Thu, Jun 18, 9:30 PM
Pre-release of new album - violin-driven world jazz/funk/blues Dave Kline violin, Steve Davis trombone, Abena Koomson-Davis vocals, Chao Tian Chinese dulcimer, with the Dave Kline Band and special guests. "All About Jazz" review of last year’s show with this ensemble: “Keyboard, guitar, bass and drums: a standard jazz quartet, no doubt, no argument. But add electric violin, trombone and the Chinese dulcimer and you've got something entirely different. Dave Kline and friends brought that unique line-up and a passel of original tunes to Blues Alley in DC's Georgetown district. The result? - as tasty and exotic as the jambalaya and shrimp and grits we enjoyed while Kline and company performed their musical magic ... You had to be there (hopefully, this and the other tunes will appear on Kline's forthcoming album).” This will be a pre-release performance of the new violin-driven album of world/jazz/blues/funk. Mostly original tunes with a riveting interpretation of Stevie Wonder’s Higher Ground. Violinist Dave Kline has performed with the legendary Chick Corea, Grammy-winning gypsy jazz guitarist Stephane Wrembel, Grammy-winning saxophonist David Murray (co-founder World Saxophone Quartet), Grammy-winning composer D.D. Jackson, Grammy-winning violinist Zach Brock (Snarky Puppy). Dave’s shows are known for their high intensity and exhilaration, and his unusual, stunning compositions combining beauty and power, stretching the violin from jazz to funk to blues and beyond. His most recent CD "Shifting Borders" charted #1 on the Roots Music Jazz Chart for 16 weeks. The jazz resume of Grammy-winning trombonist Steve Davis is monumental - Chick Corea, Art Blakey, Jackie McLean, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Horace Silver, Roy Hargrove, to name a few of the international stars Steve has performed and recorded with! Special venues include the Jimmy Fallon show (with Stevie Wonder), and the White House for a tribute to Ray Charles. Nearly 200 recordings as a band leader, including 4 weeks at #1 on the JazzWeek radio charts and several months in the top 10 for Bluesthetic (2022). Steve joined Chick Corea's Origin in 1997 and continued to work alongside the legendary Multi-Grammy winning pianist / composer for the next twenty-two years. Chao Tian is considered by many as the finest Chinese dulcimer player in the world. She crosses genres from Chinese classical to jazz and improvisation. Her latest project “Unheard Sounds” is dedicated to exploring immigration arts: artistic language reshaped by immigrant artists in cross-disciplinary collaboration. Abena Koomson-Davis - this powerhouse vocalist has performed alongside Stevie Wonder, Natalie Merchant (10,000 Maniacs) and Angelique Kidjo. She is the musical director for the Women’s March Resistance Revival Chorus. She also released her own debut album (Where Is Love, 2024) as well as appearing on Steve Davis latest album (We See, 2024). The band will include Buddy Speir electric guitar, TJ Turqman electric bass, Olaolu Ajibade drums - all legends in their own right! And some very special guests.