Nightspots
The Firefly Club
637 S. Main
665-9090
Jazz and blues club, named Best Metro Detroit Jazz Club by the
December 1: Paul Keller Orchestra
Award-winning 15-piece big band led by bassist Keller and featuring vocalist (and Firefly Club owner) Susan Chastain. Followed at 11 p.m. by a jazz jam session. Every Thurs. : Los Gatos. Mambos and cha-chas by this local Latin jazz band that specializes in the music of Cal Tjader, the late San Francisco vibes player who ignited the 1950s mambo craze. Led by drummer Pete Siers, the group also includes vibes player Cary Kocher, bassist Kurt Krahnke, pianist Brian DiBlassio, and percussionist Jonathan Ovalle. Preceded at 7 p.m. by Latin dance lessons ($5 includes cover for the band). 8-11 p.m.
December 5: Easy Street Swingtet
(5-8 p.m.) except Dec. 19 Dixieland and swing by this local ensemble led by saxophonist and trumpeter Paul Klinger.
December 5: Mr. B, Steve Nardella, and George Bedard Reunion Concert
It's been 25 years since these 3 local roots-music luminaries played together as members of the Steve Nardella Band. Since then, each has gone on to make his own mark, Mark "Mr. B" Braun as an internationally renowned exponent of classic boogie-woogie and blues piano, Nardella as the leader of the blues-based Steve Nardella Rock 'n' Roll Trio, and Bedard as a prime force in a succession of superb bands, from the Bonnevilles to Tracy Lee & the Leonards to George Bedard & the Kingpins. They get back together tonight - with additional musicians TBA - for a show that no fan of American vernacular music can afford to miss. This is their 7th almost-annual reunion concert, and earlier ones have drawn packed houses, so get there early, or be prepared to cool your heels standing in line.
December 6: Bruce Katz Band
Funky, greasy, blues-drenched, New Orleans-inspired R&B by a band led by this Hammond B-3 organist from Boston who teaches a course on the blues at the prestigious Berklee School of Music. "No one would mistake Katz's blues for jazz, but there are elements of jazz to be found on [his 2003 CD] Mississippi Moan, in that it occasionally features long solos and sophisticated harmonics not traditionally found on blues albums," says Bluesreviews critic Don Fluckinger. Tonight the band celebrates the release of its new CD Live at the Firefly Club.
December 7: Phil Ogilvie's Rhythm Kings
(5-8 p.m.) This local 10-piece big band is one of the few to specialize in the old-time big-band music of the late 1920s and early 1930s associated with Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver. Arrangements by the renowned early-jazz pianist James Dapogny and tubaist Chris Smith. The rest of the lineup includes 3 saxophonists/clarinetists, 2 trumpeters, a trombonist, a guitarist/banjo player, and a drummer.
December 7: "Elevation."
Funk and hip-hop by DJ Graffiti and other DJs TBA. Also, an open mike session.
December 8: Paul Keller Orchestra
Award-winning 15-piece big band led by bassist Keller and featuring vocalist (and Firefly Club owner) Susan Chastain. Followed at 11 p.m. by a jazz jam session. Every Thurs. : Los Gatos. Mambos and cha-chas by this local Latin jazz band that specializes in the music of Cal Tjader, the late San Francisco vibes player who ignited the 1950s mambo craze. Led by drummer Pete Siers, the group also includes vibes player Cary Kocher, bassist Kurt Krahnke, pianist Brian DiBlassio, and percussionist Jonathan Ovalle. Preceded at 7 p.m. by Latin dance lessons ($5 includes cover for the band). 8-11 p.m.
December 9: Lonesome County
Hard-driving traditional bluegrass by this Michigan quintet, led by singer-guitarist Chad Jeremy, that won the 2006 Renfro Valley Bluegrass Talent Contest. With mandolinist Kevin Frank, banjoist Lee Kaufmann, fiddler Marty Somberg, and bassist Paul Shapiro. 7:30 p.m.
December 12: Easy Street Swingtet
(5-8 p.m.) except Dec. 19 Dixieland and swing by this local ensemble led by saxophonist and trumpeter Paul Klinger.
December 12: Paul Keller Orchestra
Award-winning 15-piece big band led by bassist Keller and featuring vocalist (and Firefly Club owner) Susan Chastain. Tonight the band celebrates the release of its new holiday CD, More Christmas Songs for Jazz Lovers.
December 13:
Closed.
December 14: Phil Ogilvie's Rhythm Kings
(5-8 p.m.) This local 10-piece big band is one of the few to specialize in the old-time big-band music of the late 1920s and early 1930s associated with Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver. Arrangements by the renowned early-jazz pianist James Dapogny and tubaist Chris Smith. The rest of the lineup includes 3 saxophonists/clarinetists, 2 trumpeters, a trombonist, a guitarist/banjo player, and a drummer.
