The Pearl Company

Big Johnny Blue, Strange Cargo & Special Guest Charly Chiarelli: Friday, January 13. 8:00pm, $20 / $15 students/seniors/wage-challenged….  Like the blues?  You’ll love them Big Johnny Blue style.  Big Johnny’s a Hamilton guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and founding member of The Hamilton Blues Society. He has written hundreds of songs, and played with countless local musicians over the years. He is committed to supporting local music and musicians, especially by supporting efforts to tell the story of Hamilton’s blues history, and the power of music to improve the life of every man.
Charly Chiarelli is one of the world’s premiere storytellers, widely known for his trilogy of one-person plays. He may be an accomplished storyteller but he is also a songwriter and virtuoso harmonica player. Find out just how capable when he joins Johnny and Strange Cargo in the telling acoustics at The Pearl…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE8p_zRZeIs&index=1&list=PLB3320D903F7A1FCE https://www.facebook.com/bigjohnnyblueandstrangecargo/

Hammer Hoppers Presents: Craig Roberts and The Jumpin’ Jive Band: Wednesday, January 11. Doors: 7:00/Lesson: 7:30/Show: 8:00. $15 / $10 students or with a MacSwing membership card. We are going to shimmy and shake our way into the new year with The Jumpin’ Jive Band from right here in Hamilton. Craig Roberts and The Jumpin’ Jive Band perform the great hits from the 1930s and 1940s drawing from Hoagy Carmichael, Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, and Fats Waller. Join us on the dance floor and let’s get moving in 2017.
Never danced before? We will show you how! We have a Drop-In Beginner Lesson at 7:30PM. Dancing isn’t your thing (yet) but good jive is? We have lots of extra comfy seating at The Pearl Company. Come listen have a dance with us! The Theme: Frozen in Time (White & Blue). Hammer Hoppers offers dance instruction and socials for vintage swing dances, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Authentic Jazz, and Balboa.

Another Jazzy New Year @ The Pearl! Saturday, December 31, 8:00 ‘til ?  $75 per person.  Fab entertainment, a great buffet, and a cash bar. The entertainment will be a brilliant collection of super-gifted jazz musicians. As always, we promise fun people, great conversations, musical magic, and lots of dancing before, between, and after the jazz sets!
To welcome in the New Year: Chef Gary Santucci, with major assistance from his son and chef Avery Santucci, will create a pan-global buffet with new dishes arriving throughout the night. There will be two musical sets from the collection of jazz artists assembled for the evening:

The 7-piece world-beat jazz ensemble, Spanjazz: Inspired by world music rhythms in a jazz context and featuring Alex Tomowich – keyboard, Simon Wheeldon – saxophone, Jeff Plumbley – trumpet, Aidan Sibley – trombone, James Gannett – bass, Steve Wilson – drums and Gary Santucci – guitar. All musicians are highly respected performers in their own fields; the juxtaposition of their different styles and approaches creates the unique sound and experience that is Spanjazz.
Dancing between sets and lots of food and interesting beverages will round out the evening.
We need you to RSVP: Buy tickets online, via email, or phone.  We sold out last year so let us know as soon as you do!

The Koren Family Christmas! Monday, December 19 at 7:00pm: $10 / With a Food or Cash Donation. The Koren Family with The Pearl Company will host an evening of music and much, much, more. I quote from Benjamin Washington …best deal of the year…the 2016 installment of the annual ‘Koren Family Christmas’…a full charity donation showcase in aid of HAMILTON FOOD SHARE…main stage at The Pearl Company… the musical line-up is awesome…room sound by Ron Chilton…lighting and effects Rob McArthur’s Niteline Productions…tech by Ed Sculthorpe’;s Birchway Sound and the show is being taped for television broadcast…ten bucks and a food donation…be there…best deal of the year!  The Musical lineup: Tomi Swick, Lisa Winn, Christopher Nguyen, Mississippi Bends, Doug Feaver and Ruth Sutherland, Danny Medakovic, The Vaudevillian, Elton Lammie Music and 2016 Blues Juno Award winner Harrison Kennedy perform!!! Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_4F90lmGQY

