Jedi Nemesis LIVE!
October 16, 2011, 9:30pm
Automatic Slims
1216 Washington Ave
Miami Beach 33139
Buy Tickets

Get your tickets today to exclusively see Jedi Nemesis perform 7 Layers Live at Automatic Slims! Miami fans to rap the lyrics the best will be posted on Youtube and JediNemesis.com! So you & your friends sharpen those lyrics for your Lyrical Fan debut!

Jedi Nemesis is a Miami hip-hop artist that has toured colleges and Universities through the USA and Canada performing his conscious hip-hop music.

KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present the Mushy Widmaier Ensemble
Thursday, September 22, at 9 PM
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach
305-534-3600
thevandykecafe.com.

featuring Mushy Widmaier on piano, Felipe Lamoglia on sax, Ti West on percussion, Dony Felix on bass, and Harvel Nakundi on drums.

Mushy Widmaier, is a prodigy of Haitian music, born and raised in Port-au Prince. He was completely mesmerized by the black and white suite, the array of tones, timbres and notes of the piano during his childhood. It became his favorite instrument, and he learned it well.

He is now considered one of the top 10 piano players in the Caribbean, one of its most exceptional masters. The 80’s brought recognition to Mushy and his brother Joel for having infected the Haitian music scene with a highly innovative style known today as the “The School of the New Generation”. Their group, Zekle, became synonymous with a modern jazz sound which includes soft oxygen-like singing, strong melodies, energetic arrangement, meaningful lyrics, keyboard pads and strings elements placed beneath the rhythm section. Mushy also has 150 plus commercial jingles and advertising spots to his credit.

His music has been used to promote the wares of fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Prestige Beer and the major banks in Haiti. Mushy Widmaier is a true scholar, and the very definition of a Renaissance musician. His evolution has led him to the following conclusion:

“Haitian Music is song, classical, roots, dance, contemporary, traditional, jazz and all musical genres originated from the Haitian soul. This variety constitutes the opera of our history.” Mushy

Angela Laino @ The Florida Room (Delano Hotel)
Sept. 20th, 2011, 10 PM
The Florida Room (Delano Hotel)
1685 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(Side entrance on 17st)

Join Rod Pratt and “ANGELA LAINO” for a night of smooth vocals layered w/ Funk.

Hosted by Dave Schaffer

Guest List: DSchaffer@rocketmail.com
Table Reservations: 954-648-4627 (PLEASE TEXT)

FREE BOTTLE for a table of 5 or more @ The Florida Room (Delano Hotel) tommorrow night only…Tuesday, Sept. 20th.) No cover. Live Music @ 10PM with Angela Laino…DJ 12AM – Close.

Singer Songwriter Night by Randy Singer
Sunday, September 25, 9pm-1am
Van Dyke Upstairs
846 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach, FL

Hosted by Randy Singer
Micki Free
Featuring: Fra Nefarious, Kaveh Karandis, Omne Julia Price, Jose Val and Glenda Del E

KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present the Felipe Lamoglia Ensemble
Thursday, September 15, at 9 PM
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach

For more information, call 305-534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com

Felipe will be premiering his new project, “IRESOUNDS”, a mix of his Afro-Cuban roots, Latin jazz, and contemporary jazz. They have a superb brass section and a rhythm section of exceptional young Cuban musicians. Their music and arrangements are entirely Felipe’s, done with the flavor of the tunes he wrote for Rumba Palace.
Featured personnel:
Felipe Lamoglia, sax, EWI
Cisco Damas, trumpet
Kemuel Roig, piano
Reinier Guerra, drums
Luis Diaz, percussion
Nestor Del Prado, bass
with special guest Dante Luciani, trombone (Professor of Jazz Studies, Frost School of Music, University of Miami)

Felipe Lamoglia is a Grammy-winning saxophonist, composer and arranger. Born and educated in Cuba, he is a graduate of the prestigious Superior Institute of Art (ISA).

