Vincent York and Jazzistry Celebrated at the 17th Annual RENT PARTY Fundraiser
Saturday, February 24, 2018
7:30 – 10:30pm
The evening was an extravaganza of great food, great friends and great music — provided by The Sun Messengers as well as Vincent York and Ann Arbor’s newest Jazz All-Stars! A funky good time was had by all!
Location
EMU Student Center Grand Ballroom
900 Oakwood St
Ypsilanti
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Vincent York will once again
join The Heather Black Project
at The Ravens Club
Sunday, December 10, 2017
8:00pm
Come enjoy a unique concert experience influenced by Jazz, Blues, Classical, R&B Soul and Hip-Hop. You’ll travel back in time to the roaring 20’s for an evening of unforgettable music by some of the area’s best musicians. Experience how one of Ann Arbor’s favorite nightspots, The Ravens Club, turns into a 1920’s speakeasy for the evening.
Location
The Ravens Club
207 South Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
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Vincent York will join
The Heather Black Project
at The Ravens Club
Sunday, October 29, 2017
8:00pm
Swing into the season at one of Ann Arbor’s favorite nightspots, The Ravens Club, for an unforgettable evening of live jazz.
Location
The Ravens Club
207 South Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
2017 Detroit Jazz Festival
Jam Sessions Presented by Mack Avenue Records
Friday, September 1, 2017
11:00pm – 1:00am
Come enjoy Vincent York and a host of other musical legends in a jam session celebrating Detroit legacy artist George “Sax” Benson.
Location
In the Renaissance Ballroom of the Marriott,
the official Hotel of the Festival
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Celebrate International Jazz Day 2017
The Next Frontier
Vincent York +5
Last year Vincent York +5 took the first steps on a Cosmic Journey. This year you are invited to travel with them to the Next Frontier. As we take this journey together hear how the acoustic foundations of the music allow for the freedom of the electronics and experimental sounds of this cosmic journey.
Location
Kerrytown Concert House
415 N. Fourth Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
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Vincent York’s Jazzistry and
The Willis Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale
Songs to Lift Your Soul
Sunday, October 9th, 2016
The Ark, Ann Arbor, 6 pm
American musical culture is infused with African American influences from work songs, spirituals and gospel music; to blues, soul and hip-hop. Experience the heartfelt emotional qualities of Jazz, a uniquely American Art, as the instruments of Vincent York’s Jazzistry blend with the voices of The Willis Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale to perform an inspiring collection of the roots of Jazz.
The Willis Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale has performed for more than 30 years throughout the State of Michigan. With a culturally diverse membership that represents varied careers and a wide range of musical experience, The Willis Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale is committed to the preservation and performance of old African American spirituals as well as traditional contemporary choral compositions written or arranged by African American composers and musicians.
Tickets
$20 General Admission
Click here to buy tickets online
Location
The Ark
316 S. Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Doors Open @ 5:30pm
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Celebrate International Jazz Day 2016
Vincent York + 4
Saturday, April 30th, 2016
Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor, 8pm
On International Jazz Day Join Vincent York +4 in a tribute to the rich musical legacy of Detroit. This concert features the music of some of Detroit’s finest musicians including Lawrence Williams, Roy Brooks, Harold and Ray McKinney and Marcus Belgrave.
Jazzistry Founder, Vincent York will be joined by Rick Roe, acoustic piano; Robert Hurst, acoustic and electric base; Zach Saginaw acoustic and electric drums; and Gary Schunk, electronic keyboards.
Each year on April 30, Jazz is recognized internationally for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, respect for human rights and human dignity, eradicating discrimination, promoting freedom of expression, fostering gender equality and reinforcing the role of youth in enacting social change.
Tickets
$20 General Admission
$10 Student
Click here to buy tickets online
Location
Kerrytown Concert House
415 N. Fourth Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Doors Open @ 7:30pm
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Celebrate International Jazz Day 2015
Reflections on the Road:
Remembering My Time in the Duke Ellington Orchestra
Thursday, Aprils 30th, 2015
Kerrytown Concert House, 8pm
Join Vincent York, founder of the popular Jazzistry live music education program, for this year’s International Jazz Day performance. Enjoy an evening of musical reminiscence of his early career touring with the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington.
Location
Kerrytown Concert House
415 North Fourth Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI
Tickets
General Admission $20
Students $10
Click here for tickets
or call 734-769-2999
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Cultural Awareness Month Performance
October 17th, 2014
Central Middle School Auditorium, 7 pm
Join Midland Area Community Foundation for a jazz concert with special guest musician Vincent York and Jazzistry! Come enjoy an evening concert celebrating the many styles of music and cultures that contributed to the development of Jazz.The Jazzistry Band this evening will include bandleader Vincent York, John Dana bass, John Douglas trumpet, Ron English guitar and banjo, Pete Siers drums, and Glen Tucker, piano. This event is sponsored by the Michigan Jazz Trail. Admission is free.