December 14: "Elevation."
Funk and hip-hop by DJ Graffiti and other DJs TBA. Also, an open mike session.
December 15: Paul Keller Orchestra
Award-winning 15-piece big band led by bassist Keller and featuring vocalist (and Firefly Club owner) Susan Chastain. Followed at 11 p.m. by a jazz jam session. Every Thurs. : Los Gatos. Mambos and cha-chas by this local Latin jazz band that specializes in the music of Cal Tjader, the late San Francisco vibes player who ignited the 1950s mambo craze. Led by drummer Pete Siers, the group also includes vibes player Cary Kocher, bassist Kurt Krahnke, pianist Brian DiBlassio, and percussionist Jonathan Ovalle. Preceded at 7 p.m. by Latin dance lessons ($5 includes cover for the band). 8-11 p.m.
December 19: Easy Street Swingtet
(5-8 p.m.) except Dec. 19 Dixieland and swing by this local ensemble led by saxophonist and trumpeter Paul Klinger.
December 19:
Closed.
December 20: "A Swingin' Christmas"
Vintage jump blues and swing music by the renowned San Francisco-based duo of Steve Lucky & Carmen Getit, the stage names of former Ann Arborites singer-pianist Steve Wethy (the former frontman of the immensely popular local 80s sextet Blue Front Persuaders) and singer-guitarist Patsy Smith. They are backed tonight by the local trio of bassist Paul Keller, pianist Pete Siers, and saxophonist Keith Kaminski.
December 21: Phil Ogilvie's Rhythm Kings
(5-8 p.m.) This local 10-piece big band is one of the few to specialize in the old-time big-band music of the late 1920s and early 1930s associated with Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver. Arrangements by the renowned early-jazz pianist James Dapogny and tubaist Chris Smith. The rest of the lineup includes 3 saxophonists/clarinetists, 2 trumpeters, a trombonist, a guitarist/banjo player, and a drummer.
December 21: "Elevation."
Funk and hip-hop by DJ Graffiti and other DJs TBA. Also, an open mike session.
December 22: Paul Keller Orchestra
Award-winning 15-piece big band led by bassist Keller and featuring vocalist (and Firefly Club owner) Susan Chastain. Followed at 11 p.m. by a jazz jam session. Every Thurs. : Los Gatos. Mambos and cha-chas by this local Latin jazz band that specializes in the music of Cal Tjader, the late San Francisco vibes player who ignited the 1950s mambo craze. Led by drummer Pete Siers, the group also includes vibes player Cary Kocher, bassist Kurt Krahnke, pianist Brian DiBlassio, and percussionist Jonathan Ovalle. Preceded at 7 p.m. by Latin dance lessons ($5 includes cover for the band). 8-11 p.m.
December 26: Easy Street Swingtet
(5-8 p.m.) except Dec. 19 Dixieland and swing by this local ensemble led by saxophonist and trumpeter Paul Klinger.
December 26: Dobbins, Weed, & Krahnke
Local jazz ensemble featuring drummer Sean Dobbins, pianist Tad Weed, and bassist Kurt Krahnke.
December 27: Tim Ries
A Tecumseh native currently living in New York City, this highly regarded young tenor and soprano jazz saxophonist performs tonight in a jazz quartet featuring former Miles Davis bassist Darryl Jones.
December 28: "Elevation."
Funk and hip-hop by DJ Graffiti and other DJs TBA. Also, an open mike session.
December 28: Phil Ogilvie's Rhythm Kings
(5-8 p.m.) This local 10-piece big band is one of the few to specialize in the old-time big-band music of the late 1920s and early 1930s associated with Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver. Arrangements by the renowned early-jazz pianist James Dapogny and tubaist Chris Smith. The rest of the lineup includes 3 saxophonists/clarinetists, 2 trumpeters, a trombonist, a guitarist/banjo player, and a drummer.
December 29: Paul Keller Orchestra
Award-winning 15-piece big band led by bassist Keller and featuring vocalist (and Firefly Club owner) Susan Chastain. Followed at 11 p.m. by a jazz jam session. Every Thurs. : Los Gatos. Mambos and cha-chas by this local Latin jazz band that specializes in the music of Cal Tjader, the late San Francisco vibes player who ignited the 1950s mambo craze. Led by drummer Pete Siers, the group also includes vibes player Cary Kocher, bassist Kurt Krahnke, pianist Brian DiBlassio, and percussionist Jonathan Ovalle. Preceded at 7 p.m. by Latin dance lessons ($5 includes cover for the band). 8-11 p.m.
December 31:
TBA.
