JAZZ & BLUES

Rare Nat King Cole Tracks

Continuing Capitol/UMe’s ongoing roll-out of rare tracks by Nat King Cole comes the highly anticipated From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 4). This fourth digital-only collection features 14 timeless tracks, 12 of which are available for the first time on streaming platforms.

From The Capitol Vaults (Vol. 4) highlights Cole’s velvety smooth voice that is perfectly suited to some of the greatest love songs ever written, capturing him at his most engaging. From the dramatic and lilting “Little Child” (1951) to the charming romantic waltz of “You Will Never Grow Old” (1952), to the whimsical “The First Baseball Game” (1961), the fourth volume of From the Capitol Vaults shows a playful side of Cole’s music. The bossa nova and samba of “More and More of Your Amor” (1964) perfectly captures the steamy tropical vibes as we enter the dog days of summer.

Cole’s effervescent swing and moonlit balladry propelled him to the forefront of the most iconic performers ever to emerge from the jazz/pop sphere. An icon from the bygone Swing Era and Jazz Age, this volume is a great way to revisit and enjoy the Cole tracks that permeate our culture.

Orrin Evans Opens Red Door

What’s behind The Red Door? For pianist Orrin Evans, that question has come to symbolize the daring path his life and music have taken over the course of his three-decade career. On his latest album via Smoke Sessions Records, he once again flings that door open, delighting in the collaborators, friends, inspiration, and history that he finds inside.

Looking back, Evans has opened that door time and again, always with fortuitous results. There was the decision to pursue a life in jazz, the initial red door that led to a series of others: summoning the courage to test his mettle in the notorious jam sessions at Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus in Philly; braving a move to New York with growing confidence but no sure prospects.

Many of the musicians who join Evans on The Red Door connect to those periods of discovery and growth. The album features two core bands: one the rhythm section of bass legend Buster Williams and veteran drummer Gene Jackson, joined by the late trumpet master Wallace Roney or Philly living legend Larry McKenna on tenor; the other a quintet with trumpeter Nicholas Payton, saxophonist/flutist Gary Thomas, bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Marvin “Smitty” Smith. In addition, the album features guest appearances by vocalists Jazzmeia Horn, Sy Smith, and Alita Moses.

Better Than Ezra At Patchogue Theatre

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts announced Better Than Ezra on Saturday, November 4 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39 - $69 including fees and can be purchased in person at 71 East Main Street in Patchogue, by phone at 631-207-1313, or online, 24 hours a day, at: https://ci.ovationtix.com/34780/production/1171980?perf ormanceId=11329655

Whether you caught a house party gig after Better Than Ezra formed in 1988 at Louisiana State University, heard “Good” on the radio once it hit #1 during 1995, became a fan following Taylor Swift’s famous cover of “Breathless” in 2010, or saw them headlining sheds in 2018, you most likely never forgot that initial introduction to the New Orleans quartet founded by Kevin Griffin [lead vocals, guitar, piano] and Tom Drummond [bass, backing vocals].

Darlene Love For The Holidays

Through the years, Darlene Love continues to captivate audiences worldwide with her warm, gracious stage presence and superb performances. Her film “Twenty Feet From Stardom” included hits such as: He’s A Rebel, The Boy I’m Gonna Marry, Wait ‘Ti/ My Bobby Gets Home, He’s Sure the Boy I Love and the legendary #1 holiday classic Christmas Baby Please Come Home. She’s coming to The Landmark On Main Street in Port Washington on December 7th at 7:30 p.m. BOX OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Fri, 12 p.m.

boxoffice@landmarkonmainstreet.org www.landmarkonmainstreet.org

New Monika Ryan Album

Monika Ryan, award-winning jazz vocalist and songwriter, is celebrating her latest album, Playfully. Featuring eleven original tracks, “Playfully is a spirited celebration of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness,” says Ryan. She is joined by a trio of veteran collaborators—Steve Einerson on piano, Rene Hart on bass, and Alvester Garnett on drums—adding depth and emotion to each song. Recorded at Kaleidoscope Sound studio by Chris Parks,

The album will be released on Resensitize Records, preceded by four singles, in order, “Let Me Love The Whole Of You,” on June 26th, 2023, followed by “Slipping Out,” on July 11th, then “Keepin’ It Light, Keepin’ It Mellow,” on July 26th, and finally “Living Thoughtfully,” on August 10th. The complete album releases on August 25th and will include the additional songs, “Grow Where I’m Planted,” “I See It In You,” “I Found That Place,” “You’re Magic To Me,” “We’re Here,” “Reason To Be Happy,” and “Whole And Resounding Love.”

Playfully is available for pre-order now at https://resensitize.com/playfully, and streaming on August 25th, 2023.

For more information about Monika Ryan and her upcoming album, Playfully, visit www.monikaryan.com or follow her on social media @MonikaRyanMusic.

The Mets 2023 season may best be remembered for team owner Steve Cohen’s late June press conference. Cohen prefers to maintain a low-key image but was forced to call the press conference after his bumbling, $345 million-payroll team blew a 6-3 lead to the Phillies in Philadelphia. Their putrid bullpen gave up four runs in the eighth inning on just one hit. That comedy of errors reflected the Mets’ performance in the first half of the season.