In 1999 Lamoglia relocated to the U.S. where he immediately began performing with the late Celia Cruz. In 2001 he began playing with Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval, performing all over the world and recording on Trumpet Evolution, as well as two DVD releases: Live at the Blue Note NYC and Live at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. In 2004 he joined Grammy winner Gonzalo Rubalcaba, recording on his Grammy-nominated album, Paseo (Blue Note).

In 2006 Lamoglia arranged and played on Ignacio Berroa’s debut album Codes, also released on Blue Note and nominated for a Grammy. In 2007 Felipe contributed as arranger, performer, and composer for Arturo Sandoval’s Grammy-winning album, Rumba Palace.

Throughout the years he has continued to develop his solo work and in 2007 released his first solo CD, Dimensions, recorded in Brazil. This album incorporated Felipe’s Afro-Cuban roots with a blend of Brazilian music and straight-ahead jazz. He is currently promoting his quintet, Afro-Cuban Beats.

Felipe has shared the stage with musical giants such as Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Eldar, Dafnis Prieto, Ignacio Berroa and many others, participating in Major Jazz Festivals in the U.S. and abroad including JVC, Playboy, Newport, Henieken Jazz, Red Sea and in venues such as Blue Note, Iridium, Jazz Standard, Yoshi’s, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola and many more.
Felipe’s latest project, “Iresounds”, is a mix of his Afro-Cuban roots, Latin jazz, and contemporary jazz. They have a superb brass section and a rhythm section of exceptional young Cuban musicians. Their music and arrangements are entirely Felipe’s, done with the flavor of the tunes he wrote for Rumba Palace.

Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 2:00pm
SoBe Institute of the Arts
Carl Fisher Clubhouse / Little Stage Theater Complex
2100 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, Fl. 33139

For more information call (305) 674-9220

Music Unites events promote learning and experiencing other cultures through the power of music. Every member of the family will enjoy this special interactive world music and dance event!

Free parking for this event: Enter parking lot off Washington Avenue between
the Miami Beach Convention Center and 21st Street Recreation Center

KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present The Nelson Riveros Ensemble
Thursday Sept. 8, at 9 PM
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach

For more information, call (305) 534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com.

KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Café are proud to present, in from New York, the Nelson Riveros Ensemble Upstairs at the Van Dyke on September 8. The Van Dyke is located at 846 Lincoln Road in South Beach. Performance time is from 9-12.

Nelson Riveros has just released his first CD, entitled “Camino Al Barrio”. It is a Contemporary-Jazz recording with diverse Latin influences, featuring the talents of pianist Hector Martignon (Ray Barreto, Gato Barbieri, Paquito D’Rivera), bassist Armando Gola (Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Arturo Sandoval, Alejandro Sanz), drummer Ernesto Simpson (Arturo Sandoval, Richard Bona), and percussionist Samuel Torres (Arturo Sandoval, Richard Bona, Tito Puente), as well as special guests, vibraphonist Christos Rafalides (leader of “Manahattan Vibes”) and Andres Garcia, master of the 12-string Colombian Tiple. “Camino Al Barrio” reached number eight on the Jazz Week World Music Chart. Nelson was nominated for a Latin Jazz Corner Award (2010) in two categories: as Best Next Generation Artist and Best Latin Jazz Guitarist. He has performed in many venues in New Work, including Kavehaz, Cleopatra’s Needle, Tavern on The Green, and Miles Café.

Tonight he will be accompanied by Grammy-nominated piano virtuoso José Negroni and drummer extraordinaire Nomar Negroni, and legendary bassist Nicky Orta. Be sure to catch this outstanding artist, in Miami Beach for one night only.

The Van Dyke has a cover charge of $5 at the tables but is free at the bar. For further information call the Van Dyke at 305-534-3600 or KCC Productions at 305-332-2623, or visit thevandykecafe.com.

KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present Big Poppa E and the E Band
Thursday, September 1, at 9 PM.
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach

Featuring:
Ike Woods on lead guitar
Felipe Lamoglia on tenor sax
Big Poppa E, guitar, harmonica and vocals
Maryel Epps, vocals
Robert Slade LeMont, percussions
George Caldwell, bass

For more information, call 305-534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com.

Composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Big Poppa E is a prominent and influential figure in the late 20th century blues and roots music. Though his career began more than four decades ago with American jazz, he has broadened his artistic scope over the years to include music representing many varied genres. Born Mutasim Ra’id Faisal in New York in 1948, his father was a jazz pianist, composer and arranger of Caribbean descent, and his mother was a gospel singing schoolteacher from Louisiana. Early in his childhood, the young musician learned to play the tenor and alto sax, trombone and harmonica, and he loved to sing. He discovered his father’s guitar and became serious about it in his early teens when a guitarist from Mississippi moved in next door and taught him the various styles of Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed and other titans of Delta and Chicago blues.
Musi, as he was affectionately called, studied economics at Syracuse University in the late 1960s and later law at the University of Chicago. Inspired by a dream, he adopted the musical alias of E and later was crowned “Big Poppa E” by one of Miami’s top promoters, DJ Oski. After graduating, he headed west in to Los Angeles, where he worked as a studio musician for the next 15 years. Around this same time, Poppa E also mingled with various blues legends, including Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, and Sleepy John Estes. This diversity of musical experience served as the bedrock for Poppa E’s first three recordings: Southern Style: Blues Sessions (2006), Mississippi Reminiscence (2007) and Five Long Years, A Tribute to Carey Bell (2008). Drawing on all the sounds and styles he’d absorbed as a child and a young adult, these early albums showed signs of the musical exploration that would be Poppa E’s hallmark over the next few years.
In 2008, Poppa E carved out a unique musical niche with a string of adventurous recordings, including “Blues A Healer”, “Crossroads” and “Anthology du Blues”. In 2008, Poppa E’s version of “Terraplane Blues” was nominated by the International Academy of Independent Artist for Best Blues Song of the Year and his album, “Blues A Healer” was nominated for Best Blues Album of the Year by Cash Box Magazine. Poppa E’s recorded output slowed somewhat during 2010 as he toured relentlessly and immersed himself in the music and culture of his new home in Miami. Still, 2010 saw the well-received release of “Big Poppa E Live” in 2010, as well as his celebrated children’s album, “Children’s Classics” on the Black Owl Music label.
Poppa E is headed back into the studio in early 2011 to work on a new projected aptly entitled, “Bootleggers Blues”. As the title suggests, this twelve-track set marks the fortieth anniversary of Poppa E’s rich and varied recording career by mixing original material, chestnuts borrowed from classic sources, and songs written by a cadre of highly talented guest artists from around the globe. “The one thing I’ve always demanded of the records I’ve made is that they be listenable and danceable,” he says. “If the record is danceable, it’s listenable, it has lots of different rhythms, it’s accessible, it’s all right in front of you. It’s a lot of fun, and it represents where I am at this particular moment in my life. This record is just the beginning of another chapter, one that’s going to be open to more music and more ideas. Even at the end of forty years, in many ways my music is just getting started.”

Arts At St Johns presents A new season of International Jazz
Sunday, Sept. 11, 3 pm
Arts at St Johns
4760 Pine Tree Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33140
Free Admission For All

For our fall season of jazz, we are featuring musicians who bring jazz from around the globe – Free Admission!

Jazz Portraits of Poland and Eastern Europe featuring Les Blachut and Zoltan Grof With Nestor Zurita and Paul Banman

