Atlanta Jazz Notes

Welcome back to the Atlanta Jazz Notes podcast. Today, I am very happy to bring you my interview with the great Sylvester Syl Spann, a legendary figure on the Atlanta jazz scene for his saxophone playing and his mentorship of young musicians. 

Since childhood, Syl has dedicated his life to jazz music and he has pursued this passion in places as far-flung as New York City, Maine, California, and finally Atlanta, where he has made his home since the early 1980s. In this wide ranging interview, Syl details his childhood and early years honing his craft as a saxophonist, and the many chapters in his life, each with an incredible soundtrack featuring the likes of Coltrane, Stitt, Joe Henderson, Miles Davis, and many more.

Thank you for listening to the Atlanta Jazz Notes podcast featuring the great Syl Spann.

Please be sure to check out the website at atljazznotes.com. Also, please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. These reviews help to spread the word about the podcast to people who might enjoy it! More soon. 

In this episode, I interview the incredible saxophonist and arranger Rick Bell. Bell has been active on the Atlanta jazz scene for decades and is a true renaissance man. While working as a musician, he also worked as an artist and film animator for the CDC in Atlanta.

A native of Alabama - and an inductee in the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame - Bell and his wife (also a talented musician) moved to Atlanta to pursue careers and raise a family after meeting at Auburn University, where they performed with the Auburn Knights Orchestra.

In our wide-ranging conversation, Bell describes his early years as a musician, trips to New York City, settling in Atlanta, developing his melodic and muscular approach to tenor saxophone, and opportunities to perform with musicians like Milt Jackson, Zoot Sims, and Clark Terry as a member of the house band at EJ’s in the late 70s and early 80s.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did producing this episode. Thanks.

The Atlanta Jazz Notes Podcast is back with a new episode this week, featuring an interview with saxophonist Rick Bell. The full episode will be released later this week. In the mean time, please enjoy this preview. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview the incredible vocalist, composer, and educator Karla Harris. Harris is an incredibly dynamic performer, described by WSIE radio as “a powerful singer at ease in any setting, a singer for all seasons who makes any song memorable.”

In our wide-ranging conversation, she discussed her career, including moves from her hometown of St. Louis, to the Pacific Northwest, and finally to Atlanta, where she is based today. Along the way, she has developed lasting relationships with musicians and continued to hone her craft as a vocalist, composer, bandleader, and teacher.

This week, I had the opportunity to interview the amazing drummer Robert Boone

Robert Boone is the drummer for The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. In addition, he has performed with leading artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tyrone Jackson, Rodney Jordan, Eric Reed, Leon Anderson, Ron McCurdy, Scotty Barnhart, Veronica Swift, and Marcus Roberts at venues throughout Atlanta, New York, and the world.

Boone grew up in Augusta, Georgia and attended Kennesaw State University and Florida State University where he won numerous honors and awards. In addition to maintaining a busy touring schedule with the Basie band and others, he teaches in the jazz department at Georgia State University.

Here are your Atlanta Jazz Notes event listings for July 16th, 2021.

Friday, July 16th - Check out the great drummer Dave Potter’s Retro Groove band at the High Museum in Midtown from 6 to 9PM. 1280 Peachtree St NE

Also, trumpeter and vocalist extraordinaire Joe Gransden will perform and host an open mic jam session at Oak Street Bottle Shop in Roswell at 8PM. 75 Oak Street in Roswell.

Saturday, July 17th - Head to Cigaros Cigar Bar in Austell to hear guitarist Rod Harris Jr. and his stellar quartet from 9 to midnight. 1025 East-West Connector in Austell.

Sunday, July 18th -  The Jack Jones Trio featuring pianist Tyrone Jackson and bassist Kelly McCarty will perform at Red Light Cafe. 553 Amsterdam Ave. NE

Also on Sunday, the great young saxophonist Kevin Oliver will perform with his quartet at The Velvet Note in Alpharetta. 4075 Old Milton Pkwy.

Monday, July 19th - Check out the TEN ATL jam session in East Atlanta. The music usually lasts from 9 until midnight and features some of the very best jazz musicians in Atlanta. 495 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta

Wednesday, July 21st -  Head to Red Light Cafe for the weekly jam session. The great trumpeter and educator Gordon Vernick has led this session for a number of years and the house band is always incredible, as are the many guest musicians who stop by to play. 9 to midnight. 553-1 Amsterdam Ave NE, Atlanta,

Here are your Atlanta Jazz Notes event listings for July 9th, 2021.

Friday, July 9th - Joe Gransden plays with keyboardist Geoff Hayden at Ponko Chicken in Midtown from 7-10PM. 915 W Peachtree St NW

Saturday, July 10th - Stop by C-Ellet’s at the Battery outside Truist ballpark for brunch and a chance to hear the amazing pianist Louis Heriveaux from 11 to 2PM. 2605 Circle 75 Pkwy

In the evening, Bassist Lauren Seay brings her trio to Joy Cafe in Midtown every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6-9PM. 1100 Peachtree St NE

Sunday, July 11th -  The amazing vocalist Julie Dexter performs at The Gallery at Rock Steady, at 907 Marietta Street NW. Doors open at 3PM and the show starts at 5PM.

