Latest news with #Yoshi's
Boston Globe
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Joe Lovano on the art of assembling a quartet
The seed for the group was planted when Lovano – among the most prominent tenor saxophonists of his time, with dozens of celebrated albums on first Blue Note and more recently ECM to his name – was recruited for a hurricane relief benefit concert in 2022 by drummer Calhoun, a Berklee College of Music graduate best known for his work with the two-time Grammy-winning hard rock band Living Colour. Rounding out the trio Calhoun assembled for that night was bassist Dibriano, whom Lovano had first played with in the 1980s. The set went well, and when Lovano began thinking of forming a new band the next year, he decided to add guitarist Julian Lage into the mix. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Lage, 37, has long been a star in his own right, most recently leading a trio. But Lovano first met him in 1999 at the venerable Oakland, Calif., club Yoshi's, where the then-pre-teen music prodigy Lage had been brought by family friends to see McCoy Tyner lead a band that included Lovano. Several years later, Lage was placed in Lovano's ensemble class at Berklee, where since 2001 the saxophonist has held the Gary Burton Chair in Jazz Performance. Advertisement Despite their long acquaintanceship, Lovano and Lage hadn't performed publicly together until the Paramount Quartet debuted at the Vanguard in February 2024. That weeklong residency, says Lovano, was magical. The focus was on Lovano's own compositions. But the repertoire took other directions as well. 'I remember Ravi Coltrane came to hear us,' says Lovano, referring to the saxophonist son of jazz great John Coltrane, whose music the quartet spontaneously began exploring that night from the bandstand. 'I started with some theme, one of [John] Coltrane's tunes, and it turned into a 20-minute exploration of about five different Coltrane tunes in a collage — different tempos, different keys, different everything. And all of a sudden that became an idea.' Another night that week the quartet did the same with music by 'Everybody knows the music,' Lovano explains. 'You don't have to say, 'Oh yeah, let's play this, let's play that.' No, you do that by suggesting something you know, and the way Julian plays — he has a deep repertoire of music that he loves and knows. And everybody [in the group] got to play with the right people. And so, throughout the week, that idea started to take shape, too. And that was beautiful.' Advertisement Lage agreed, noting that he'd known both Lovano and Debriano as long as he could remember. He recalls having performed with Debriano around age 12; Calhoun was the only one in the group he was playing with for the first time. 'It's kind of the debut of an old thing,' says Lage. 'Joe is that kind of figure. He's deeply, deeply important to all of us, as a player, as a conceptual artist, as a writer, as a historian — as someone who understands the tradition and where it's coming from, where it's going.' Lovano also said the band would be 'playing on a couple famous, beautiful tunes,' naming relatively unfamiliar classics by Billy Strayhorn, Charlie Haden, and Wayne Shorter. 'When you play with folks, it's like — I learned this from playing with Hank Jones, too — you play music. You only really play music you love to play; you don't play anything you don't love. The more tunes and things that you love to play, the more that comes out. Because if you ever went to hear Hank Jones, play a solo concert with his trio or whatever, he captured you with every phrase. It's all about love.' Talk turns to other celebrated groups Lovano has led or played in through the years. Some remain ongoing projects: The Sound Prints quintet he co-leads with trumpeter Dave Douglas. His Advertisement 'Since the mid-'70s, I've played with all kinds of folks, man,' Lovano notes. 'I find if you play with the same people all the time, it gets boring. I like to play with all kinds of folks and have an exchange of ideas and let the music really guide you.' Lage feels the same way. 'A context is the paintbrush, and some cats are really great at using that paintbrush,' he says, referring to the grace with which Lovano moves among his various bands. 'He's able to be as free and imaginative with the contexts that he creates as he is with the music he's playing within them.' Lovano's juggling of several active bands contrasts with the approach of another stellar saxophonist, But that doesn't necessarily apply when elite musicians are involved. 'Oh no, there's no small talk at all,' Lovano counters. 'From the very get-go you get into something, because you're all living the music.' To prove his point, Lovano offers a recent example: a recording session he did with Branford Marsalis himself. It took place last July in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the original bassist from Marsalis's quartet, Robert Hurst, lives and teaches. Joining Marsalis, Hurst, and Lovano were pianist Orrin Evans and the Marsalis quartet's original drummer, Jeff 'Tain' Watts. Advertisement 'We came together with an attitude of, 'Yeah, that's it!' Bob had some great music. You know, a lot of record dates come together with some magical spirit. For me, that's what it's about to play music. Share the space and see where it goes. Follow the concept that's coming from the cats. Follow the sound and let it take you places.' Which is just what the Paramount Quartet has been doing thus far this year, both musically and geographically. GLOBAL ARTS LIVE PRESENTS JOE LOVANO'S PARAMOUNT QUARTET FEATURING JULIAN LAGE, ASANTE SANTI DEBRIANO, WILL CALHOUN April 13, 7:30 p.m., at Somerville Theatre. 55 Davis Square, Somerville. $36 to $66.
