

Emma Aboukasm
2018-01-07 19:00 - 22:00
Emma Aboukasm is a young jazz singer whom is known to audiences at Cliff Bell’s for her many performances with the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra, but this evening she comes with a strong young trio.

Jeff Cuny Trio
2018-01-05 17:30 - 20:15
The Jeff Cuny Trio, 5:30 to 8:15 pm, no cover. Jeff is finishing his masters in jazz studies at WSU and is a fine young string bassist. He is also the chief arranger for the band Midtown Sounds and appears around the city with Tbone Paxton and also the Gary Greenfelder Orchestra.

Kayvon Gordon & NKW
2018-01-03 20:00
Kayvon is one of our top young drummers on the scene and he is bringing an equally hot young band with saxophonists Steve Grady & Kasan Belgrave, bassist Andy Peck and visiting from LA, the excellent pianist Glenn Tucker–these musicians are among the freshest voices of their generation.
This group encompasses spellbinding intuition, with an absolute commitment to the spirit of discovery.

Cliff Bell's Closed!
2018-01-02 00:00

New Years Eve at Cliff Bell's!
2017-12-31 17:00
New Year’s Eve celebration is $100 per person, which includes a 5 course dinner, live entertainment by the Jeff Cuny Quartet and Planet D Nonet, a midnight toast, party favors and late night snacks to ring in 2018 in style! Excludes tax and gratuity.
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, the Jeff Cuny Trio
10 pm to 1:00 am, the Planet D Nonet

“Ring in the New Year” Package tickets available for $25 which include Planet D Nonet, midnight toast, party favors, late night snacks and admission starting at 10:30 pm. These tickets are standing room only. Excludes tax and gratuity. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ring-in-the-new-year-at-cliff-bells-tickets-39978149722

Brunch Closed This Sunday
2017-12-31 00:00 - 23:59

The Vincent A. Chandler Collective
2017-12-29 21:00
Prof. Vincent A. Chandler, WSU-Lecturer of Jazz Studies, is a native Detroiter and protege of one of the strongest era’s of the Detroit jazz scene, having studied and/or performed with local heroes such as Donald Walden, Kenn Cox, Harold McKinney, Teddy Harris, Marcus Belgrave, James Carter, Marion Hayden, Regina Carter, and Rodney Whitaker. He has also performed internationally with jazz legends such as Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Joe Henderson, Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, Oliver Lake, Geri Allen, Roy Hargrove, Robert Hurst, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Russell Malone, and Ambrose Akinmusire. On this night, you will hear an eclectic pallet of original compositions for a collective of some of Detroit’s finest!
Vincent Chandler – trombone, with:
John Douglas – Trumpet
Rafael Statin – Alto Saxophone
Chris Collins – Tenor Saxophone
Ian Finkelstein – Piano
Marion Hayden – Bass
Gayelynn McKinney – Drums
wsg – vocalist Kimwana Doner-Chandler

The Jeff Cuny Trio
2017-12-29 17:30 - 20:15
The Jeff Cuny Trio, 5:30 to 8:15 pm, no cover. Jeff is finishing his masters in jazz studies at WSU and is a fine young string bassist. He is also the chief arranger for the band Midtown Sounds and appears around the city with Tbone Paxton and also the Gary Greenfelder Orchestra
