Cliff Bell's

Sunday brunch with pianist/vocalist Jarrod Champion
2019-02-03 11:30 - 14:30 (America/Detroit)
Sunday brunch with pianist/vocalist Jarrod Champion!
“His roots are deep in Detroit, when he sits in front of the keys, Jarrod Champion’s sound makes its way to the south, over in the Dixieland and Delta.” WDET, Culture City Weekend.

Jeff Cuny Duo
2019-02-01 17:30 - 20:15, 2018-12-28 17:30 - 20:15
Jeff recently completed work on his Graduate degree in jazz studies at WSU and is a fine young string bassist. He is also the chief arranger & bassist for the Planet D Nonet and appears around the city with Tbone Paxton and also the Rhythm Society Orchestra.
With David Dunham on guitar.

Tbone Paxton (CANCELLED DUE TO EXREME COLD WEATHER!)
2019-01-31 20:00
SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE, BUT WE WILL NOT OPEN TODAY

John “Tbone” Paxton is a veteran trombonist and vocalist professionally active in Southeastern Michigan for many years. He is the featured singer and trombone soloist with the award-winning jazz ensemble, the Planet D Nonet. John is a 2nd generation musician and a son of the “Jazz Age.” His soulful sense of swing, phrasing, and his ability to interpret and bring personal meaning to a lyric allows him to connect to his audience at an emotional level, both as a vocalist and as an instrumentalist.
John was integral member of the Sun Messengers band for decades, leaving to develop his own career as a jazz singer and trombonist. He has had long associations with many of the great Detroit area bandleaders like Paul Keller, Eddie Nuccilli, Scott Gwinnell and piano master Mr B. Tbone has also played with a lot of great blues and R&B men as well, including Earl King, Johnny Adams, Sir Mac Rice, Pinetop Perkins and even Latin Jazz Great Eddie Palmieri! His repertoire reflects all of these influences, most notably, growing up in a musical home influenced by his father Fred, who was an accomplished pianist working all the major rooms in the area. In fact, a regular pianist at the London Chop House for fifty years! His repertoire features both hits and obscure rarities by such artists as Fats Waller, Frank Sinatra, Danny Barker and Louis Jordan. His own personal take on the Great American Songbook.
Tbone draws the audience in and brings passion, soul, a unique repertoire, and joy and authenticity to his performances everywhere and every night!! Look for his upcoming recording “Back in Your Own Backyard” with the RJ Spangler Quartet.

Kenji Lee and Friends
2019-01-27 19:00 - 22:00
Born in Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Southern California, Kenji Lee has already made his mark as a remarkable improviser, composer, and educator. Kenji has performed and worked with some of the most legendary names in jazz including Gary Burton, Carl Allen, Kendrick Scott, Ingrid Jensen, Michael Formanek, Jon Irabagon, Robert Hurst, and Benny Green. Kenji has performed at various venues across the country including Carnegie Hall (New York City, NY), The Detroit Jazz Festival (Detroit, MI), and The Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (Costa Mesa, CA). He will be at Cliff Bell’s performing compositions from his recently recorded debut record featuring Lex Korten, Aidan Cafferty, Peter Formanek, Brian Juarez, and David Alvarez III, which will be released in the Spring of 2019. Kenji currently splits his time between, performing professionally, teaching, and working as the Canterbury House’s Concert Series Coordinator.
w/ Jordan Anderson, David Alvarez III and Brian Juarez

Sunday Brunch w/ Jarrod Champion
2019-01-27 11:30 - 14:30, 2019-01-20 11:30 - 14:30, 2019-01-13 11:30 - 18:30

Jeff Cuny Trio
2019-01-25 17:30 - 20:15
Jeff recently completed work on his Graduate degree in jazz studies at WSU and is a fine young string bassist. He is also the chief arranger & bassist for the Planet D Nonet and appears around the city with Tbone Paxton and also the Rhythm Society Orchestra.
With David Dunham on guitar & Stuart Lyons on drums.

