John Kocur at

Name: John Kocur at
Start: 2011-03-08
End: 2011-03-08

When

Tue, March 8, 2011
8-11PM

At Door

Save the date

Musicians

About

John “The Smoker” Kocur Spices Up Mardi Gras

Tuesday, March 8, 2011
8 pm-11 pm
Vespucci Restaurant
10579 Fairfax Blvd
Fairfax, VA 22030
$5 Cover Charge

“Alto saxophonist John Kocur isn’t called ‘The Smoker’ for nothing. He’s simply one of the finest soloists the D.C. jazz scene has to offer.” - Michael J. West, Washington City Paper

Fairfax, VA - Add some spice to Mardi Gras with John “The Smoker” Kocur and his jazz quartet in another lively performance at Vespucci Restaurant. Mardi Gras beads will be available at the door. Come for dinner and stay for the show.

Jazz fans rave about Kocur’s Quartet, calling his shows “on fire,” “eclectic,” and “funky.” All are invited to wine and dine at Vespucci Restaurant on Lee Highway in Fairfax and enjoy a performance by a talented group of local musicians. The evening will feature some well-known jazz classics as well as some brand-new compositions written by band leader John Kocur. The music will entertain guests from 8 pm until 11 pm, and there will be a $5 cover charge at the door. Directions to Vespucci Restaurant can be found at www.vespuccirestaurant.com.

With John Kocur on saxophone, Amy Bormet on piano, Oliver Albertini on bass, and Carroll Vaughn Dashiell III on drums, the John Kocur Quartet consistently delivers a riveting yet sensitive experience sure to enthrall audiences of all musical backgrounds. The up-and-coming performers of the John Kocur Quartet have played such local venues as The Manassas Wine and Jazz Festival, Blues Alley in Georgetown, and the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival. Overseas venues featuring John Kocur on Saxophone include the Jazz Ascona Festival in Switzerland and the first annual Nagano Jazz Festival in Japan.

John Kocur, the quartet’s lead musician, is an exciting young alto saxophonist and jazz composer based out of Washington, D.C. He has been called a "great soloist" by the City Paper, "equally capable of romance and hard-charging groove." His original compositions are rooted in the tradition of American Jazz, but they seamlessly blend a variety of musical influences including rock, hip-hop, European classical, and world musics. His distinctive alto saxophone style bears the influences of Johnny Hodges, Charlie Parker, Cannonball Addlerley, and Kenny Garrett. In 2008, John was selected to be one of five Artists-In-Residence at the prestigious Strathmore Performing Arts Center. John is currently on the music faculty at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, VA. John studied at George Mason University and Howard University under Jim Carroll, Dale Underwood, and Charlie Young III.

"The Smoker," John Kocur Quartet’s first album, is available online at cdbaby.com, digstation.com, and iTunes. Free sound clips and downloads are available at www.johnkocur.com.

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