Thu is paying tribute to one of the most influential jazz vocalists in her career as well as in the golden era of Jazz - the legendary Ms. Helen Merrill! This is a very special and unique performance she has been planning all year!
She will be interpreting the tunes from Helen’s greatest albums, including “Dream Of You,” “Helen Merrill,” “You’ve Got A Date With the Blues,” “The Nearness Of You,” and “Helen Merrill With Strings,” many of these arrangements written by the late great Quincy Jones and Gil Evans.
Her ensemble includes remarkable musicians from the Bay Area, including Anne Sajdera on piano, Aaron Germain on upright bass, Joe Kelner on drums, and special guest, master horn player Noel Keith Jewkes!
$25 cover at the door (cash and Venmo). Call the bookstore ahead of time to reserve seats!
One can hear the entire history of modern jazz in a single evening by listening to the majestic phrasing and adventurous harmonies of Noel Jewkes. No wonder he is revered by musicians, critics, and music lovers alike as the premiere Saxist-by-the-Bay. Noel has recorded with Jon Hendricks, Tesla Whitfield, Mary Stallings, Paula West, Mike Greensill, Lavay Smith, Bill Bell, Mimi Fox, Graham Bruce, Bobbe Norris, Larry Dunlap, Larry Vukovich, Pat Yankee, and Jerry Hahn.
Aaron Germain, is a bassist, composer, and bandleader, adept at diverse genres of music, which reflects in his eclectic compositions. He is a first-call musician within the Bay Area. In his most recent album, "Bell Projections," music critic George W. Harris wrote, “Every song is a Givenchy garden of water lilies.”
As a pianist, composer, bandleader and accompanist, Anne Sajdera is a creative force whose music encompasses an unusually far-flung array of traditions. With musical roots spanning the globe, she melds American and Brazilian jazz to her training in European classical music, creating a personal sound that’s melodically verdant, harmonically sophisticated and rhythmically compelling. Her first release, Azul (Bijuri Records, 2012) earned a spot on JAZZIZ Magazines Top Ten Critic’s Poll for 2012, followed by New Year (Bijuri Records 2018), chosen by Down Beat Magazine for the December 2018 Editor’s Pick list. Anne can be heard on jazz radio stations throughout the US and has performed in many of the Bay Area’s most frequented venues including The California Jazz Conservatory, Herbst Theater, Piedmont Piano Company and SFJAZZ.
Joe Kelner has swung along greats such as Calvin Keys, Noel Jewkes, Dayna Stephens, and Chuchito Valdés. Joe has also studied with greats that include Gregory Hutchinson, Allison Miller, Tootie Heath, Benny Greb, Dave King, Jeff Hamilton, Jeff Marrs, and many others. He was part of the SFJAZZ Monday night big band 2016-2017, where he met Thu. He was also the drum coach for the Stanford Jazz Workshop’s Giant Steps program as well as an assistant instructor/accompanist in their summer program.