April 2019 – Mike Lee

An Amazing Week! (and the Great Reveal)

April 22, 2019 by Mike Lee

This week is full of interesting gigs and events. I hope to see you this week!

Monday April 22nd – After a day of master classes with Christian McBride, Ted Chubb, Rebecca Harris, and me, the Young Traditions Vermont String Ensemble and my Jazz house Kids Ambassadors combo (with special guest – Jacquie Lee!) perform at the Van Vleck house in Montclair. 21 Van Vleck St, Montclair, NJ 07042. Reception at 6:00 pm Concert at 7:00 pm.

Tuesday April 23 – Frank Lacy Smalls Jazz Club NYC. New music penned by Frank Lacy and reworking of Henry Threadgill’s sextet music. Come see his genius in action. Frank Lacy, trombone/trumpet – Mike Lee, woodwinds – Brian Simontacchi, trombone – Akua Dixon, cello – James Robbins, bass – Wen-ting Wu, drums – Brandon Lewis, drums. Smalls Jazz Club|183 West 10th Street|New York City, New York| Smalls does not take reservations – it is a first come/first serve admission policy. Cover:$20 Per Set $10 Students Sets at 10:30 and Midnight.

THE GREAT REVEAL!

April 24th – Mike Lee Jam Continues at the Brown Bear Pub 104 Harrison Street, West Orange NJ. No Cover. House Band 8:00 pm – Jam 9:00 until 11:45. With Ed Howard, Vince Ector.

April 25th & 26th – Bemelman’s Bar with Loston Harris and Gianluca Renzi at the Carlyle Hotel. 76th and Madison NYC. 9:30 pm to 12:30 am (1:00 am on Friday).

April 27th – Frank Lacy CHAMBER MUSIC AT ST. ANDREW’S OFFERS KU-UMBA FRANK LACY CONCERT JAZZ ENSEMBLE Sat. April 27, 7:30 pm – free. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is located at 5277 State Route 42 in South Fallsburg, NY

APR 22 Mon– String Masterclass and Student performance Jazz House Kids
APR 23 Tue 10:30 pm – 1:00 am Frank Lacy Ensemble @ Smalls
April 24th Wed 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm Mike Lee Jam Brown Bear Pub
APR 25 Thu 9:30 pm – 12:30 am Loston Harris Trio @ Bemelman’s Bar
APR 26 Fri 9:30 pm – 1:00 am Loston Harris Trio @ Bemelman’s Bar
APR 27 Sat – Frank Lacy Ensemble -St Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Secrets from a Jam Session Leader

April 22, 2019 by Mike Lee

Most jazz musicians have attended many jam sessions. Few of us have hosted a recurring jam session over a long time period. Here are some things I’d like you to consider:

Hosting is hard. There are many points of consideration when trying run a jam session that might not ever cross the mind of the average session attendee. It is important to remain a good positive rapport with the musicians you hire for the house band, with the regular fans, with younger participating musicians, with established/known musicians who might stop through, and with the servers, bartenders, and owner of the venue. Each of these groups might have a different set of needs and agendas. I often joke that the trick is not to try to please everyone, but just to decide who you’re going to piss off tonight. The understanding of the chemistry and interdependence of each of these categories of people is what sets a good jam session apart from a great one.

I want you to succeed. I want you to have a great musical and social experience which rewards your love for the music and challenges you to increase your skills and understanding of the music. Try to understand if things don’t exactly as you hoped this week. There might be 600 other considerations I’m juggling at that moment.

I’m your host. Please say hello and goodbye. It’s courteous and helps me know if I’m on the right track providing a valuable event.

Competition has it’s place. Most of the greatest musicians had storied “battles” that helped create their legend. These battles often happened at jam sessions. If you feel “defeated” or “cut” – come back next week and reclaim your stake.

Buy something. The venue is providing the scene and the lights and electricity. They are counting on your business. An appetizer and a soda go well with a late night set.