9/1; Kcc Productions Jazz Night Series; Big Poppa E And The E Band Best Of The Blues
9/2; Ruby Baker; Jazz, Neo-Soul And Classic R&B
9/3; Rhythm & Blues Series; Ike And Val; Soul & Blues Revue
9/4; La Nueva Onda Latina Series; Hosted By Adrian Guerra; Showcasing The finest In Latin Rock And Pop
9/5; Adrenaline Jazz; Keepin’ The Groove Alive With Drummer Reuben Hoch, B3 Guru Ken Burkhart And Guitarist Tom Lippincott.
9/6; Freddy Cleo; The Quintessential Piano Man & Vocalist Entertainer Who Knows Your Favorite Songs By Heart.
9/7; The P-Lo Project; Jazz; Latin And Smooth Jazz
9/8; Kcc Productions; The Nelson Riveros Ensemble; Jazz Guitarist With Diverse Latin Influences In From New York, One Night Only!
9/9; Latin Jazz & Percussion Series; Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion; Double Grammy Nominees With Legendary Percussionist
9/10; Sofy Encanto & Elastic Bond; Fun World Pop
9/11; Latin Jazz Series; Oriente; Afro-Cuban Fusion
9/12; Joshua Stedman; Original Compositions With Influences From Sting, Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai & Seal.; Oriente; Afro-Cuban Fusion
9/13; Rockst*R & Da Fundamentals; Presenta Night Of Rhythm, Funk & Soul; (Brought To You By Godsrockstar Music In A Collaborative Effort With Novell Nu-Soul)
9/14; Nicole Henry; Top 10 Billboard Jazz Vocalist
9/15; Kcc Productions; The Felipe Lamoglia Ensemble; Grammy-Winning Saxophonist Plays New Directions In Afro-Cuban Beats.
9/16; Kayakman; Boundaries Of Time And Space; Coalesce As Kayak Grooves Into; The Center Of The Funk Soul
9/17; Hot Havana Nights; Tony Succar Y El Grupo Mixtura Latin.; Funky Salsa And Meringue Party
9/18; Cuban Music Series; Conjunto Progreso; Grammy Nominated Cuban Son & Descargas Cubanas
9/19; Shelly Berg; World Renown Pianist
9/20; Sj; Acoustic Songman
9/21; Rodolfo Zuniga; Original Contemporary Jazz
9/22; The Mushy Widmaier Ensemble; Fusion Of Haitian And Modern Jazz Idioms.
9/23; Lanzallamas!; Afro-Latin-America World Beat Mezcla
9/24; Ever So Klever; The Sounds Of Big Band Swing,; Rockabilly, Ska, Jazz, Latin & Blues
9/25; Songwriter Nights Series//Songwriters In The Round; Hosted By Randy Singer Featuring The Best Acoustic Singers & Songwriters In South Florida Where The; Concert Turns Into A Party!
9/26; Joel Zoss; Spellbinding Renditions Of His Gold-Record-Award Winning Blues, Ballads, And Traditional Songs.
9/27; Randy Singer’s “Airplay”; New Visions In Jazz & Pop
9/28; Gecko Jazz; Blend Of Afro Caribbean, Be-Bop, And Brasilian flavor
9/29; Roky Sofi Acoustic; Rock Meets Mellow Pop And Indie Soul In This Acoustic, Stripped Down Version Of Roky Sofi.
9/30; Artist Of The Month; Rose Max; Brazilian Samba Party; Funky, Soul Brazilian Music

Lost in the 80’s- Singer Songwriter Night At The Van Dyke
Sunday, August 28, 9:00pm – 12:00am
Upstairs at the Van Dyke

Special Performance Edition of our Van Dyke Cafe Artist Showcase/Singer songwriter night!!

“Lost In The Eighties!!” Each songwriter will play their favorite song from the Eighties.

Featuring the amazing
Dani Blu
Mariz Z
Nicole Hatton
Arthur Bessor
Vic Kinglsey
Xavier Brice
Zashanell
Derek Cintron
and a special feature presentation of
Fra Nefarious!!!!

“where the concert turns into a party!”

Hosted by Randy Singer

KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present Troy Roberts’ Nu-Jive, with special guest Tim Jago in from Australia
Thursday August 25, at 9 PM
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach

For more information, call (305) 534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com.