Monday, July 12th - Check out the TEN ATL jam session in East Atlanta. The music usually lasts from 9 until midnight and features some of the very best jazz musicians in Atlanta. 495 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta

Wednesday, July 13th-  Head to Red Light Cafe for the weekly jam session. The great trumpeter and educator Gordon Vernick has led this session for a number of years and the house band is always incredible, as are the many guest musicians who stop by to play. 9 to midnight. 553-1 Amsterdam Ave NE, Atlanta,

Thursday, July 14th - Guitarist Rod Harris Jr. will perform with his trio featuring pianist Louis Heriveaux and bassist Tommy Sauter from 8 to 10PM at the Whitley Hotel in Buckhead. 3434 Peachtree Rd NE

Here are your Atlanta Jazz Notes event listings for June 25th, 2021.

Friday, June 25th - Head to Ponko Chicken in Decatur to hear the great trumpeter and vocalist Joe Gransden with pianist Geoff Hayden from 7-10PM. 312 Church St, Decatur

Saturday, June 26th - The Edgewood Saxophone Trio, led by the unceasingly creative saxophonist and composer Jeff Crompton, will perform at The Imperial in Decatur at 4PM. 726 W. College Ave.

Also on Saturday, at Buteco at 1039 Grant St. SE  Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective will perform from 5 - 9PM. Scales is professor at Georgia State and an incredible keyboardist and musical polymath. This should be an incredible show.

Sunday, June 27th - Trumpeter Dashill Smith will perform with musical guests at Elliott Street Deli and Pub beginning at 3PM for the pre-game celebration of the Atlanta United Soccer match taking place across the street at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The band will play the post-game show until 8PM, so make a day of it with incredible music and soccer action.

Monday, June 28th - Check out TEN ATL in East Atlanta for their amazing weekly jazz jam. The music usually lasts from 9 until midnight and features some of the very best jazz musicians in Atlanta. 495 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta

Wednesday, June 30th -  Stop by the Red Light Cafe for the weekly jam session. The great trumpeter and educator Gordon Vernick has led this session for a number of years and the house band is always incredible, as are the many guest musicians who stop by to play. 9 to midnight. 553-1 Amsterdam Ave NE, Atlanta,

Thursday, July 1st - The weekly jam session at the Velvet Note is back with a different guest host each week. This jam usually features a wide-array of musical talent in an intimate listening room. 4075 Old Milton Pkwy, Alpharetta,

Here are your Atlanta Jazz Notes event listings for June 18th, 2021.

Friday, June 18th - Check out the baritone guitarist Alex Gordon and his band Hi Fi at the High Museum in Midtown. Inspired by Chet Atkins, Tuck Andress, and Charlie Hunter but entirely original Gordon plays bass lines and chords on his repertoire of cover songs and post-modern originals.

Also on Friday, singer/songwriter, vocalist, and violinist Leah Calvert will perform at Elliot St. with an incredible band featuring the incredible guitarist Nick Johnson,  Tommy Sauter, Neal Fountain, and Chris Burroughs from 8:30 to 11:30PM.

Saturday, June 19th - Catch the great vocalist Taryn Newborne performing during brunch at Prime 120 in Woodstock, GA from Noon until 2PM.

In the evening, head back to Elliot St. to hear the powerful saxophonist Mike Walton with his trio featuring bassist Craig Shaw and drummer Dave Potter.

Monday, June 21st - Check out TEN ATL in East Atlanta for their amazing weekly jazz jam. The music usually lasts from 9 until midnight and features some of the very best jazz musicians in Atlanta.

Wednesday, June 23rd - Stop by the Red Light Cafe for the weekly jam session. The great trumpeter and educator Gordon Vernick has led this session for a number of years and the house band is always incredible, as are the many guest musicians who stop by to play. 9 to midnight.

Thursday, June 24th - Joe Gransden and Kenny Banks perform at Ray’s on the River 6:30 to 9:30.

Here are your Atlanta Jazz Notes event listings for June 11th, 2021.

Friday, June 11th - Guitarist Jeff Ralston and Vocalist Dawn Michele Smith have an incredible musical connection on repertoire ranging from Billie Holiday to Lauryn Hill. They will play duo at The Beverly 790 Glenwood Ave SE from 7 to 10PM.

Also tonight, check out the great trumpeter Joe Gransden at Ponko Chicken in Decatur from 7-10 312 Church St, Decatur

Saturday, June 12th - The incredible jazz guitarist Trey Wright plays solo at The Third Door in Marietta from 6 to 8:15PM. 131 Church St. Marietta.

At the Velvet Note in Alpharetta, the Flugelhornist Ron Helman performs with a stellar Atlanta-based rhythm section featuring the great pianist Kevin Bales.

Monday, June 14th - Check out TEN ATL in East Atlanta for their amazing weekly jazz jam. The music usually lasts from 9 until midnight and features some of the very best jazz musicians in Atlanta.

Wednesday, June 16th - Stop by the Red Light Cafe for the weekly jam session. The great trumpeter and educator Gordon Vernick has led this session for a number of years and the house band is always incredible, as are the many guest musicians who stop by to play. 9 to midnight.

If you have a jazz event that you would like me to know about and possibly list here, please use the contact form at atljazznotes.com to message me.