Doors & bar at 7 - Music at 7:30 - $30 in advance - $35 at the door
Seated listening room show
Robin Connell and Paul Brewer bring an eclectic mix of their original jazz compositions and arrangements to The Alluvion. Their top flight septet for this special occasion includes musicians that are both internationally renowned as well as regional favorites. Experience this all-star band In an exploration of harmony, contrapuntal lines, rhythmic grooves, and instrumental colors.
Well known across west Michigan as instrumental and vocal performers, married musicians Robin and Paul are also commissioned composers with often performed works, some of which are recorded by the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra. They each have a Doctorate of Music (theory and composition), met as summer faculty at the Interlochen Arts Camp, and live in Grand Rapids.
The Band:
Robin Connell - Piano
Paul Brewer - Trombone
Rob Smith - Trumpet
Laurie Sears - Alto sax, clarinet, flute
Bill Sears - Tenor sax
Matt Brewer - Bass
Eddie Eicher - Drums
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ABOUT THE BAND:
ROBIN CONNELL - PIANO
Jazz pianist-singer, Robin Connell, the Artprize 2016 jazz music award recipient, and the West Michigan Jazz Society’s 2017 Musician of the Year, follows in the tradition of singer‐pianists Diana Krall, and Blossom Dearie, tickling the ivories with original arrangements of time honored jazz standards. Originally from Detroit, she honed her craft in New York City, at places such as The Waldorf-Astoria, bringing the sophistication of The Great American Songbook to life in her own charming and inimitable way.
Robin’s compositions reflect her love of the quirky (Carla Bley), joyously soulful (Mingus), and fusion jazz of her youth (Joe Sample). A former student of Bob Brookmeyer, Don Sebesky and other NYC based jazz composers, with several commissioned and published works, she recently began composing again after a several year hiatus.
‘Connell is nimble at the piano in her clever arrangements’ – Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times
Learn more on her website
PAUL BREWER - TROMBONE & VOCALS
"First call trombonist," Paul Brewer has appeared in concert with over fifty major artists, such as Mel Torme, Lena Horne, and The Temptations. He performs with, and composes for, the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra and continues to be ‘first call trombonist’ with touring shows and regional jazz musicians. ‘J & K – Trombone Tribute’ is his homage to the great jazz trombonists, JJ Johnson and Kai Winding, and includes their well-crafted original arrangements.
A prolific composer with a decidedly contrapuntal approach and colorful orchestrations, Paul continues to write for jazz big band and small ensembles. His influences include Oliver Nelson, Wayne Shorter, Bob Brookmeyer, and Maria Schneider. He recently retired from Aquinas College where he was Director of Bands.
‘Paul’s weighty but smooth trombone, standards, original compositions, and fascinating stories [all] make for an interesting and entertaining evening!’ – West MI Jazz Society
Learn more on Local Spins
MATT BREWER - BASS
Matt Brewer was born in Oklahoma City and grew up in Albuquerque NM, surrounded by a family of musicians and artists. At the age of 10, Matt fell in love with the bass and began a lifelong study of music. He graduated high school from the Interlochen Arts Academy, and then went on to study at the Juilliard School. He's travelled the world playing in the bands of Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Greg Osby, Steve Coleman, Dave Binney, Gerald Clayton, Ben Wendel, Aaron Parks, Vijay Iyer, Dhafer Youssef, Antonio Sanchez, Mark Turner, Steve Lehman, Ben Monder, and Lage Lund, among many others). He has been a frequent guest lecturer at the Banff Center, and is an adjunct faculty member at the New School University.
LAURIE SEARS - ALTO SAX, CLARINET, FLUTE
Laurie Sears, performer on saxophone, flute, and clarinet, works with numerous jazz groups, including the Grand Rapids Symphony, Traverse Symphony Orchestra and Traverse Symphony Jazz Orchestra. Some of the national jazz and popular artists that Laurie has shared the stage with include Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Liza Minelli, Julie Andrews, Bernadette Peters, Johnny Mathis, Henry Mancini, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and The Four Tops. While in Chicago, Laurie performed on the Chicago Jazz Festival, with orchestral pops presentations at Ravinia, with entertainers at the Chicago Theater and at numerous musical theaters venues. She has maintained an active private teaching studio for over forty years. Degrees and awards include a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone, a Master of Music in Woodwinds and a Performer’s Certificate from the Indiana University School of Music.
BILL SEARS - TENOR SAX
Bill Sears has been Director of Jazz Studies and Instructor of Saxophone at the Interlochen Arts Academy since 1987 and at the Interlochen Arts Camp since 2010. The award-winning Interlochen Arts Academy Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combos, under Sears' leadership, are considered to be among the finest high school groups in the country. An active jazz saxophonist, Sears has performed, toured, and recorded with many leading musicians including Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans, Rick Margitza, Peter Erskine, Art Farmer, Joe Williams, and Nancy Wilson. He has also performed in backup orchestras for many popular artists, including Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, and The Temptations. Sears also has two CD's under his own leadership, "Chasin' The Goal" and "With One Accord," both of which feature not only his engaging and individual saxophone voice, but also several of his compositions. Sears is a Conn-Selmer performing artist and clinician.
Learn more in Interlochen’s article “Celebrating Bill Sears”
ROB SMITH - TRUMPET
EDDIE EICHER - DRUMS