Hailing from the remote location of Perth, West Australia, saxophonist and composer Troy Roberts has recently relocated to the USA. Having completed a Masters and currently teaching part-time at the University of Miami, Troy recently won two consecutive Downbeat Jazz Soloist Awards, two consecutive West Australian Music Industry Awards, was the only Australian finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, and continues to maintain a busy performance schedule around Australia, Europe and the USA.

Having shared the stage with greats such as Sammy Figueroa (performing on his Grammy-nominated album, The Magician), Robby Ameen, Lew Soloff, Lauryn Hill, James Morrison, Kevin Mahogany, Slide Hampton, Gary Bartz, Geoff Keezer, Rodney Whitaker, Carl Allen, Dennis McCrell, Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton, Troy recently released his third album, The XenDen Suite – an 8-part composition for jazz quartet and string quartet – and also his first DVD – a live concert performance of The XenDen Suite.
Troy leads the exciting nu-jazz project, Troy Roberts’ NuJivee, which features some seriously talented young Miami-based artists, while showcasing Troy’s original compositions – an eclectic concoction of jazz, groove, Latin and neo-soul. In March 2011 they released their first CD, “Nu-Jive”.

Recent Awards
2010
Perth Jazz Society Member’s Choice Award
Perth Jazz Society Best Jazz Performance Award (Troy Roberts Double Quartet)
Downbeat Student Music Award – Jazz Soloist

2009
WAMI Award – Best Original Jazz Act
Finalist in the Wangaratta Jazz Saxophone Competition.

2008
Performance on Grammy-nominated album, ‘The Magician’
Semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition
WAMI Award – Best Original Jazz Act

Tuesday, August 23rd – 9PM
Upstairs at the Van Dyke Café
846 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
$5 cover charge for tables only
Information at (305) 534-3600
www.thevandykecafe.com

Special Performance, we are opening for the Florida debut of Brazilian singer-songwriter TIÊ. We are honored to perform the first and third set. She will perform from 10-11.

Live Music-Randy Singer And Airplay Perform
Live Jazz, Blues, Pop–Fresh Grooves!
sting, james taylor, beatles, miles davis……….
Turning pop tunes into jazz fresh grooves, delicious fun!
van dyke , 9-1am, no cover– Come grab some!:-D

Let The Singer Sing!
Randy Singer is no slouch. The guy has played, recorded, and/or toured with the likes of Julio Iglesias, Al Di Meola, Desmond Child, Caetano Veloso, and Stephen Marley to name a few. His virtuosity with the harmonica is world renowned in the recording industry, and he’s done shows around the world. Luckily he calls Miami home. And he’s also the director of music programming at the Van Dyke’s upstairs music lounge, which has one of the most ambitious schedules in the county. Tonight, he exhibits the versatility of his instrument, and his ability as a player, with a performance full of covers, originals, and standards. Expect both Sting and Charlie Parker.

Florida debut of Brazilian singer-songwriter TIÊ live in concert

Singer Tiê (pronounced Chee-ay), a Warner Music Brasil recording artist, is one of the most talked about new Brazilian singers, and is set to perform her Florida debut Upstairs at the Van Dyke on August 23rd. The evening also features Randy Singer’s Airplay, the band led by the renowned harmonica player and music director of the Van Dyke.
At the invitation of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tiê will perform in the USA in August, with dates in Washington DC (Kennedy Center), New York and Miami Beach.

A São Paulo native, Tiê now 31, had a brief stint as a model for the Ford agency, having worked with director Fernando Meireles in award winning campaigns. She also owned a hip gift shop where she met legendary Brazilian singer Toquinho as well as members of the indie scene of São Paulo, including her producer Plinio Profeta.

After debuting with the minimalist “Sweet Jardim” (2009), one of the most talked about releases that year, Tiê again dove into her songwriting partnerships and developed versions of songs by friends such as Tulipa Ruiz and Thiago Pethit, with more full-bodied arrangements and new elements. She is now promoting her second release, “A Coruja e o Coração”(The Owl and the Heart), produced by Plinio Profeta and released in April by Warner Music Brasil and available in the US on iTunes. The album features hit songs like “Piscar o Olho”, “Você Não Vale Nada” (a surprising cover of a forró hit by Dorgival Dantas, now done flamenco style), and “Perto e Distante” featuring Oscar winner Jorge Drexler from Uruguay.