Chicago Tribune
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Laura Washington: New LGBTQ-themed hotel will level up Northalsted
What do you get when you combine an LGBTQ-themed hotel with the legacy of one of Chicago's most renowned chefs, the great Yoshi Katsumura? You could get an amazing anchor for Northalsted, that lively Lakeview territory. Last week, plans for a boutique hotel that would cater to LGBTQ patrons was approved by the Chicago City Council's Zoning Committee, paving the way for its construction on the corner of North Halsted Street and West Aldine Avenue. The six-story, 51-room hotel would replace Yoshi's Café, a neighborhood treasure, and my old home away from home. Yoshi's closed in 2021, yet it is fitting that the hotel is landing on that iconic space. The restaurant run by the celebrated chef and his wife, Nobuko, held forth for nearly 40 years and hosted a richly diverse group of avid fans. The hotel's developers are planning upscale amenities, including a rooftop bar, pool and cabanas; a restaurant; and a 'speakeasy' lounge in the basement. It will be an attention-grabbing addition to Chicago's Northalsted neighborhood, the area that extends along Halsted north from Belmont Street to Waveland Avenue. Northalsted, formerly known as Boystown, has long been a celebrated gay neighborhood. The strip of restaurants and bars along Halsted is one of the most vibrant LGBTQ-centric commercial areas in the country, boasting a vibrant party scene, mixed in with service-related businesses, beauty salons, social service agencies and coffee shops. Northalsted hosts some of the biggest street celebrations in Chicago, including the annual Pride Parade, which packs in about 1 million revelers from around the nation, and the massive Market Days street fair that takes over the neighborhood for one weekend every August. The area's bars are finely specialized, offering every brand of LGBTQ festivities from kitschy showtunes to techno leather guys. Now comes a hotel to level it up. And if it's lucky, it will carry Yoshi's aura. For 39 years, Yoshi's Café, the white two-story building with the blue awning at North Halsted and Aldine, was a community hub. Its master chef served up his spectacular culinary creations, which won many honors and were cited as inventive and visionary. Yoshi was doing 'Asian fusion' before the term was invented. His fine fare drew fans from the North Shore, south suburbs, tourists from afar, the lakefront high-rises nearby and, yes, plenty from Boystown. When Yoshi's opened its doors, there were only a couple of gay bars on that stretch of North Halsted. Yoshi built a culinary community that helped spawn today's thriving entertainment district. He served for 22 years on the board of the North Halsted Area Merchants Association, now the Northalsted Business Alliance; he was one of the first non-gay business owners to be elected to the group. He was known as 'the Mayor of Boystown.' Yoshi passed away in 2015, but Nobuko Katsumura carried on until the restaurant closed in 2021. I and legions more sorely miss it. Yoshi's was the place where you could come home when you had no home. Yoshi and Nobuko were the ultimate hosts. The corner of Aldine and Halsted now carries the honorary name Yoshi Katsumura Way. In 2018, a Japanese lilac tree was planted on the street in his honor, donated by the business alliance. Ald. Bennett Lawson, 44th, represents Lakeview and is backing the hotel project. He helped forge a 'good neighbor agreement' with the hotel owners that 'aligns with feedback from neighbors in the area,' Block Club Chicago reported. Allan O'Brien, owner of Men's Room Chicago, and his business partners Andreas Campbell and Bob Sievers are leading the project. The agreement commits that 'the hotel's lobby, restaurant, speakeasy, and rooftop lounge will be open to the public' and that the hotel will host a series of community events for neighborhood residents. And 'the commemorative 'Yoshi's' Tree' near the site will be protected and preserved throughout the construction process, and for the duration of the hotel's operation.' Nobuko Katsumura lives nearby and is grateful that Yoshi's tree will be preserved. She is excited about the proposed hotel, she told me. The hotel's developers told Nobuko that they plan to honor Yoshi's but have not yet specified how. 'I am just waiting for them to come up with how they can include Yoshi's legacy there,' Nobuko said. So am I. How about if the hotel's restaurant were to feature a few of the scrumptious menu items that Yoshi pioneered, such as his mussels and shitake mushrooms swimming in a spicy Thai broth? The Japanese kabocha pumpkin ravioli. That magnificent red snapper, fried to perfection and lavished with hoisin sauce. Better yet — sign up Mari Katsumura, Yoshi and Nobuko's daughter and the hugely talented Michelin-starred chef — to run that restaurant.
