Three to Stream: New Jazz Messengers perform on Midtown Vanguard Jazz stream
We’re devoting our usual “Three to See” concert space to rounding up some info on what local and out-of-town artists are up to as we continue to fight COVID-19. Hosting a show online or releasing new music? Message us on Instagram with details: @adavis_threetosee.
Midtown Vanguard Jazz live stream with New Jazz Messengers (7 p.m. Sunday August 9): If you’ve caught any of their recent shows, you know that Midtown Vanguard Jazz is taking the streaming thing very seriously and is not messing around with the audio quality or presentation. There’s a host of recommendations for optimal viewing on the Facebook event page, even for the casual audiophile. Your performers for the evening are the fiery New Jazz Messengers, a rousing, swinging quintet led by pianist Sterling Cozza and featuring Levi Saelua (sax), Benjamin Kopf (bass), Chase Lokke (drums) and trumpeter Aaron Smith, a Sacramento State grad who recently did some touring alongside local star Hobo Johnson. Donations accepted online. www.facebook.com/events/1240274606326840.
The Side Door mini-sets: Still somewhat of a buried treasure nestled within the Fifth String music shop on Franklin Boulevard (adjacent to Hop Garden), the cozy Side Door has been hosting a series of stripped-down, crisply-recorded mini-sets from a variety of local artists, which are available to purchase and stream at your leisure. In the archive are recent performances from Adam Verona, Richard March, Steve McLane, Sea of Bees, Gabe Nelson and Dog Party, with more to come in the series. www.thesidedoor.net.
Greensky Bluegrass’ Leap Year Sessions (6 p.m. Friday August 7): Similar to what Midtown Vanguard Jazz and the Side Door are up to, we’re definitely seeing an evolution in the COVID streaming world toward more audio-rich productions to fill the concert void. It’s hard to imagine the living room sets and creative at-home live streams ever going away during this time (nor would we want them to), but these new higher-end undertakings make for a delightful complement. Jamgrass heroes Greensky Bluegrass are bringing their inventive improvisations and scintillating compositions into the fold with their Leap Year Sessions (produced by the team behind LivePhish) for the next eight weeks. No word on anything specific they’re plotting week-to-week, but such is the joyful mystery of their concerts anyway! $15 each/$100 for the full eight-show series. www.hyfi.com/greensky-bluegrass.