Tiê is also a confirmed attraction in the massive Rock in Rio festival, held in Rio de Janeiro in September of this year. She will be one of the stars of the Sunset Stage, dedicated to new talents of Brazilian music, and will share the show with Jorge Drexler.

http://www.myspace.com/tiemusica

http://sweetjardim.wordpress.com

KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present Hot Havana Nights with Deskarga Jam Band
Saturday August 20 at 9 PM
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach

For more information, call 305-534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com.
The lineup will comprise: Tony Gundin, drums, Manuel Torres, congas, Paul Quase, bass, Kiki Sanchez, piano, and Eros Brito, lead vocals.

Deskarga Jam Band….Timba meets Latin Jazz. Composed of Cuban-American musicians with a unique free style of playing, the musicians individually have performed with Julio Iglesias, Jon Secada, Los Sobrinos, Tipica Tropical, among others. Deskarga’s repertoire covers everything from Benny Moré, Los Van Van, Buena Vista, and NG La Banda to Celia Cruz. The band has played to the greater Miami dance audience in venues such as Alcazabas, Macabi Cigar Bar, Mojitos & Calle Ocho Festival among others, as well as numerous private and corporate events.

Deskarga have earned a reputation for exceptional musicianship and their exciting energetic live performances. They can captivate audiences’ hearts with their soulful montunos, explosive percussion riffs, and melodic vocal improvisations.

KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present the Martin Bejerano Quartet
Thursday, August 18, at 9 PM
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach

For more information, call 305-534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com.

Martin Bejerano, a native of Miami, Florida, has been active as a professional musician since the age of fifteen. A graduate of the esteemed New World School of the Arts, he received full scholarships to Florida State University, and to the University of Miami, where he received a M.M. in Jazz Piano Performance. After winning third place in the prestigious 1999 Great American Jazz Piano Competition, Martin moved to New York City in the summer of 2000 to pursue a career in jazz. In less than a year, he was asked to join the quartet of legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes, earning a Grammy nomination in 2004 for Best Instrumental Jazz Album. In January 2002, Martin also joined internationally acclaimed guitarist Russell Malone’s quartet, and continues to tour and record with both these groups, as well as being a highly in-demand sideman. Martin has performed most of the major jazz festivals, clubs and venues around the world with such jazz luminaries as the Christian McBride Band, Kenny Garrett, Roy Hargrove, Adam Nussbaum, Lonnie Plaxico Group, Ignacio Berroa, Mingus Big Band, Arturo Sandoval, and even traded choruses with the legendary Chick Corea. Martin’s career as a solo artist has also begun to blossom with his debut CD as a leader, Evolution/Revolution (Reservoir) released in 2007 to high critical praise. Martin has performed with his group at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Arturo Sandoval’s Jazz Club, The Kitano, The Jazz Gallery, and was recently awarded the prestigious New Jazz Works composer/ensemble grant from Chamber Music of America. Currently Martin spends his time between Miami and New York City, and holds teaching positions at the University of Miami and Broward College He is featured on several recent recordings, including Evolution/Revolution, Roy Haynes’s A Life In Time and Fountain of Youth, Russell Malone’s Live at Jazz Standard Vol. 2, and Lonnie Plaxico Group’s Live at Jazz Standard.

KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present LeNard Rutledge
Thursday, August 11, at 9 PM
The Van Dyke
846 Lincoln Road
South Beach
For more information, call 305-534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com.

Captivating, soul stirring, earthy and funky. These are just some of the words used to describe the song stylings of LeNard Rutledge. Growing up in Miami, Florida, LeNard was always surrounded by many different musical styles. His parents had an extensive music collection ranging from Classical, Jazz, Hymns and the funk of James Brown.

In the fall of 1984, LeNard went to St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, NC. LeNard was awarded a Band Scholarship by Dr. Harold Jeffries (Director of Bands). It was in Raleigh when LeNard’s musical journey took flight. In the fall of 1984, he recorded two jingles for WLLE, a local AM radio station. He played drums, co-wrote and sang background vocals. He played timpani and general percussion in the Concert band and was the back–up drummer for the Jazz Ensemble. After a year of hinting and periodic begging, LeNard got his first big break. In the fall of 1986, LeNard sang the ballad “Teach Me Tonight” at the Annual Spring Concert. His confidence grew as he sang more songs, which led to other projects such as studio work and voice-over jobs. For fear of letting his drumming chops falter, LeNard played at area clubs to keep the rust away. A musical friend (Rick Best) introduced him to song writing.

In 1992, Stanley Baird, an area saxophonist, asked LeNard to submit songs for his upcoming CD, Stop, Look & Listen. Stan recorded three of his songs and released them on his label, Saxony Records. In 1995, LeNard submitted two of those songs to the Billboard Songwriting Contest. One of the songs, “So In Love (with you)” placed in the top 1% of 50,000 R&B entries. In the fall of 1995, he returned for a while to Miami. Needing extra cash to return to school, a childhood friend, Alan Morley told him he could earn extra money producing Rap and Hip-Hop Music. He introduced him to Gary Bradshaw (a Miami Rapper). From October 1995 to January 1996, LeNard “ghost wrote” and produced 9 original tracks for Gary. After returning to school in January of 1996, LeNard made the Dean’s List and Graduated in May 1997 with a B.S. Degree in Industrial Hygiene and Safety.

In May 1997, LeNard moved back to Miami. In October 1997, LeNard auditioned as a vocalist for the Melton Mustafa Orchestra. He got the gig and was the featured vocalist until 2003. LeNard has been a featured vocalist at area jazz spots in South Florida. The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Van Dyke Café and O’Hara’s Jazz Pub are the most notable. LeNard has shared the stage with a number of highly respectable jazz artists such as: Nnenna Freelon, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kenny Drew Jr., and Harry Allen. In May of 2006, LeNard was named BEST JAZZ ARTIST, by the Miami New Times magazine. His first CD, Hello World, was released in November.

August at Upstairs at Van Dyke

Some very worthy highlights this month include one of the most recorded saxophonist in history: Ed Calle on August 8th, Miami’s best jazz baritone August 11th, double Grammy nominee Sammy Figueroa August 12th and Deskarga Jam Band on August 20th.