Hannah Baiardi
2019-01-23 20:00
A soulful composer, pianist, vocalist, lyricist and arranger, Hannah Baiardi is a rising crossover artist. Hannah is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan’s School of Music, where she studied with Ellen Rowe, Benny Green, Sunny Wilkinson, Robert Hurst, Marion Hayden & Dennis Wilson.
Composing since three, Hannah has crafted her unique sound that lets the subtleties and nuances of her music speak. Her lush harmonies and memorable melodies contribute to a sophisticated sound beyond her years. Known to some as the “unstoppable ear,” Hannah is developing a reputation as an arranger, working with rising vocalists and creating songs with unusual instrumentation.
Hannah prefers to blur the lines between genres, marrying the sensibility of jazz with the soul of R & B and the acoustic depth of film music.
She welcomes collaboration with artists who are passionate, soulful, and who create music beyond any one genre.
Performing in the Detroit and Ann Arbor area, Hannah is launching her career close to home with her debut group, “Hannah Baiardi & Friends.”
https://www.hannahbaiardi.com

Alexis Lombre Trio
2019-01-22 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 2017 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. In addition to her debut record, she was featured on Live The Spirit Residency Presents: “The Young Masters” (2016), and Mikel Patrick Avery’s “Music for a 1/2 Sized Piano” (2014).
Alexis has performed at some of jazz’s major venues and festivals 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 has shared the stage with international renowned jazz musicians such as Ernest Dawkins, Ingrid Jensen, Kendrick Scott, James Carter, Marion Hayden, Gayelynn McKinney, Bobby Watson and, has studied with Geri Allen, Willie Pickens and former Jazz Messenger, Benny Green.
Alexis has also provided music for theater companies such as the Black Ensemble Theater ‘s
“The Marvin Gaye Story”(2016),“Men of Soul” (2015), “At Last: A Tribute to Etta James” (2015) and “Sounds So Sweet (2016)” and Manual Cinemas “No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks” (2017).
Alexis strives to be an artist who always searches and rejoices at an opportunity to stretch her musical boundaries.
Brian Juarez on string bass & David Alvarez III on drums.

WSU Jam Session
2019-01-20 16:00 - 18:30
Students from Wayne State University present a jam session. Open to the public for audience and musicians.

Jeff Cuny Trio
2019-01-18 17:30 - 20:15
Jeff recently completed work on his Graduate degree in jazz studies at WSU and is a fine young string bassist. He is also the chief arranger & bassist for the Planet D Nonet and appears around the city with Tbone Paxton and also the Rhythm Society Orchestra.
With David Dunham on guitar & Stuart Lyon on drums.

Speakeasy Sunday
2019-01-13 20:30
Speakeasy Sunday
January 13th / Doors 7:30 & Show 8:30
Tickets $20-$30
Featuring performances by:
Shimmy Laroux
Gaea Lady
Miss Holly Hock
Leena Allure
Ruby La Louche
Lilith Von Tal
Céleste Vé Dette
Margaux Royale
FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/1196730707176505/
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/speakeasy-sundays-january-burly-q-revue-tickets-53772305413

Evan Mercer Trio
2019-01-12 18:00 - 20:30, 2018-12-22 18:00 - 21:00
Evan Mercer studied at Wayne State University in the Jazz Studies Program and has played piano since he was 5 years old. Having studied under names such as Matt Michaels, Cliff Monear, and Rob Pipho, he offers a fresh perspective on old standards while writing new compositions. Currently he is touring the world with Detroit Soul Diva Bettye LaVette.
Sam Harris on bass & Jake Matthews on drums.

