The winter-spring jazz season has plenty of concerts and club dates on tap, including some with half of the Marsalis clan, to keep jazz lovers warm over the next few months.
In chronological order, here are five jazz events to look forward to:
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis will appear as part of a duo with Joey Calderazzo and with with his own quartet at Proctors in Schenectady. Marsalis showed his versatility last summer with the Philadelphia Orchestra at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The Proctors gig will no doubt let him display his formidable straight-ahead jazz chops. Feb. 3.
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Clarinetist/saxophonist Anat Cohen will lead a quartet at The Egg in Albany, sharing the stage with pianist Gerald Clayton’s trio. Cohen encompasses modern and traditional jazz, Brazilian choro, Argentine tango, and Afro-Cuban styles. Her quartet features Jason Lindner on piano, Omer Avital on bass and Daniel Freedman on drums. Clayton plays standards, bebop and works in the Euro-classical canon. Feb. 12.
Trumpeter Randy Brecker will be joined by saxophonist Ada Rovatti, drummer David Calarco, bassist John Menegon and guitarist Matt Finck at the Van Dyck in Schenectady. Brecker has performed here several times in recent years, notably with the late Nick Brignola and as a soloist with the Empire Jazz Orchestra. March 3.
Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis will lead the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. To celebrate Marsalis’ 50th birthday, the band will offer a retrospective of his music written for big band, along with music by Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, Lee Morgan and others. March 19.
Speaking of the Empire Jazz Orchestra, the resident big band at Schenectady County Community College will give its spring concert in April. The second half of that concert will be devoted to the music of Clare Fischer, whose son Brent leads his own big band and will be on hand to conduct the EJO. April 17.
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