The Branford Jazz on the Green Series …

For many years the Branford Recreation Department provided free Sunday afternoon concerts on the Branford Town Green. Visitors could listen to everything from blues and country to big band and swing. Blue Plate Radio met with the board and suggested that the board could increase public interest by changing the musical focus to jazz and changing the event to a weeknight when more people are likely to attend and in turn, stimulate the local economy.

The Board agreed and a committee was formed to guide the inaugural event that would began in the summer of 2009 and ran on consecutive Thursday nights from July 9 and thru August 20. The Branford Jazz Series continues in 2010 and expands to nine shows in a row beginning on Thursday, July 1 and ending on Thursday, August 26. All shows will begin at 6:30pm. To date, the Branford Jazz on the Green Series is proud to announce the following sponsors:

Presenting:
•The Town of Branford
•The Town of Branford Recreation Department
•The Branford Festival Corporation
•Blue Plate Radio

Series:
•Premier Subaru
•The Sound Newspaper
•Wells Thomas Retirement Planning

Gold:
•Arabella
•Guilford Savings Bank
•Sir Speedy Printing and Marketing Services
•Webster Bank

Silver:
•Alcoa Howmet
•Branford Chamber of Commerce
•Branford Economic Development Commission
•Branford Rotary Club
•Edward Jones
•Greater Hartford Jazz Festival
•Neko Productions
•New Alliance Foundation
•Pasta Cosi
•The Lock-Up: Branford Self-Storage
•Tracey Energy
•WoodWinds Restaurant
•W.S. Clancy Funeral Home
•Yolo Aesthetic Boutique & Med Spa
•ZIP06.com

Bronze:
•Duckpond Learning Center

For more information on the Branford Jazz Series or for information on becoming a sponsor or making a donation, please visit our contact page or contact Ed Tankus at Blue Plate Radio at 203.488.0002.

The Branford Jazz on the Green Series …It’s Hot! It’s Smooth! It’s Cool!

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Paula Atherton - Smooth Jazz - August 12!

New York-based Paula Atherton has opened for the likes of Chuck Loeb, Patti Austin, Tito Puente and saxophonist Najee. In 2004 her debut CD ‘Let Me Inside Your Love’ made its mark on the national contemporary jazz charts, and in 2006 a cut from this album, ‘I Long For Your Love’ was included on the compilation ‘Ladies of Jazz,’ which also featured Natalie Cole, Candy Dulfer and Eliane Elias. Her television work includes appearances on the 'Today' show, Good Morning America, and as bandleader for the Lifetime network show, ‘Girl’s Night Out’. In addition, Atherton performed at fundraisers during Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and in 2002 wrote the score for the independent film ‘The Definition of Insanity’.

Paula Atherton's sensational new CD, "Groove With Me," features eleven original compositions plus one well-chosen cover, with the perfect blend of instrumental and vocal cuts, oozing quality throughout. Tracks from "Groove With Me" can be heard frequently on Blue Plate Radio. We expect to hear quite a few of them at the 2010 Branford Jazz Series on the Green! In the meantime, click here to see a live studio performance of the song "Marimba Island" from her CD "Groove With Me."

Shilts - Smooth Jazz and Funk - August 19!

Even as he's dazzled audiences around the world with his high energy soloing over the funky beats of U.K. jazz groove sensations Down To The Bone, Paul “Shilts” Weimar just wants to be known as “an approachable boy from London who wants to have a laugh…a cheeky cockney chappy.” Part of the fun for the charismatic saxophonist is getting people up and dancing--and if they’re listening to him blow from the car stereo, he hopes as they travel down the open road that they’ll be up for some serious HeadBoppin, the name of his highly anticipated debut on ARTizen Music Group.

“I’ve always liked to play in the high energy style of the band [Down to the Bone],” Shilts says, “but it’s all groove and style. With my own material, I write for my sax as if it were a vocal instrument. It’s more melody than riff based, and the goal is to create songs that listeners can’t get out of their heads. I want it to reflect the sense of joy I get being around people, getting to know them and having fun.”

Shilts second solo CD, "Jigsaw Life," has received heavy airplay on Blue Plate Radio. Tracks from this CD, his previous solo effort "Headboppin'," and from his Down to the Bone days are sure to make the set list for the second to the last show of the 2010 Branford Jazz on the Green Series! Shilts will have copies of his third CD with him too! In the meantine, check out Shilts at last year's Hartford Jazz Festival here with one of our favorite keyboard players, Jay Rowe!

Chieli Minucci & Special EFX - August 26!

Chieli Minucci and Special EFX featuring Jay Rowe, Lionel Cordew, Jerry Brooks, and Phil Hamilton will be closing the 2010 Branford Jazz Series Thursday night, August 26, 6:30pm!

Join Special EFX in celebrating their 25th Anniversary and the release of their live DVD recorded at their 2009 Java Jazz show in Jakarta, Indonesia. CD's and DVD's will be on sale throughout the show and the band will be available for autographs after their performance. Click here for an official clip from their Indonesia performance!


http://branfordjazz.com/