Kathy Kosins
2019-01-11 21:00
Rare Hometown Performance!
ASCAP award-winning vocalist Kathy Kosins has won the hearts of critics and fans around the globe with her eclectic musical palette that expands the rich history of Jazz and Soul.
Born and bred during the Motown era of Detroit, she began singing and arranging background vocals for producer Don Was (now president of Blue Note Records) in the early eighties, which led to her becoming one of the most sought after session singers. As a lead vocalist she recorded for both Carrere (Sony) and Quality Records and later toured with Was/Not Was.
In the early “90s, Kosins, a ferocious writer and arranger, fell in love with the freedom of the jazz art form and her writing naturally evolved into a more traditional approach. Stints with the JC Heard and Nelson Riddle Orchestras followed and led to a 1996 release of “All In A Dreams Work” (SchoolKids Records), an impressive debut featuring a first rate collection of nine originals and a cover of the Miles Davis composition “Four.” Reported by over 250 Jazz stations, she reached the top 20 in the Gavin Report.
Her 2002 release of “Mood Swings” (Chiaroscuro Records) continued to bring her recognition and success at the national level. On her 2006 release of “Vintage,” (Mahogany Jazz), she rediscovered little known songbook gems which she placed alongside a few widely known, yet unexpected tunes from outside the jazz tradition, which brought her glowing reviews from journalists.
In 2012, she released “To The Ladies Of Cool”, a dedication to the West Coast Cool school of artists like June Christy, Chris Connor, Julie London, and Anita O’Day. Kathy’s arrangements of those classic pieces stay true to the tradition of lyricism and understatement, yet sound so fresh and innovative that it is sometimes hard to believe those songs have been recorded some 50 plus years ago.
“The Space Between” from 2013 finds her in the studio with some of LA’s best musicians like Tamir Hendelman (piano), Robert Hurst (bass), Eric Harland (drums), and Larry Koonse on guitar on several obscure tracks that had been recorded by Shirley Horn or Nat King Cole. Her Jazz repertoire is always enhanced by her soulful vocal performance and it is no wonder, that she decided to include a Chill Mix of one of the tunes from the album (“Night Bird”) which puts her in another direction leading to her most recent album which is slated for a spring, 2016 release.
With the working title “Uncovered Soul”, Kathy has recorded this ultra soulful set with Grammy Award-winning producer Kamau Kenyatta (Gregory Porter) and a stellar cast of musicians: Greg Moore (guitar), Mitch Foreman (piano,keys), Kevin Axt (bass), Eric Harland (drums), and Munyungo (percussion). On the album, she explores rarely heard Soul and R&B tunes by famous songwriters like Curtis Mayfield, Eugene McDaniels, or Aaron Neville and also more contemporary tunesmiths like Amos Lee. It’s a well- balanced set catering to both Jazz fans and Soul aficionados alike and destined to become a future classic as it creates a sultry mood and features her most intense and intimate singing yet.
A past recipient of the Michigan Council for the Arts (Jazz Composer of the Year), Kosins has received grants from Michigan’s ArtServe advocacy group. Her clinics and workshops teach performance skills alongside business strategies for the independent artist and have been a success at colleges and universities across the USA.
When not touring the USA or Europe, Kathy excels as a painter. Her abstract acrylics on canvas are influenced by the cubist paintings of the “50s. Commissioned paintings are held in private collections and Kosins continues to sell her work at both gallery shows and concert performances. She also is known to paint as a multi media artist from the stage during various performances.
Kosins has recorded with many well known jazz and R&B artists to include Aaron Goldberg, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland, Peter Bernstein, Larry Koonse, Tamir Hendelman, Robert Hurst, Jeremy Pelt, Jon Ellis, Howard Levy, Don Was, Martin Wind, Ben Wolfe, Michael Henderson and more.
She has shared the stage and performed with numerous names in the jazz and R&B world. A few notables are: Cyrus Chestnut, Terell Stafford, Randy Brecker, Javon Jackson, Larry Goldings, James Moody, Kevin Mahogany, Bernard Purdie, Greg Hutchinson, Eric Harland, Red Holloway, Grant Green Jr., Reuben Rogers, Reuben Wilson, Aaron Goldberg, Tamir Hendelman, Jesse Davis, Eric Marienthal, Matt Wilson, Mitch Ryder, Was/Not Was and Michael Henderson.
“…she authentically recreates a lost genre of female jazz singing.” — Ralph A Miriello — Jazz Journalist- Huffington Post
Her band will include pianis Mike Jelleck, bassist Marion Hayden and drummer Sean Dobbins.
doing a mix of material from my Uncovered Soul project, My To The Ladies OF Cool Project ( My Tamir Hendelman charts and record I had with him a few years ago, based on the West Coast Cool) ( See attached about that project) and other assorted originals from past projects, along with some classics..
Kathy will also be Painting from the stage on each set, as the band will play a tune that sprites my visual work.

