The Legendary Blue Note
Celebrates 25th Anniversary With
Etta James / Taj Mahal Trio, /
Chick Corea / McCoy Tyner /
Pharoah Sanders / Andre Previn /
Toots Thielemans / Jane Monheit
/ Dr. John / Jimmy Heath w/ Bill
Cosby and much more
New York, NY September 25, 2006 - Throughout the fall
and winter of 2006, the Blue Note Jazz Club will
celebrate its 25th Anniversary with the friends and
artists who have helped maintain the venue’s status
as the world’s finest jazz club and restaurant.
For the last 25 years, the Blue Note name has been
synonymous with top-notch jazz, an inviting
atmosphere, and fantastic food. Boasting clubs in
Milan, Italy; Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka in Japan; and
in Manhattan’s historic Greenwich Village, Blue Note
has played host to the music’s greatest names and
continues to carry the torch for jazz into the 21st
century.
When Blue Note opened back in 1981, jazz was
considered a dying art form, as clubs were
disappearing all over New York City. To describe
restaurateur and businessman Danny Bensusan’s
idea to open a jazz club in the West Village of
Manhattan at that time as “audacious” would have
been an understatement. The major acts that had
once filled clubs on 52nd St. and elsewhere during
jazz’s hey-day opted to play at festivals and concert
halls over the jazz clubs, which were quickly
becoming obsolete.
Enter Blue Note – where the concept was different
than any other club in the city. Blue Note’s primary
goal was to bring the big names back into a jazz club
with an intimate setting where interaction between
the artist and the crowd was close and comfortable.
In addition, Blue Note sought to replace the typical
underground, dingy jazz clubs of the time with a
modern, supper-club style venue. From the start, the
likes of Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy
Gillespie, Johnny Hartman, Billy Eckstine, Tito
Puente, Lionel Hampton, Ray Brown, George
Benson, and countless other legends flocked to Blue
Note’s stage, many of them returning to a club for the
first time in decades.
There’s an indescribable, almost magical feeling
when one sees a show at Blue Note. What makes
Blue Note so special beyond its historical
significance to the music and New York City comes
from the notion that on a given night, anything can
happen.
Over the years, patrons have witnessed the likes of
Stevie Wonder come on stage for an impromptu
serenade, Bill Cosby run up to announce the band,
and Tony Bennett sit in the audience to watch his
favorite performers, and so much more. It’s been a
hang out for legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Ray
Charles. Pop legends such as Sting and Billy Joel
have come to pay their respects to Blue Note to join
their favorite jazz musicians on stage. The result is
an entire audience who could say “I was at Blue Note
when…” and patrons keep coming back to see what
might happen on any given night.
After 25 years, Blue Note has become a cultural
institution of New York City, and has supported and
educated the community since its inception.
In 2004, the venue furthered its commitment to enrich
and educate by initiating its Master Classes. Master
Classes allow the public to engage and interact with
a master artist and learn from that artist about his or
her own music as well as about composition, artistry
and musicianship.
Blue Note’s worldwide presence has contributed to
the city’s tourism, bringing in jazz fans from Asia,
Europe and South America.
Its success can be attributed to Danny Bensusan,
who has worked tirelessly with his family and staff to
build jazz’s most famous franchise, Blue Note
International.
During Blue Note New York’s 7th anniversary year,
the dream of a Blue Note in Tokyo came to fruition
through Blue Note International, with legendary
vocalist Tony Bennett as the first week’s act.
Following Tokyo’s success, Blue Note Osaka was
opened in 1990 followed by Blue Note Nagoya in
2002, satisfying the need for jazz clubs in Japan.
Blue Note added a list of festivals in Japan and
cruises around the world to its growing list of
accomplishments.
In 2003, the franchise opened Blue Note Milan in Italy,
bringing the Blue Note name to an astonishing total
of three continents.
In addition to the big names the Blue Note has
opened its doors to emerging jazz artists of New York
City with the Monday Night series. Jazz has changed
shape and form since its inception, taking on
elements of rock, funk, dance, and hip-hop music
over the years.
To remain on the cutting edge, Blue Note launched
the Late Night Groove Series, featuring soul, hip-hop,
R&B, and funk artists twice a week. While the series
has remained true to jazz tradition by ensuring
improvisation, the house is always packed with fans
of all genres of music.