8/1; Cristina Perez; Traditional And Gypsy Jazz
8/2; Freddy Cleo; The Quintessential Piano Man &; Vocalist Entertainer, Knows Your; Favorite Songs By Heart.
8/3; Troy Anderson; Louis Armstrong Tribute
8/4; Kcc Productions Jazz Night Series; Artist Of The Month; Big Poppa E And The E Band; Best Of The Blues
8/5; Chris Alvy & Fernando Perdomo; Classic Rock Era Is Back!!; Evening Of Classic Rock Music
8/6; Rhythm & Blues Series; Ike And Val; Soul & Blues Revue
8/7; La Nueva Onda Latina Series; Hosted By Adrian Guerra; Showcasing The Finest In Latin; Rock And Pop; One Year Anniversary Party
8/8; Ed Calle; One Of The Most Recorded; Saxophonists In History,; Two-Time Latin Grammy Nominee.
8/9; Rockst*R & Da Fundamentals; Present A Night Of Rhythm, Funk & Soul (Brought To You By Godsrockstar Music; In A Collaborative Effort With Novell Nu-Soul)
8/10; The Phil Jacobson Band; An Eclectic Mix Of Pop, Rock; And Blues
8/11; Kcc Productions Jazz Night Series; Lenard Rutledge; Miami’s Best Jazz Baritone
8/12; Latin Jazz & Percussion Series; Sammy Figueroa &; His Latin Jazz Explosion; Double Grammy Nominees; With Legendary Percussionist
8/13; Iko Iko; Blues & Acoustic Funk
8/14; Latin Jazz Series; Oriente; Afro-Cuban Fusion
8/15; Jacob Jeffries; Vocals, Piano-Popster
8/16; The Elements Of Jazz; Jazz/Fusion
8/17; Fernando Perdomo; Fernando Perdomo Birthday Show; Featuring Dreaming In Stereo And; Many Special Guests From His; Forward Motion Records Label.
8/18; Kcc Productions Jazz Night Seriesmartin Bejerano Quartet; “Add Martin Bejerano To The; Expanding Roster Of Hot Young; Pianists…
8/19; Laurence Elder Band; Inspired Blend Of Jazz, Rock, Blues; & Pop. Singer-Songwriter-Pianist
8/20; Kcc Productions Hot Havana Nights; Deskarga Jam Band; Timba Meets Latin Jazz
8/21; Cuban Music Series; Conjunto Progreso; Grammy Nominated Cuban Son; & Descargas Cubanas
8/22; Joshua Stedman; Original Compositions Influences Of; Sting, Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai; & Seal.
8/23; Randy Singer’s “Airplay”; New Visions In Jazz & Pop; &; Tiê; Florida Debut Of The Brazilian Singer; / A Warner Music Recording Artist
8/24; Guitar Legend Night; Aaron Lebos Quartet; Jazz, Funk/Fusion Rock/Pop
8/25; Kcc Productions Jazz Night Series; Artist Of The Month; Troy Roberts’ Nu-Jive; Hard Swinging Straight-Ahead Jazz
8/26; Eversoklever; The Sounds Of Big Band Swing,; Rockabilly, Ska, Jazz, Latin & Blues
8/27; The Van Dyke Voices; Soflo’s Hottest Jazz Vocalists; Hosted By Bebob And Gecko.; Featuring Juanita Dixon
8/28; Songwriter Nights Series; Songwriters In The Round; Hosted By Randy Singer Featuring; The Best Acoustic Singers & Songwriters; In South Florida Where The Concert; Turns Into A Party!
8/29; Sj Acoustic Songman
8/30; Brian Hanlon; Hailed By Time Out London As; “Sounding Like A Young Sting/Van; Morrison With Huge Crossover Appeal”
8/31; Um Faculty Quintet; Featuring Brian Lynch;

Espirito Santo Bank presents Maria Bethania in concert
Friday November 11th, 8PM
Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater

Tickets on sale August 5th at 10AM through Ticketmaster outlets or the Fillmore box office.
$100 – $80 – $60 – $40

Exclusive US concert date – first appearance in Florida since 1988!

“With her low, throaty voice, Miss Bethania caresses her ballads, letting the melodies stretch out, warm and languorous. She sings love songs with breathy intimacy; other ballads pour out phrase by tender phrase as if she were thinking them up on the spot. For all the rich melancholy of her ballads, Miss Bethania can also breeze through uptempo songs, riding the propulsive rhythms of her home state, Bahia, and tossing off lyrics in easy syncopations.” — The New York Times

Singer and icon, Maria Bethânia became a major star in Brazil as one of the founders of tropicalia in the late 1960s. Along with her brother, Caetano Veloso, and musical partners Gilberto Gil and Gal Costa, the four young musicians created a cultural wave still rolling today. Shirking the repression of Brazil’s military dictatorship, Bethania and company married the electricity of the psychedelic era and youth culture with the traditional beauty of Brazilian music and culture. She quickly earned her nickname “abelha rainha” (queen bee) of MPB (Brazilian Popular Music). In five decades, Maria Bethania has released more that 30 albums, having shared the spotlight with legends like Edu Lobo, Chico Buarque and her colleagues from Bahia, Gil, Gal and brother Caetano. Since the very beginning of her career, her work is synonymous with professionalism, integrity and a deep respect for the craft of songwriters, poets and musicians.