Associated Press
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Carmen Jones' Ultimate Teena Marie Tribute Tour Hits Oakland, Inglewood & Las Vegas – Tickets On Sale Now
'Carmen Jones Makes Her Las Vegas Debut with the Ultimate Teena Marie Tribute – Live at Cannery Hotel & Casino, April 5!' OAKLAND, CA, UNITED STATES, February 12, 2025 / / -- Experience the magic of Carmen Jones' Ultimate Teena Marie Tribute, a show that has captivated audiences for over a decade. This soulful, high-energy performance honors Teena Marie's legacy while showcasing Carmen's unique artistry. Audiences will experience this unforgettable tribute live, featuring Carmen's powerhouse vocals and signature arrangements: 📍 March 2, 2025 – Yoshi's, Oakland, CA – A special celebration of Teena Marie's March birthday! 📍 March 8, 2025 – Miracle Theater Backyard, Inglewood, CA – A special celebration of Teena Marie's March birthday! 📍 April 5, 2025 – Las Vegas Debut – The Club at Cannery Hotel & Casino 🎟 Get Tickets & More Info ABOUT THE SHOW: A SOULFUL TRIBUTE THAT HONORS TEENA MARIE'S LEGACY For over a decade, Carmen Jones has brought Teena Marie's timeless music to life, earning the support of Teena's closest family, friends, and fans—those who knew and loved Lady T best. 🔥 This is NOT an impersonation—it's a deeply personal and heartfelt celebration. Carmen's tribute captures the essence, energy, and artistry of Teena Marie's music with a soulful and powerful authenticity. Teena Marie broke industry norms as a white woman with a deep-rooted connection to Black music, earning unwavering respect in the R&B community. Carmen Jones, who is Black and Italian, shares an uncanny resemblance to Teena Marie—not just in appearance but in the passion and depth of her performance. As a teenager, Carmen had the rare honor of singing Teena Marie's songs directly for the legend herself. In a moment that shaped Carmen's musical journey, Teena said: 'Don't stop.' Those words became a guiding force in Carmen's career, now culminating in the premiere of her new single, 'Don't Stop'—a tribute to perseverance, artistry, and staying true to one's musical roots. THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS TRIBUTE Teena Marie's music holds a timeless significance in R&B, soul, and funk, with a career that continued to flourish until her passing in 2010, particularly among those who cherish the golden era of these genres spanning the late 1970s through the 1980s. Known for her soulful voice, poetic lyricism, and deep connection to Black music culture, Teena Marie transcended industry boundaries, becoming an iconic figure celebrated across generations. Carmen Jones' tribute pays homage to this rich cultural legacy, providing longtime fans with a rare opportunity to relive the magic of songs that defined an era. More than just a concert, this performance is a celebration of musical heritage, nostalgia, and the continued influence of Teena Marie's artistry. From classics like Square Biz to the heartfelt Portuguese Love, Carmen delivers an authentic, deeply felt tribute that resonates with longtime fans while introducing a new generation to Teena Marie's impact. WHY THIS SHOW IS A MUST-SEE 👉 First-ever Las Vegas Performance! – Live Music in Las Vegas 👉 Powerful Live Band & Unique Arrangements – A fresh, authentic take on Teena's biggest hits. 👉 Fan-Favorite Classics Performed Live – Square Biz, Portuguese Love, Lovergirl, Ooo La La La, and more! 👉 New Music! – The exclusive premiere of Carmen's original single, 'Don't Stop.' Since 2011, Carmen Jones has been captivating audiences nationwide with her electrifying performances, earning praise for her soulful authenticity and powerhouse vocals. She has performed at top venues like Yoshi's (Oakland) and Blue Note (Napa) and shared the stage with Jamie Foxx, Howard Hewett, Al B. Sure, and El DeBarge. 📅 March 2, 2025 – Yoshi's, Oakland, CA 📅 March 8, 2025 – Miracle Theater Backyard, Inglewood, CA 📅 April 5, 2025 – The Club at Cannery Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV 🎟 Tickets & More Info Seats are limited! Get your tickets now before they sell out! Contact: CJM Entertainment Group, Inc. 📧 🌐 Tiffany Thompson CJM Entertainment Group, Inc. Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok Legal Disclaimer:
