Andrew Speight

Andrew Speight spearheaded the formation of the Generations Band as a project of the International Center for the Arts at San Francisco State University. Despite changing personnel and the untimely death of original pianist Ronnie Matthews in June 2008, the Generations Band has not only survived but also strengthened its position as the premier cross-generational jazz band, its members’ collective experience encompassing more than 60 years of the music’s history. (Senior statesman Frank Wess was playing with Billy Eckstine’s big band in 1946!) The Generations Band includes Frank Wess on tenor saxophone, Eric Alexander on tenor saxophone, Andrew Speight on alto saxophone, Jim Rotundi on trumpet, David Hazeltine on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums. The guiding principles of musicianship and mentorship remain constant in the Generations Band, even as new members like pianist David Hazeltine and trumpeter Jim Rotundi have arrived to offer fresh insights and perspectives. The Generations Band will appear at the Jazz Standard in New York on Thursday, July 9th through Sunday, July 10th. The youthful alto saxophonist  Music Charge: $25 / $30 Friday & Saturday, no minnimum.  

 "I can take it anywhere it goes, right? I love to play inside, outside...but the organ swings best when it swings, doesn't it? That's what that organ is good for. You could try to play hip all you want, but when you swing that thing, there's no other feeling like it." - Doctor Lonnie Smith

Dr. Lonnie Smith © Andrea Canter

Dr. Lonnie Smith will celebrate his 67th birthday with a rock-solid trio including Peter Bernstien on guitar and Bill Stewart on drums. Dr. Lonnie Smith is one of the last of the old-school Hammond B3 maestros, and  he has been delivering the funky jazz since breaking in with George Benson half a century ago. Also a master showman, Dr. Lonnie Smith has been thrilling audiences since the 1960's. Smith's 1968 debut with Bluenote, Think is solid soulful jazz and his long association with Lou Donaldson resulted in some of the most iconic soul-jazz statements of the era (including Alligator Bogaloo).  You can catch his birthday gig at Smoke Jazz and Supper Club in New York on Friday, July 3rd through Sunday, July 5th with sets at 8, 10 and 11:20 pm.

Off the Cuff

A unique sense of harmony, movement and drama has characterized the music of pianist Rick Germanson since his first recording, Heights (Fresh Sounds/New Talent, 2003). Noted Bill Donaldson (Cadence), “Without ostentation and with clearly conceived logic… Germanson makes clear to his listeners the narratives of his music. Indeed, one of Germanson's trademarks seems to be his transitioning between tempos to add interest to his arrangements.” Named “Best New Talent New York” for 2004 by All About Jazz New York, the Milwaukee native and winner of the 1996 Grand Prize in the American Pianist Association Jazz Piano Competition followed in 2005 with You Tell Me, again on Fresh Sound/New Talent. This set of mostly original compositions further highlighted the richly textured ideas of an ever-evolving pianist. Germanson’s more recent itinerary has included extended tours with Pat Metheny and Louis Hayes’ Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band, and finally he found time to record with Hayes and fellow Milwaukeean, bassist Gerald Cannon. Off the Cuff (2009, Owl Studios) is his strongest effort yet.