Jeff Cuny Trio
2019-01-11 17:30 - 20:15, 2019-01-04 17:30 - 20:15

Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra
2019-01-10 20:00 - 23:00
Please note that this show is starting at 8 pm!
This year is the 21st 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).
A High School Jazz Band will open at 7 pm.
https://www.wscottjazz.com/orchestra-groups/

Duncan McMillan CD Release Party!
2019-01-06 19:30 - 22:30
bandleader/composer Duncan McMillan’s new CD is “Room with a View.”
A labor of love, Duncan began the process in 2004, and has been fortunate to document this music with musicians who collectively represent important relationships in his life – both as individuals and as musicians.
“Room with a View” is an audio portrait of how he sees and experienced the world. Each song has a point of origin, with many compositions based upon standard forms or recordings that have inspire him as a student of Music and The History of Jazz Organ.
Listed below are the musicians involved in this recording project:
Rob Pipho: Vibraphone
Keith Kaminski: soprano saxophone
Diego Rivera: tenor saxophone
Ben Jansson: flute, tenor saxophone
Ryan Mackstaller: guitar
Randy Napoleon: guitar
Perry Hughes: guitar
Steve Nistor: drums
Sean Dobbins: drums
Pete Siers: drums
Keith Hall: drums
Larry Fratangelo: percussion
Duncan W. McMillan: Hammond B-3 Organ
(composer/arranger)

Sunday Brunch w/ Jarrod Champion
2019-01-06 11:30 - 14:30
“Stylized folk balladry, nocturnal narratives and closing time croons burn with the romanticism of Jeff Buckley.” -Jeff Milo, Real Detroit Weekly
Every Sunday Brunch, piano-man Jarrod Champion plays early American music including New Orleans-style jazz, jump blues, early soul, rock and roll, swing-country and mix’s all that in with lounge versions of modern and classic rock.
http://jarrodchampion.com/

Ralphe Armstrong & the International Detroiters
2019-01-05 21:30
The International Detroiters is comprised of some of music’s most prolific musicians. Created by Detroiter bass player/educator, Ralphe, a true music legend. A beast on both upright and electric bass, Armstrong has been active as a professional musician since he was a teenager, having done stints with everyone from Jeff Beck and Jean-Luc Ponty to John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, Frank Zappa and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Ralphe’s most recent album, Detroit Rising, pays homage to the automobile manufacturing industry workers who supported the free word in 1941. This CD features primarily Detroit Musicians as well as musicians from Los Angeles, Nashville, and London, England that came to Detroit for their first visit. “Gretchen’s Groove” is dedicated to The Detroit Angel, Gretchen Valade.
ID features Gayelynn McKinney (drummer) from the famed McKinney family where her mother Gwendolyn was an accomplished vocalist and her father Harold McKinney a composer, pianist, band leader and jazz educator in the Detroit area, Alex Colista (saxophone), and Gerard Gibbs (keyboard), who tours the world with sax virtuoso James Carter.

Paul VornHagen Quartet
2019-01-04 21:00
“Gutsy sax…sensuous flute…and vocals, smooth as silk” –JAZZ TIMES
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. He always brings an impressive band!
Paul Vornhagen on sax/flute/vocals
Gary Schunk on piano
Sean Dobbins on drums
John Barron on bass
paulvornhagenjazz.com/

Cliff Bell's closed
2019-01-01 00:00 - 23:59
Happy New Year!