Sept 25-27
MICHEL CAMILO + TOMATITO DUO
ONLY US APPEARANCE
Sept 28-29
FOURPLAY
Sept 30-Oct 1
ANDRÉ PREVIN & DAVID FINCK
produced by Jill Newman productions
October 2
JABANE ENSEMBLE with special guest TALIB KWELI
featuring Robert Glasper, Chris Dave, Derrick Hodge
& TALIB KWELI
produced by Jill Newman Prodcutions
October 3-8
THE RAY BROWN TRIBUTE BAND featuring
Christian McBride, Benny Green and Greg
Hutchinson + Special Guest DEE DEE
BRIDGEWATER
October 9
PABLO ZIEGLER QUARTET + EDMAR CASTANEDA
October 10
ETTA JAMES & THE ROOTS BAND in her Blue Note
Debut (8pm)
October 11-15
JIMMY HEATH: LITTLE MAN BIG BAND
80th Birthday Celebration with special guests:
BILL COSBY (10/11-12), CLARK TERRY (10/13-14),
JAMES MOODY (10/15)
October 16
ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY
October 17-22
THE DIZZY GILLESPIE ALUMNI ALL-STARS
featuring Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, James
Moody, Benny Green, Roberta Gambarini, John Lee,
Dennis Mackrel, Paquito D'Rivera
October 23-27
MILTON NASCIMENTO
October 28
DR. JOHN ONE NIGHT ONLY!
October 29
JO THOMPSON & THE J.C. HEARD JAZZ
ORCHESTRA DIRECTED BY WALT SZYMANSKI
October 30-31
KD3: KARL DENSON TRIO
Nov 1-6
TOOTS THIELEMANS & KENNY WERNER with
OSCAR CASTRO-NEVES & AIRTO
Special guests each night TBA except:
OLETA ADAMS (Nov. 1-2)
MADELEINE PEYROUX (Nov. 5)
Nov 7-12
CHICK COREA ELEKTRIC BAND
featuring Victor Wooten, Frank Gambale, Eric
Marienthal & Dave Weckl
Nov 13
JANE MONHEIT ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Nov 14-19
CHICK COREA FOREVER AND BEYOND – featuring:
Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, Kenny Garrett, Frank
Gambale
The music from classic albums: The Leprechaun, My
Spanish Heart, the Mad Hatter & Friends
Nov 20
AMEL LARRIEUX
produced by Jill Newman Productions
Nov 21-26
DAVID SANBORN
Nov 27
Another Side Series:
GARY BARTZ / MULGREW MILLER DUET
produced by Jill Newman Productions
Nov 28-30
OTTMAR LIEBERT
Dec 1 – 3
CACHAO
Dec 4
FREDDIE HUBBARD and the NEW JAZZ
COMPOSERS OCTET ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Dec 5-10
GAL COSTA
Dec 11-13
TAJ MAHAL TRIO
Dec 14-17
THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER
Dec 19-24
CHRIS BOTTI
SUNDAY BRUNCH***
All Brunches at 12:30pm & 2:30pm
unless otherwise noted
October 1
JEAN-MICHEL PILC & THE NYU FACULTY QUARTET
October 8
MANNY DURAN SEXTET
October 15
JAY LEONHART, WYCLIFFE GORDON, ERIC REED
October 22
JAY LEONHART, WYCLIFFE GORDON, ERIC REED
October 29
TED CURSON QUARTET
Nov 5
JIM McNEELY & THE NYU FACULTY QUARTET
Nov 12
JUNIOR MANCE TRIO
Nov 19
JAY LEONHART, WYCLIFFE GORDON, ERIC REED
Nov 26
JAY LEONHART & WYCLIFFE GORDON DUO
Dec 10
BENNY POWELL TRIO
Dec 17
FRANK WESS QUARTET
LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES***
All Shows begin at 12:30am
Sept. 29
NEIL ALEXANDER & NAIL featuring keyboardist from
THE MACHINE
October 6
DJ LOGIC & FRIENDS
October 7
DJ LOGIC & FRIENDS
October 13
GORDON STONE BAND
October 20
ADAM DEITCH PROJECT
October 21
ADAM DEITCH PROJECT
October 27
VIRGINIA COALITION
October 28
SKERIK’S SYNCOPATED TAINT SEPTET
Nov 10
HENRY BUTLER
Nov 11
LIQUID SOUL
Nov 18
WILL CALHOUN & FRIENDS
Nov 24
JOHN ELLIS + GUESTS
Nov 25
JOHN ELLIS + GUESTS
Dec 1
VINX
Dec 2
FRANK & JOE SHOW w/ FAREED HAQUE
Dec 8
JACOB FRED JAZZ ODDESY
Dec 9
JACOB FRED JAZZ ODDESY
Dec 16
CHRIS ROB
Dec 22-23
MIKE CLARK, DONALD HARRISON & JERRY Z
Dec 29
SAM KININGER & GUESTS
Dec 30
SAM KININGER & GUESTS
Celebrates 25th Anniversary With
Etta James / Taj Mahal Trio, /
Chick Corea / McCoy Tyner /
Pharoah Sanders / Andre Previn /
Toots Thielemans / Jane Monheit
/ Dr. John / Jimmy Heath w/ Bill
Cosby and much more
New York, NY September 25, 2006 - Throughout the fall
and winter of 2006, the Blue Note Jazz Club will
celebrate its 25th Anniversary with the friends and
artists who have helped maintain the venue’s status
as the world’s finest jazz club and restaurant.