It’s cool to let me know you’d like someday to play in the house band, but it often puts me in an awkward place. I have a fairly regular rotation of players I use and I have spent a lot of time and energy cultivating a nice network of professionals whom I can count on for many reasons. Throwing a new cat into the mix isn’t always as easy as it seems. It’s not that your not KILLING IT!, but it’s not as easy as it seems.

It’s cool to come and hang out and listen to all the players without sitting in. I feel so many people are so apprehensive about sitting in that they’d rather sit home than come participate as listeners. But you can gain a lot of information just observing.

Play short – it’s a winning formula. Play one less chorus than you think and people will love you.

Young cats – please forgive me when I forget your name or don’t recognize you. I meet 100 new people every week. And you grew a beard or lost 50 pounds. It can throw me off!

Hope to see you this Wednesday, April 24th at Brown Bear Pub in West Orange!

How “Vibing” Works at a Jam Session

April 5, 2020April 21, 2019 by Mike Lee

One of the most common complaints I hear about jam sessions is that someone was “vibed” or someone was “vibing.” That is to say, people feel that they were unduly judged or spurned by the leaders or co-participants of the jam session. Everyone has a story. It’s an epidemic – or so it would seem. “Vibing” is discussed as a reality. “I WAS VIBED” is declared as if it were a measurable, provable condition, which has a specific and objectively defined set of criteria that had been assessed by an omniscient committee of accomplished yet compassionate observers who passed along their findings to the “victim” of said vibing so that these victims could declare the injustice to the world. A more reasonable understanding of the phenomenon of being “vibed” only means that a participant wasn’t received in the manner in which he/she feels is appropriate based on his/her own estimation of his/her own abilities and status. The “reception” they are looking for can include the immediacy of their invitation to play by the session host, the players they are paired with, the crowd response at the conclusion of their solo, or the enthusiasm of the other musicians to meet them and exchange contact information. But the interpretation of these criteria is very difficult to quantify.

As a young musician attending jam sessions back in the day, I was frequently disappointed with the reception I received. And it was tempting to claim I was the victim of “vibing” but I found it much more tempting to regroup and return to a situation better prepared to receive the type of reception I wanted. My move to New York from the midwest as a young musician was a real eye opener. In my hometown, I was used to a certain reception at jam sessions. It was a big-fish/small-pond situation. Once in New York, the (seeming) complete indifference to my performances was hard to take. But perseverance paid off and eventually I became part of the jam session scene. Then I started to get work based on the networking that would take place at jams. This process was painful at times but ultimately rewarding.

My message in writing this post is this: stop assessing whether or not you receive the accolades you deserve. This is a fruitless activity for two reasons: 1) you can’t objectively assess your performance and 2) you can’t objectively assess your reception. So rather than kvetch about the “vibe,” be the vibe you seek. Bring the joy and energy with whomever you are paired; be a joyful listener; become familiar with the repertoire that is being performed; bring a sense of community and sharing and enjoy the reward of playing the greatest music in the world. Remember that frequency breeds fellowship and a sense of belonging to a scene bigger than yourself. Be a regular. Your presence can sway the session towards your vision.

March/April

April 5, 2019April 5, 2019 by Mike Lee

March ended on a high note as we accelerate into busy season!

After our CD release at Dizzy’s, I was thrilled to come back home to Montclair last Saturday night and play with Dave Stryker at our local landmark, Trumpets Jazz Club. It was Dave’s birthday celebration and the place was filled to the rafters! It was exciting to play for so many friends and neighbors. Dave is churning out more great music and has already recorded two albums this year which are due for release this spring. I had fun helping him work up the music for these releases and was delighted to perform much of this music at Trumpets. Trumpets has been a vital part of our musical culture and I was saddened to learn that it has been put up for sale. Here’s hoping the new owners take up the mantle of Kristine Massari and Enrico Granafei and keep presenting world-class jazz music.

This weekend I’m looking forward to performing again with the legendary pianist/composer and former musical director for Luther Vandross, Nat Adderley Jr. Saturday April 6th at 2 pm at the Montclair Museum of Art.

Sunday, I’ll be in Morristown for the New Jersey Jazz Society 50th Annual Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. First I’ll be directing my Jazz House Kids Ambassadors ensemble at noon, then joining Andy Farber and a a great line up of saxophonist for a battle royal at 1:15.

Then Wednesday is my birthday celebration at Small’s Jazz Club in New York City. Smalls is one of the greatest jazz clubs in the world and I’m excited to celebrate with my trio – Ed Howard on bass, and Alvester Garnett on drums plus added guest Julian Lee on Saxophone. Thursday the same band will make it’s way to New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Jazz Project’s Thursday night at the Hyatt. Later this month the Loston Harris Trio begins it’s spring residency at Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle Hotel. See the full April Calendar here

March and April are decision time and I’m so excited for my students who have successfully auditioned at The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, and many other fine institutions. It’s been a banner year for the students of Jazz House Kids!

April Dates Announced!

April 5, 2019April 5, 2019 by Mike Lee

Spring is here and so is a full Schedule of musical activity. Be sure to check out the frequently updated calendar

APR 6 Sat 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Nat Adderley Jr. – Praise Groove w/Jazz Montclair Art Museum
APR 7 Sun 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm New Jersey Jazz Society 50th Annual Pee Wee Russell Memorial Stomp @ Hyatt Regency
APR 10 Wed 10:30 pm – 1:00 am Smalls Jazz – Mike Lee Birthday Celebration! @ Smalls Jazz Club
APR 11 Thu 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm New Brunswick Jazz Project @ Hyatt Regency
APR 12 Fri Sparta High School Jazz Festival, Adjudicator
APR 13 SatNewark Academy Essentially Ellington Festival Adjudicator
April 14 Sun Montclair State University Combos at Shanghai Jazz Club
APR 18 Thu 9:30 pm – 12:30 am Loston Harris Trio @ Bemelman’s Bar
APR 19 Fri 9:30 pm – 1:00 am Loston Harris Trio @ Bemelman’s Bar
APR 20 Sat 9:30 pm – 1:00 am Loston Harris Trio @ Bemelman’s Bar
APR 22 Mon– String Masterclass and Student performance Jazz House Kids
APR 23 Tue 10:30 pm – 1:00 am Frank Lacy Ensemble @ Smalls
APR 25 Thu 9:30 pm – 12:30 am Loston Harris Trio @ Bemelman’s Bar
APR 26 Fri 9:30 pm – 1:00 am Loston Harris Trio @ Bemelman’s Bar
APR 27 Sat – Frank Lacy Ensemble – time and venue TBA

Dizzy’s Success!

April 5, 2019April 5, 2019 by Mike Lee

Drum icon Lenny White continued his enthusiastic support for this project by playing the music with equal parts nuance and power. Releasing this album on his IYOUWEE label has been a tremendous privilege.
We are in the midst of the radio and media promotion for the album. I couldn’t have asked for a better advocate.

Ed Howard and the Broken String!
Photo: Chris Drukker

Joining me in the front line was my son, and New York saxophonist, Julian Lee. He wasn’t only an extraordinary asset as an intelligent creative artist, but also helped focus me and took the pressure off in many mundane ways. Dizzy’s was Julian’s home for two years when he hosted the late night session there. The people of Dizzy’s, from the administration and mangers, to the servers, bartenders, security personnel are like family to Julian and by extension to me.

My first gig as a leader at the famed Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola is in the books. What a night it was! Playing against a backdrop of Columbus Circle and Central Park with some of my favorite musicians in celebration of my New CD was everything one could ask for. The wonderful fans, family, and students who packed the club to capacity made it even more wonderful.

George Colligan, piano, and Ed Howard, bass, showed why they are two of the most versatile and in demand artists in today’s music scene. The only hitch in the whole evening happened when Ed’s A -string broke on the last note of the first tune. A potentially devastating challenge was instantly solved when the great bassist, Ben Wolfe, who was sitting at the bar offered his bass. After two minutes Ed was back in action. Ben Wolfe to the rescue!

Matthew Sits in on “Hey Lock”
Photo: Chris Drukker

Matthew jumped up for the last tune – “Hey Lock” which he also performs on the record. He was swinging away! Look out for Jacquie, too!