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Konceptions Music Series at Korzo, Brooklyn | Tuesday, August 28th, $10 | 10:30pm Shane Endsley – Trumpet, Curtis Macdonald – Sax, Jason Nazary – Drums, Chris Tordini – Bass | 9pm Jeff Lederer – Reeds, Matt Wilson – Drums, Kirk Knuffke – Cornet, Bob Stewart – Tuba

A huge congratulations to Matt Ulery and crew (Rob Clearfield, Michael Caskey, eighth blackbird, Zach Brock, Grazyna Auguscik) for a stellar performance at Chicago's Millennium Park last night. We heard from so many people — many who had never heard this music — while hanging at the merch table how special the music was. Perfectly fitting of the evening, the tunes seemed to part the clouds that had plagued the city all day and offer more than just a little light near the end of the evening. We've seen some great shows at the Pritzker, but there was something magical about the sounds and sights of last night. And we're glad so many folks were there.

Two shows this week. Matt Ulery brings the music of By A Little Light to Chicago's Millennium Park (Thursday), and Michael Bates hits Sycamore in Brooklyn with his quartet.

Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano and two-time Grammy nominated trumpeter Dave Douglas are current masters on their respective instruments within the pantheon of modern jazz. From their collaborations on acclaimed recordings such as Trio Fascination: Edition Two and more recently John Zorn’s Stolas, Lovano and Douglas have shown that their distinct and robust voices can lead, blend and push the idiom forward both in composition and improvisation, while embracing the front-line masters of previous generations. In 2008, when Lovano and Douglas were co-leaders of the renowned SFJAZZ Collective, the group paid tribute to living icon Wayne Shorter showcasing arrangements of Shorter originals alongside newly composed pieces influenced by Shorter’s compositional voice. The experience was a catalyst that lead the two instrumentalists to conceive the Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Quintet, Sound Prints; an all-star ensemble including up and coming pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda Oh, and drummer Joey Baron. Performing new repertoire as well as brand new Shorter compositions in direct collaboration with Shorter, the quintet is less an homage to Wayne Shorter and more of a unique convergence of three unparalleled trajectories.

Matt Ulery celebrates his latest album "By A Little Light" at Chicago's famous Green Mill on June 29th & 30th with members of eighth blackbird, vocalist Grazyna Auguscik, and many more.

Linda Oh with Dayna Stephens, Fabian Almazan, Rudy Royston plays Jazz Standard, Tuesday June 19th.

As Dave and the Keystone boys head off to Europe this weekend for a string of shows, we're celebrating this bands first tour in awhile with a 25% off all Keystone music at the store. There's so much music over there including the Spark of Being box set, the Expand LP, the 8-set Live at Jazz Standard, and all the rest. Dig in. Offer ends when the wheels hit the tarmac back in the States.

Aaron Ryuko Shragge, a member at the Village Zendo, created a new collaboration between FONT Music and the Village Zendo. This extraordinary pairing of innovative trumpet music and enlightened venue takes flight on May 4 at 8pm.

Donny McCaslin is hitting the road for a string of shows Europe next week. He'll be showcasing a slew of new music with a quartet of Uri Caine, Rudy Royston, Fima Ephron (for the first three dates), and Tim Lefebvre for the rest of the tour. For those in NYC, the group (with Fima) hits the 55 Bar on Sunday, April 22nd for two sets starting at 9:30 PM. Come on out and send them off right.

If you are in Vancouver and (hopefully) already have tickets to Sunday's premiere, here's an off-the-beaten-path meet up on Saturday night.

Turning Point Ensemble premieres new Douglas composition "Sand Hill" this Friday and Sunday.