For the last 25 years, the Blue Note name has been
synonymous with top-notch jazz, an inviting
atmosphere, and fantastic food. Boasting clubs in
Milan, Italy; Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka in Japan; and
in Manhattan’s historic Greenwich Village, Blue Note
has played host to the music’s greatest names and
continues to carry the torch for jazz into the 21st
century.
When Blue Note opened back in 1981, jazz was
considered a dying art form, as clubs were
disappearing all over New York City. To describe
restaurateur and businessman Danny Bensusan’s
idea to open a jazz club in the West Village of
Manhattan at that time as “audacious” would have
been an understatement. The major acts that had
once filled clubs on 52nd St. and elsewhere during
jazz’s hey-day opted to play at festivals and concert
halls over the jazz clubs, which were quickly
becoming obsolete.
Enter Blue Note – where the concept was different
than any other club in the city. Blue Note’s primary
goal was to bring the big names back into a jazz club
with an intimate setting where interaction between
the artist and the crowd was close and comfortable.
In addition, Blue Note sought to replace the typical
underground, dingy jazz clubs of the time with a
modern, supper-club style venue. From the start, the
likes of Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy
Gillespie, Johnny Hartman, Billy Eckstine, Tito
Puente, Lionel Hampton, Ray Brown, George
Benson, and countless other legends flocked to Blue
Note’s stage, many of them returning to a club for the
first time in decades.
There’s an indescribable, almost magical feeling
when one sees a show at Blue Note. What makes
Blue Note so special beyond its historical
significance to the music and New York City comes
from the notion that on a given night, anything can
happen.
Over the years, patrons have witnessed the likes of
Stevie Wonder come on stage for an impromptu
serenade, Bill Cosby run up to announce the band,
and Tony Bennett sit in the audience to watch his
favorite performers, and so much more. It’s been a
hang out for legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Ray
Charles. Pop legends such as Sting and Billy Joel
have come to pay their respects to Blue Note to join
their favorite jazz musicians on stage. The result is
an entire audience who could say “I was at Blue Note
when…” and patrons keep coming back to see what
might happen on any given night.
After 25 years, Blue Note has become a cultural
institution of New York City, and has supported and
educated the community since its inception.
In 2004, the venue furthered its commitment to enrich
and educate by initiating its Master Classes. Master
Classes allow the public to engage and interact with
a master artist and learn from that artist about his or
her own music as well as about composition, artistry
and musicianship.
Blue Note’s worldwide presence has contributed to
the city’s tourism, bringing in jazz fans from Asia,
Europe and South America.
Its success can be attributed to Danny Bensusan,
who has worked tirelessly with his family and staff to
build jazz’s most famous franchise, Blue Note
International.
During Blue Note New York’s 7th anniversary year,
the dream of a Blue Note in Tokyo came to fruition
through Blue Note International, with legendary
vocalist Tony Bennett as the first week’s act.
Following Tokyo’s success, Blue Note Osaka was
opened in 1990 followed by Blue Note Nagoya in
2002, satisfying the need for jazz clubs in Japan.
Blue Note added a list of festivals in Japan and
cruises around the world to its growing list of
accomplishments.
In 2003, the franchise opened Blue Note Milan in Italy,
bringing the Blue Note name to an astonishing total
of three continents.
In addition to the big names the Blue Note has
opened its doors to emerging jazz artists of New York
City with the Monday Night series. Jazz has changed
shape and form since its inception, taking on
elements of rock, funk, dance, and hip-hop music
over the years.
To remain on the cutting edge, Blue Note launched
the Late Night Groove Series, featuring soul, hip-hop,
R&B, and funk artists twice a week. While the series
has remained true to jazz tradition by ensuring
improvisation, the house is always packed with fans
of all genres of music.
