For Immediate Release
For Inquiries, contact: Jewel Kinch-Thomas at 917 536-6504
Launch of New Jazz Series in Roscoe’s Room at New Rochelle’s Alvin & Friends
March 6, 2014 – New Rochelle, NY
Alvin & Friends Restaurant in New Rochelle is proud to announce a Friday night jazz series in the intimate Roscoe’s Room launching on April 4th with the Nat Adderley Jr. Trio, and continuing with groups led by master tenor saxist Lew Tabackin; Chicago songstress Tammy McCann, featuring Grammy winner Laurence Hobgood; and trombonist Vincent Gardner of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The series is curated and co-produced by New Rochelle residents Greg Thomas and Jewel Kinch-Thomas of G&J Productions.
“I love jazz,” says restaurateur Alvin Clayton, “especially because it mirrors the diversity we aspire to at Alvin & Friends. We’ve featured jazz live in the main room, which now has a grand piano. We play jazz every day through the restaurant speakers, and my artwork on the walls is inspired by the music too. Westchester deserves a home for high-level jazz, and we intend to be that home.”
Roscoe’s Room will serve Alvin’s signature Southern and Caribbean flavored cuisine and cocktails in the 80-seat venue. The evening will have two sets, 7:30 and 9:30 pm, and will feature a caliber of artistry in New Rochelle most often associated with Manhattan jazz venues.
“Most of our productions have been in New York City, so we’re especially happy to produce the fine art of jazz in New Rochelle at one of the most acclaimed new restaurants in the Hudson Valley,” says Jewel of G&J Productions. “We’ve known Alvin and Gwen Clayton since they opened their first location,” adds Greg. “In fact, the very first time I met Alvin, the great trumpeter Clifford Brown was being broadcast in the restaurant. I knew I was in the right place right then.”
Roscoe’s Room for Friday night jazz at Alvin & Friends, located at 14 Memorial Highway in New Rochelle, NY, is the right place to be, for acts such as:
April 4 NAT ADDERLEY JR. TRIO
Kicking off the Friday night jazz series in Roscoe’s Room, Grammy nominated arranger and pianist Nat Adderley Jr. will front a close-knit, swinging trio. The former Musical Director for Luther Vandross comes from a famous jazz family (father Nat Sr. was trumpeter in a group led by his uncle Cannonball Adderley), so he’s returned to his roots and will sing too. His jazz renditions of standards and R&B classics are instant crowd-pleasers!
April 11 LEW TABACKIN TRIO
Lew Tabackin has been long recognized as a virtuoso for his hard-driving, full-throated tenor sax work and his unique flute styling. He’s played in the big bands of Clark Terry, Duke Pearson, and Thad Jones and Mel Lewis as well as George Wein’s Newport All-Star Band, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and his own renowned orchestra, the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band. Lew Tabackin: Tenor Sax and Flute; Phil Palombi: Bass; Mark Taylor: Drums
April 18 TAMMY McCANN ENSEMBLE FEATURING LAURENCE HOBGOOD
She’s been compared to grand diva Dinah Washington with vocals described as soulfully seductive and sumptuous. Classically trained, Tammy McCann is a superlative Chicago-based jazz vocalist who performed with Ray Charles for several years. This show is the first live New York performance featuring her new partnership with Grammy winning composer, arranger and pianist Laurence Hobgood. Steve Williams, drums.
April 25 VINCENT GARDNER QUARTET
Perhaps best known as lead trombonist in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Vincent Gardner is an outstanding instrumentalist and composer who’s released five albums as a leader on SteepleChase. He’s performed with The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Bobby McFerrin, Harry Connick Jr., The Saturday Night Live Band, Chaka Khan, A Tribe Called Quest, among others.
Due to limited seating, tickets should be purchased in advance here or by calling 917 504-0040.
Alvin & Friends – Zagat rated 26 for food, 26 for décor and 26 for service, and named by Westchester Magazine as one of the “Best of Westchester” for 2013 – offers a menu influenced by Southern and Caribbean flavors in a sophisticated space both elegant and comfortable. Two blocks from the New Rochelle MetroNorth station, Alvin & Friends is a convenient 25 minutes from NYC. Parking is available in the municipal lot across the street and in the adjacent Avalon on the Sound East garage.
G&J Productions is a full service events and production management partnership run by Greg Thomas and Jewel Kinch-Thomas, who together bring over 25 years of experience to this business. G&J handles all aspects from event design to production and execution.
WHAT: Jazz Series in Roscoe’s Room at Alvin & Friends Restaurant
WHERE: 14 Memorial Highway, New Rochelle, NY 10801 www.alvinandfriendsrestaurant.com
WHEN: Every Friday, starting April 4th. 7:30 and 9:30 pm sets
COST: $15 in advance, $20 at door, one drink minimum. Students with ID, at door, $10.
