Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman at

Name: Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman at
Start: 2012-03-07
End: 2012-03-07

When

Wed, March 7, 2012
7:30-10 p.m.

At Door

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Musicians

About

Red Hot Chicago Jazz’ on March 7 features Judy Roberts, Greg Fishman

“Red Hot Chicago Jazz” will fill the ASU Kerr Cultural Center imn Scottsdale, AZ, on Wednesday, March 7, when four Windy City musicians take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

The band features “Chicago’s Favorite Jazz Woman” (Chicago Tribune award) pianist-vocalist Judy Roberts, brilliant saxophonist Greg Fishman, unique guitarist-bassist Neil Seroka and special guest vocalist Wayne Messmer of Chicago Cubs-Blackhawks national anthem-fame, bringing their Chi-town witty humor and swinging sounds.

They will perform a variety of material, including their own greatest hits and tunes associated with legendary Chicago musicians such as Herbie Hancock. The performance is another in a series co-presented by Jazz in AZ and the ASU Kerr Cultural Center, made possible by support from the Jazzbird Foundation.

Judy Roberts is recognized as a worldwide jazz star thanks to the success of her international recordings and concert performances. Judy is best known for her fun-loving approach to an eclectic and extensive repertoire, her hard-swinging piano playing, her ability to combine lush and sensitive vocals with rapid-fire scat singing, and for her unique ability to communicate with her audience in a relaxed and intimate style. A multiple Grammy nominee, her 20-plus album releases include "The Other World," whose hit single "Señor Blues" was number one on jazz charts and in radio airplay; the "Trio" album with Ray Brown and Jeff Hamilton; the song "Twilight World," co-written with piano diva Marian McPartland (on whose NPR show "Piano Jazz" Judy has guested twice); and her international hit rendition of Dave Frishberg's "My Attorney Bernie." In addition to steady club appearances at Remington’s in Scottsdale, Judy performs at jazz festivals such as the North Sea Fest in Holland, Singapore Jazz Fest and Chicago Jazz Festival, and is a regularly featured artist for the Joe Segal and the Jazz Cruise Line, as well as the Newport Beach and West Coast Jazz Parties.

By the age of 15, Greg Fishman was working professionally around Chicago. He has performed with the Woody Herman and Louie Bellson big bands, Slide Hampton, Jackie Cain and Roy Kral, Lou Levy, Marian McPartland, Conte Candoli, Ira Sullivan, Clark Terry, Ralph Burns and Don Menza, as well as extensively with Judy Roberts. Among his musical associations is the acoustic duo Two for Brazil with Paulinho Garcia that creates a warm, intimate sound reminiscent of the legendary pairing of João Gilberto and Stan Getz. Widely regarded as an authority on his musical idol, Getz, Greg is one of the most respected and prolific author-educators and a widely sought-after jazz saxophone teacher who has students, including many worldwide via Skype.

Downbeat Magazine stated, "Neal Seroka's unique guitar style shifts cleverly between country-tinged picking and sophisticated modal patterns." Neal has a signature approach to both his bass and guitar lines, played on the unusual Fender VI electric bass guitar. His decades of performances with Judy show in their shared grooves and harmonic chemistry, documented on Neal’s CD, “Beeline Highway.”

Wayne Messmer has wowed Cubs fans for years with his classic rendition of the national anthem. But, as Judy Roberts discovered, he is equally at home in an intimate jazz piano-vocal duo. “I discovered this one evening several years ago when Wayne dropped by a Chicago club where I was working, and I invited him to sit in. I was treated to a shockingly gorgeous rendition of ‘You Are Too Beautiful,’ delivered as though Wayne was channeling the ghost of Johnny Hartman.” After many more guest spots during the next few years, Judy and Wayne went into the studio to record an album titled “So Lucky to Be Loving You.”

The CD and Wayne’s performance at the Kerr will, said Judy, “show off Wayne’s multiple musical personalities of that very few people have ever heard - - soft, sexy, jazzy, tender, playful. And another surprise, jazz whistling!”

Tickets are available at the Kerr box office, 6110 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 85323; by phone at 480-596-2660; and online at www.jazzinaz.org, $24 general admission, $29 reserved seating. Tickets purchased by phone are subject to a $1.50 credit-card processing charge, but there are no fees on tickets purchased at the box office.

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