A Blessing from the Pandemic

As difficult and painful as this period has been for the world, we sometimes see a silver lining emerge in the midst of tragedy. In September of last year, my sons moved out of our house. Our oldest Julian moved to Brooklyn and Matthew started his college experience at Juilliard. Suddenly I found myself home every night and getting to really spend time with my wife and daughter. That was a real treat, but as the days turned to weeks and months, my daughter Jacquie and I found ourselves practicing together for hours on end. Already a gifted violinist and improvisor, this time together allowed her to attain a facility with improvisation language that few teenagers possess.  Her new found talent is a blessing but it is only a glimpse of the real blessing of growing so close to her and having her join me and her brothers on the “Scene.” 

We will celebrate her arrival this Wednesday Night at Clement’s place in Newark joined by her brothers and a couple more members of our extended music family. 

Wednesday, October 20,2021 
Sets at 7:00 and 8:20 
Jazz973 at Clements Place Presents:
Mike Lee Family Band Introducing Jacquie Lee

It’s FREE, but you must secure your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/192957750827

Featuring Jacquie Lee – Violin with:
Julian lee – Sax
Matthew Lee – Drums
Mike Lee – Sax
Rebecca Lee – Violin
Liany Mateo -Bass
Nat Adderley Jr. – Piano

Back At It With the Loston Harris Trio!

After a year and a half off, we’re back for our bi-annual residency at Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle Hotel! Loston Harris has been a fixture at the Carlyle for almost twenty years and I’ve been with him for most of the past decade. Bemelman’s is an exquisite venue filled with artistes, celebrities and characters of all stripes. Loston is a phenomenal vocalist and pianist. We play a wide range of American Songbook and Jazz Standards. It’s truly a remarkable scene. Please join us! I’ll be with Loston every Thursday Friday and Saturday night through the end of the year. 

Join us as we Celebrate our return to The Carlyle, NYC on Oct.21 – Dec. 31, 2021. Thur. (9:30pm – 12:30am); Fri. & Sat. (9:30pm – 1am)

Candlelight Lounge Trenton

The Candlelight Lounge in Trenton, NJ, is a gem of a jazz club. It reminds me of the neighborhood clubs I grew up playing at in Cleveland, OH. The folks love the music. It’s a Saturday Matinee schedule so we can make our evening gigs in New York. E C Bradley is the proprietor and bar tender, and his wife, Valerie serves up an amazing meal. 

This Saturday we’ll be performing with Radam Schwartz Quartet featuring Bryan Carrot and Andrew Atkinson. Featuring music from Radam’s “Both Sides of the Organ Combo” CD. 

SATURDAY October 23
Candlelight Jazz Matinee
3:30-7:30
$10 minimum

Candlelight Lounge 24 Passaic Street Trenton, NJ 08618

Ruthie’s BBQ, Jazz Gallery, Kean University Jazz Festival

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Things are bounding back to normal! It’s hard to fathom that a month ago I was barely gigging and now it’s back to a schedule reminiscent of 2019. This week my youngest child, Jacquie, takes a huge step forward in her blossoming career as a jazz violinist. She will be hosting a student jam session at Montclair’s classic Barbeque joint – Ruthie’s BBQ and Pizza. Then Friday and Saturday I will return to the Jazz Gallery in New York for a reunion of Roy Hargrove’s Big Band, celebrating his life and music. Also Saturday afternoon I’ll be taking the stage at the Kean University Jazz Festival with the Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet

Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q Student Jam Session

Thursday October 14th 6 pm until 9 pm

Hosted By Jacquie Lee (Violin)
Featuring Derrick Campos (Guitar), Michael Topping (Bass) and
Gilad Perlman (Drums).
Join us this Thursday Night at 6 pm as Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q and Pizza hosts an open jazz jam session for students. Led by up and coming 16-year-old violinist Jacquie Lee, the house band will open with a short set then segue directly into an open jazz jam. Bring your horn and your appetite! 

Thursday October 14th 6 pm until 9 pm Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q and Pizza
64 1/2 Chestnut St, Montclair, NJ 
No Cover
Food Minimum is $8
BYOB

An Evening Celebrating Roy Hargrove’s 52nd Birthday with Big Band directed by Jason Marshall

  • Friday, October 15, 2021 &
  • Saturday October 16, 2021
  • The Jazz Gallerywww.jazzgallery.org (map)
  • Google Calendar  ICS

with special guests Renee Neufville & Lezlie Harrison – vocals

Trumpets
Frank Greene
Tanya Darby
Wayne Tucker
Josh Evans

Trombones
Jason Jackson
Andrae Murchison
Barry Cooper
James Burton

Saxophones
Bruce Williams
Justin Robinson
Keith Loftis
Mike Lee
Jason Marshall

Brandon McCune -piano
Danton Boller -bass
Saul Rubin –guitar
Jerome Jennings -drums

Since its founding in 1995 by Roy Hargrove, Dale Fitzgerald, and Lezlie Harrison, New York City’s The Jazz Gallery has been a key institution in the city’s jazz and creative music scene. Known as “the most imaginatively booked jazz club in New York” (New York Times), The Gallery has welcomed and nurtured several generations of musicians from around the world, including many who have gone on to critical acclaim as Grammy Award® nominees and winners, MacArthur Fellows, Thelonious Monk Competition winners and finalists, Critics’ Poll-winners, and headliners at major international festivals.

Saturday, October 16

Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet
Kean University Jazz & Roots Music Festival

Rain Date: October 17

  • Free Outdoor Concert
  • Live Music
  • Food Trucks

Pack a picnic basket — or visit the food trucks when you get here — and bring a blanket or chair to the inaugural Jazz & Roots Music Festival, a free outdoor music concert on The Lawn at Enlow Hall in Hillside NJ. Performing at the music festival is pianist/composer Nat Adderley Jr.; rap and hip-hop artist JSWISS, featuring Casey Benjamin and Mark Whitfield; the jazz group Dave Stryker Quartet; and the evening’s headliner — the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience.

For more information, email alumni@kean.edu.

SCHEDULE

  • 4:30 p.m. – Nat Adderley Jr.
  • 5:15 p.m. – JSWISS, featuring Casey Benjamin & Mark Whitfield
  • 6:00 p.m. – Dave Stryker Quartet
  • 7:00 p.m. – Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience

The Lawn at Enlow Hall
215 North Avenue, Hillside, NJ

DIRECTIONS