New Years Eve w/ Planet D Nonet
2018-12-31 18:00
New Year’s Eve Celebration is $100pp which includes a 5 course dinner, live entertainment by the Jeff Cuny Trio and Planet D Nonet, a midnight toast, party favors and late night snacks to ring in 2018 in style!
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” Packages available for $25 which include Planet D Nonet, midnight toast, party favors, late night snacks and admission starting at 10:30 pm. Standing room only. Excludes tax and gratuity.
“…One of Detroit’s great party bands,” with a “sweeping field of vision that ranges from Swing Era classics to connoisseur works by Duke Ellington, mind-expanding pieces by the visionary Sun Ra and some down-and-dirty joint R&B.” Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press.
Detroit’s own down and dirty little big band, known nationally for curating some of the best in early jazz traditions and Black-American musical influences from the 20s, 30s and 40s, Planet D Nonet is more “hot” than “sweet,” according to PD9 cofounder and bandleader RJ Spangler, who started the nine piece ensemble with longtime musical partner James O’Donnell in 2007.
PD9, a pared down version of the traditional big bands of the 1930s, frequently features guest vocalists, adding to the versatility of the band’s show. The number of musicians in the lineup is reminiscent of the earliest big bands, when swing was still evolving into the sound that defined jazz music’s most popular era.
“The band retains the agility of a small group,” says Spangler, “but with the harmonic palette of a larger one.” The band’s repertoire is unmatched, in one set paying tribute to the music of Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson, and in another the proto-R&B sounds of Detroit artists such as Paul “Hucklebuck” Williams and King Porter as well as national treasures like Louis Jordan & Buddy Johnson.
The group has been nominated and awarded multiple honors over the past decade, including several Detroit Music Awards 2011-2018. In 2018, PD9 was named DMA for Outstanding Traditional Jazz Artist/Group.
PD9’s latest release, A Salute to Strayhorn, features musical selections associated with the composer, lyricist, arranger and pianist Billy Strayhorn, best known for his celebrated musical collaborations with Duke Ellington.
With all the hours that PD9 have put in pounding the musical pavement, it’s hard to imagine that any avowed Ellington/Strayhorn fan hasn’t yet experienced them, whether live or recorded. The 2016 release provides the perfect opportunity to discover this group known for putting body, soul and spirit into every bit of music they touch. If you have not yet experienced Planet D Nonet, your groove tank is missing out on some serious fuel.
The Planet D Nonet has performed at Festivals and night clubs in Ohio, Indiana, Chicago (IL), Kentucky, Mississippi, New Orleans (LA), FL, Atlanta (GA), Charleston (SC), Asheville (NC) and all over Michigan!
The PD9 Strayhorn CD was endorsed by the Strayhorn Family and hit #17 on the National JazzWeek chart, #23 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Chart and was considered for a Grammy.
Reservations: https://reserve.com/r/cliff-bells-detroit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjn69EURUkE&list=PL9bmvZ83bmHOykke-dj-1BKQTrUlOe7ZE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_yrQsGby_U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcDeybZPii0

Rob Crozier Jazz Ensemble
2018-12-30 20:30 - 23:00
The Rob Crozier Jazz Ensemble has established itself as one of Michigan’s premiere jazz ensembles. After great reception at the 2018 Elkhart Jazz Festival (IN) and West Michigan Wine and Jazz Festival this fine group has continued to wow audiences with feature performances at the charming Mayflower Music Series in Detroit and at their regular engagements at Weber’s Habitat every Sunday night.
https://www.robcroziermusic.com/

Samuel Chase Harris Trio
2018-12-29 18:00 - 20:30
Samuel Chase Harris is an active bassist in the Metro Detroit jazz scene. He studied at Wayne State University under Dan Pliskow, Paul Keller and Larry Hutchinson; continuing his studies upon graduation under the tutelage of Rob Pipho and Christopher Hamlen. He has been the Saturday night house bassist at Cliff Bells for the last 4 years and is excited to be leading his own group in a fresh format exploring the works of classic and contemporary jazz alike.

James O'Donnell Holiday Jazz Party!
2018-12-23 19:00 - 22:00
James O’Donnell was on the ground floor of the Sun Messengers but eventually his desire to travel took him around much of the globe. He started in New York City then in Mexico City, eventually becoming a bandleader on cruise ships which took him to the Caribbean, the Alaskan Panhandle, both the French & the Italian Riviera’s, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Greece, Turkey, through Scandinavia to Russia as well as several trips crossing the Atlantic. He often backed guest artists including Freddy Cole.
He came home to start a family and has built a name for himself around town as an original trumpet stylist as well as an engaging singer. As a family man, the holidays are always a big deal for him so putting this collection together was an obvious choice.

DET/NYC Quartet featuring Dwight Adams
2018-12-22 21:30
Josh Davis (Drums) and Sam Trapchak (Bass) moved to NYC from Detroit 10 years ago. On this very special evening they will reunite with two of Detroit’s premier jazz musicians- Dwight Adams (Trumpet) and Scott Gwinnell (Piano). The group will pay tribute to the great trumpeter Lee Morgan by performing compositions from his definitive Blue Note years in the 1960s.