Sept 25-27
MICHEL CAMILO + TOMATITO DUO
ONLY US APPEARANCE
Sept 28-29
FOURPLAY
Sept 30-Oct 1
ANDRÉ PREVIN & DAVID FINCK
produced by Jill Newman productions
October 2
JABANE ENSEMBLE with special guest TALIB KWELI
featuring Robert Glasper, Chris Dave, Derrick Hodge
& TALIB KWELI
produced by Jill Newman Prodcutions
October 3-8
THE RAY BROWN TRIBUTE BAND featuring
Christian McBride, Benny Green and Greg
Hutchinson + Special Guest DEE DEE
BRIDGEWATER
October 9
PABLO ZIEGLER QUARTET + EDMAR CASTANEDA
October 10
ETTA JAMES & THE ROOTS BAND in her Blue Note
Debut (8pm)
October 11-15
JIMMY HEATH: LITTLE MAN BIG BAND
80th Birthday Celebration with special guests:
BILL COSBY (10/11-12), CLARK TERRY (10/13-14),
JAMES MOODY (10/15)
October 16
ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY
October 17-22
THE DIZZY GILLESPIE ALUMNI ALL-STARS
featuring Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, James
Moody, Benny Green, Roberta Gambarini, John Lee,
Dennis Mackrel, Paquito D'Rivera
October 23-27
MILTON NASCIMENTO
October 28
DR. JOHN ONE NIGHT ONLY!
October 29
JO THOMPSON & THE J.C. HEARD JAZZ
ORCHESTRA DIRECTED BY WALT SZYMANSKI
October 30-31
KD3: KARL DENSON TRIO
Nov 1-6
TOOTS THIELEMANS & KENNY WERNER with
OSCAR CASTRO-NEVES & AIRTO
Special guests each night TBA except:
OLETA ADAMS (Nov. 1-2)
MADELEINE PEYROUX (Nov. 5)
Nov 7-12
CHICK COREA ELEKTRIC BAND
featuring Victor Wooten, Frank Gambale, Eric
Marienthal & Dave Weckl
Nov 13
JANE MONHEIT ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Nov 14-19
CHICK COREA FOREVER AND BEYOND – featuring:
Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, Kenny Garrett, Frank
Gambale
The music from classic albums: The Leprechaun, My
Spanish Heart, the Mad Hatter & Friends
Nov 20
AMEL LARRIEUX
produced by Jill Newman Productions
Nov 21-26
DAVID SANBORN
Nov 27
Another Side Series:
GARY BARTZ / MULGREW MILLER DUET
produced by Jill Newman Productions
Nov 28-30
OTTMAR LIEBERT
Dec 1 – 3
CACHAO
Dec 4
FREDDIE HUBBARD and the NEW JAZZ
COMPOSERS OCTET ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Dec 5-10
GAL COSTA
Dec 11-13
TAJ MAHAL TRIO
Dec 14-17
THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER
Dec 19-24
CHRIS BOTTI
SUNDAY BRUNCH***
All Brunches at 12:30pm & 2:30pm
unless otherwise noted
October 1
JEAN-MICHEL PILC & THE NYU FACULTY QUARTET
October 8
MANNY DURAN SEXTET
October 15
JAY LEONHART, WYCLIFFE GORDON, ERIC REED
October 22
JAY LEONHART, WYCLIFFE GORDON, ERIC REED
October 29
TED CURSON QUARTET
Nov 5
JIM McNEELY & THE NYU FACULTY QUARTET
Nov 12
JUNIOR MANCE TRIO
Nov 19
JAY LEONHART, WYCLIFFE GORDON, ERIC REED
Nov 26
JAY LEONHART & WYCLIFFE GORDON DUO
Dec 10
BENNY POWELL TRIO
Dec 17
FRANK WESS QUARTET
LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES***
All Shows begin at 12:30am
Sept. 29
NEIL ALEXANDER & NAIL featuring keyboardist from
THE MACHINE
October 6
DJ LOGIC & FRIENDS
October 7
DJ LOGIC & FRIENDS
October 13
GORDON STONE BAND
October 20
ADAM DEITCH PROJECT
October 21
ADAM DEITCH PROJECT
October 27
VIRGINIA COALITION
October 28
SKERIK’S SYNCOPATED TAINT SEPTET
Nov 10
HENRY BUTLER
Nov 11
LIQUID SOUL
Nov 18
WILL CALHOUN & FRIENDS
Nov 24
JOHN ELLIS + GUESTS
Nov 25
JOHN ELLIS + GUESTS
Dec 1
VINX
Dec 2
FRANK & JOE SHOW w/ FAREED HAQUE
Dec 8
JACOB FRED JAZZ ODDESY
Dec 9
JACOB FRED JAZZ ODDESY
Dec 16
CHRIS ROB
Dec 22-23
MIKE CLARK, DONALD HARRISON & JERRY Z
Dec 29
SAM KININGER & GUESTS
Dec 30
SAM KININGER & GUESTS