Location
Central Middle School Auditorium, 305 E Reardon St Midland, MI 48640
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Vincent York’s Jazzistry presents a
Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
December 5th, 2014
The Ark, 8pm
Get a jazzy start to the weekend by attending a moving musical tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Bandleader Vincent York will be joined by vocalist Shahida Nurullah, trumpeter and vocalist David Greene, pianist Gary Schunk, bassist Marion Hayden, and drummer Pete Siers. David’s gravelly vocal style brings to life the memory of the great Louis Armstrong, and the smooth gentleness of vocalist Shahida Nurullah portrays America’s First Lady of Song. You’ll enjoy classics such as “Oh, Lady Be Good” and “What a Wonderful World.” Vincent York’s Jazzistry, an Ann Arbor based nonprofit, uses live performance to teach the story of jazz and its role in American history and culture to students in Michigan schools. Information about Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong is included in Jazzistry’s school presentations.
Location
The Ark, 316 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI
Tickets
$20 online
Link: http://theark.org/4055.html
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Celebrate International Jazz Day with Jazzistry
April 30, 2014
Kerrytown Concert House
Join us in a continuing celebration of West Coast Jazz. This evenings tribute will feature the music of composer Paul Desmond and West Coast Jazz icon, Chet Baker.
Jazzistry Founder and Artistic Director Vincent York will be joined by local favorites Paul Finkbeiner, trumpet; Ellen Rowe, piano; Marion Hayden, bass; and Sean Dobbins on drums.
Location
Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N Fourth Ave, Ave Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Date
Wednesday, April 30
Time
8pm
Tickets
$20 General Admission
$10 Student
Reserve your tickets in advance from the Kerrytown Concert House website or call 734-769-2999.
We look forward to seeing you there!
This Event is Co-sponsored by
Zingerman’s Community of Businesses & WEMU 89.1
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Jazzistry Presents: A Tribute to West Coast Jazz
This wonderful event features the influential music of saxophonists Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan. Please join us for the first event in a series paying tribute to America’s great West Coast Jazz musicians. This tribute will feature Vincent York playing Getz and Mark Berger playing Mulligan favorites including “Desafinado” and “Line for Lyons.”
Jazz Background: West Coast Cool Jazz
In the 1950s a new sound started coming out of California. Until that time California’s jazz scene had been pretty traditional. This new West Coast sound or cool jazz, is easily recognized by its melodic and relaxed sound and blended harmonies.
Stan Getz was known for his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence as a saxophone player being the wispy, mellow timbre of, Lester Young. He is perhaps best known for popularizing bossa nova, as in his worldwide hit single The Girl from Ipanema. In the mid to late 1950s Getz became popular playing cool jazz with Horace Silver, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Max Roach and many others.
Initially, Gerry Mulligan was known for his arrangements that had intricate inner parts, careful balancing of timbres, low dynamics and light swing. In 1952, while he was based in Los Angeles he formed his first piano-less quartet, with Chet Baker on trumpet. Some of his best playing is heard in his recordings with Chet Baker, Bob Brookmeyer, and Paul Desmond, with whom he shares an unusual talent for improvised countermelody.
Performing Artists (depicted from left to right above):
Vincent York, playing tenor saxophonist Getz
Mark Berger. playing baritone saxophonist Mulligan
Jesse Kramer, drums
John Dana, bass
Ron English, guitar
Gary Schunk, piano
Location
The Ark, 316 S Main St Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Date
November 15, 2013
Time
Doors open at 7:30pm; Showtime at 8pm
Tickets
$20-$27 in advance at http://theark.org/3729.html or call 763-TKTS (8587); Tickets also available at the door
We look forward to seeing you there!
This event is co-sponsored by Zingerman’s Community of Businesses and WEMU 89.1
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2008 Guvvy Awards
Governor Jennifer Granholm presented Vincent and Jazzistry with The Guvvy Arts Education Award at the black-tie Governor’s Arts Gala.
This award recognizes Jazzistry as having made significant contributions to arts education by:
- using workshops and professional development programs to enhance teacher quality;
- adapting national and state curricula to meet student needs;
- supporting the inclusions of the arts in the general curriculum;
- building educational partnerships with schools, arts and cultural organizations, businesses and the community at large.