Join us for an evening of enchanting songs from the great American songbook performed by, Kate Baker and Vic Juris, one of the most compelling voice & guitar duos on the scene today. Juris, who is admired by jazz guitarists around the globe, can create a self-contained orchestra with 6 strings--a complete accompanist and soloist who can carry complex and swinging arrangements single handed. Added to the lush texture of guitarwork from Maestro Juris, the clear-as-a-bell sonorities of Kate Bakers voice brings the beauty of each song to the forefront. Bakers tone and phrasing deftly reveals all of the emotion and poignancy this uniquely American music offers in its original lyric-centric context. These songs tell stories and Kates readings plumb the richness of each composition the duo chooses. But dont get too relaxed, as Vic Juris will also dazzle us with his incredible improvisations and flights of fancy which, hes well known for, and that have long made him a top tier first-call player in New York. ...
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Join us for an evening of enchanting songs from the great American songbook performed by, Kate Baker and Vic Juris, one of the most compelling voice & guitar duos on the scene today. Juris, who is admired by jazz guitarists around the globe, can create a self-contained orchestra with 6 strings--a complete accompanist and soloist who can carry complex and swinging arrangements single handed. Added to the lush texture of guitarwork from Maestro Juris, the clear-as-a-bell sonorities of Kate Bakers voice brings the beauty of each song to the forefront. Bakers tone and phrasing deftly reveals all of the emotion and poignancy this uniquely American music offers in its original lyric-centric context. These songs tell stories and Kates readings plumb the richness of each composition the duo chooses. But dont get too relaxed, as Vic Juris will also dazzle us with his incredible improvisations and flights of fancy which, hes well known for, and that have long made him a top tier first-call player in New York.
Kate Bakers distinct and authentic sound has excited audiences worldwide. Her voice resonates with her love of diverse musical inspirations whether Jazz, Brazilian, Latin or the Blues. Be it a Cole Porter standard or an Antonio Carlos Jobim composition, English or Portuguese, Kate is at home. She has been a featured vocalist at numerous Jazz events, including the Euro-Meet Jazz Festival, The Carini Jazz Festival and The Pergine Spettacolo Jazz Festival. In the U.S., her festival and concert credits include Berkshire Jazz Festival, The Texaco Jazz Series in NY City, William Paterson Jazz Room Concert Series, Liberty State Park Jazz Concert Festival, The Tarrytown Jazz Festival, The JVC Jazz Festival, The OSPAC Jazz Festival and many more. She has filled the rooms at major NYC area clubs such as: The Blue Note, Birdland, Trumpets and Visiones. Kate has had the pleasure of working with such talented artists as Claudio Roditi, Norman Simmons, Harvie Swartz, Houston Persons, Richie Cole, Vic Juris, Dick Oatts, Dave Stryker, Daduka Fonseka and many others.
From the wilds of Manhattan to the shores of Japan and Germany, jazz guitarist Vic Juris has covered an impressive range of territory, musically as well as geographically. Inspired by rock and roll legend Chuck Berry, the Jersey City native first picked up a guitar at the age of ten. With no musicians in the family, he taught himself to play and was soon appearing with rock and R&B bands throughout the tri-state area. But the young rocker's taste soon changed. In his late teens Vic discovered jazz and classical music. He was hooked.
From there it was on to a career with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Chico Hamilton, Dave Liebman, Richie Cole, Mel Torme, Eddie Jefferson and Nancy Wilson. From the beginning Vic's voracious appetite for new musical experiences led him to explore any and every jazz artist he could hope to learn from. He drew on other idioms as well: blues, swing, bebop. In a less sensitive and technically accomplished musician this expansive vocabulary might descend into cacophony. But Vic's highly developed sense of composition, his skill at fusing traditional jazz guitar with other forms of expression, has made him an eloquent and popular conversationalist.
Eagerly sought out by his fellow musicians, he has provided accompaniment for numerous recordings. In the mid-eighties Vic teamed up with the phenomenally talented guitarist Bireli LaGrene during an engagement at Fat Tuesday's, a New York City jazz club. Vic and LaGrene, a young gypsy whose spirited style recalls that of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt, began playing together regularly. Their popular performances were charged with the intensity of two masters challenging each other to new heights. Vic and LaGrene toured Europe together. They recorded Bireli LaGrene Live, featuring Vic Juris for the German label Jazzpoint.
It was during this time that Vic started spending a lot of time on the continent. He toured with alto saxophonist Richie Cole; pianist and composer Michel Legrand and then again as part of a guitar trio with Bireli LaGrene and Englishman John Etheridge. Vic found a warm welcome in Europe and European promoters were quick to book him, confident that he would draw a crowd.
While spending much of his time in Europe, Vic nevertheless managed to keep busy back in the states. He often teamed up with guitarist Larry Coryell playing festivals and Jazz Clubs throughout the country. He also traveled with Gary Peacock in duet throughout the European circuit. Vic has been a member of the David Liebman group since 1991. This band has recorded 10 CDs, traveled throughout Europe, Japan, Israel, and the United States throughout the 1990s and is still going strong till this day. He was a member of the Gary Peacock Quartet and musical director of the Charles Mingus Guitar Quintet. Vic performed at George Wein's J.V.C. Festival, in duets with John Abercrombie and Russell Malone. He performs with Jeremy Steig, James Moody, Charlie Mariano to name a few. As a leader Vic Juris is performing in the U.S. and in European venues
Jazz at the Spring is held the last Thursday of each month at the Spring Street Gallery, Saratoga Springs, and is sponsored by Capital District Jazz, Ltd. (CDJ) a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization formed by practitioners and fans who love jazz music. American in origin, jazz reaches and draws from millions of performers and listeners around the globe who are inspired by its rich history, excited by its technical complexity, and moved by its emotional depth. The members of CDJ want to share their love of jazz with current and potential performers and enthusiasts throughout the "Capital District". CDJ's mission is to build and serve a wider audience for jazz through education; to create performance opportunities for jazz musicians; and to develop venues for these pursuits. CDJ supports All Ears: Jazz and Improvised Music Workshop, which is a fun hands-on way for students of all ages to learn about jazz.
CDJ is offering a number of free tickets for youth age 17 and under. If you are interested in obtaining a free ticket please inquire via email info@cdjazz.org
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