“A RIDE IN THE SKY” Friday December 9, Saturday December 10. 8:00pm both nights. $20 door/$15 students/ seniors/ un(der)waged. “A Ride in the Sky”  is a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the WINGS OVER AMERICA album and tour. Organized by Christopher Clause, proceeds from the two shows will benefit Gracenotes and the Debbie Clause Recording Fund. The two shows will feature the following artists (in alphabetical order): Andrew Aldridge, The Barr Band, Robin Benedict, Christa Bradbury, Bob Bryden, Jennifer Budd, Christopher Clause, Spider Costello, Sonny del Rio, Andy Griffiths, Bec Jamieson, Chris Jamieson, Frank Koren, Kim Koren, Fred Magie, Steve McRae, Lena Montecalvo, Jackie Scott, Michael Scott, Peter Taplay, Sharon Washington.

Hammer Hoppers Presents: The Peter Shea Quartet: Wednesday, December 14. Doors: 7:00/Lesson: 7:30/Show: 8:00. $15 / $10 students or with a MacSwing membership card. Join us on the dance floor with The Peter Shea Quartet at our holiday dance. Peter Shea hails from the Niagara region and was trained at UofT in Jazz Performance and Composition. Peter has performed on keyboard with comedy groups such as Toronto Second City and Montreal Just For Laughs as well as the hit musical Jersey Boys and has played all over the world and now he and his band will be playing for us in Hamilton so we can dance our socks off. Come hear for yourself why Peter’s music gets the dance floor hoppin’!
Never danced before? We will show you how! We have a Drop-In Beginner Lesson at 7:30PM. Dancing isn’t your thing (yet) but good jazz is? We have lots of extra comfy seating at The Pearl Company. Come be serenaded by Peter’s stylish musical offerings and have a dance with us! The Theme: Silver & Holly. Hammer Hoppers offers dance instruction and socials for vintage swing dances, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Authentic Jazz, and Balboa.
7:30-8:00PM: Drop-In Beginner Lesson
8:00-11:00PM: The Peter Shea Quartet
Listen to Peter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAY1JiG1ZwA

Stephen Jenkinson & Gregory Hoskins: Ramshackling Concerts for Turbulent Times: A night of Grief and Mystery. Saturday, December 3: 7:00pm. $35 door. SOME SEATS STILL AVAILABLE.  On St. Patrick’s Day, 2015, Stephen Jenkinson’s new book Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul was published by North Atlantic Books out of Berkeley, California. Die Wise shares his stories and insights on grief and dying and the great love of life, and it recently won the 2015 Nautilus Award. Video link to Stephen speaking about DIE WISE:
Last year’s book tour brought Stephen’s work to audiences across essentially the world. By fall things gained a certain momentum, and Stephen invited a remarkable Canadian musician, Gregory Hoskins, to join him on the road. These concerts became storied nights of grief, mystery and orphan wisdom for a troubled time. Gregory’s music graced Stephen’s pleas for mercy and for grace under pressure with faithful cantos of muscular sorrow. People came, jammed doorways and stood on chairs and lingered long afterwards, unwilling it seemed to go back to a home unchanged by an unlikely evening of mortal mysteries.
Award-winning filmmaker/media activist Ian Mackenzie joined them on the road in N.Y.C., Boulder, Berkeley and Austin to record those unlikely days and nights. A new film, DIE WISE: The Lost Nation Road, chronicling that tour, is coming out in fall, 2016. In all, some eleven countries and eighty five cities.

GREGORY HOSKINS with TINA NEWLOVE:  ILLUMINATE ME: A Concert and Live Painting Performance. Two nights: Thursday / Friday, December 1 & 2: 8:00pm. $25 door.  A concert presentation of songs from acclaimed Canadian recording artist Gregory Hoskins set against a larger-than-life canvas being painted by Tina Newlove and projected over the singer. The evening begins with Hoskins under the stark light of the projected canvas and ends drowning in colour and form. The songs of Hoskins are cool and warm and sorrowful and hopeful all at the same time and the paintings of Newlove are organic and grounded, abstract just enough to make them otherworldly but recognizable.  The interactions between painter and singer are unrehearsed and the outcome is unplanned as he makes his way through solo renditions of the songs (with a dose of the “between song asides” he is known for) and Newlove’s projected “Hand of God” applies colour in all its’ drippy mess.  The audience gets a taste of the chaos that can lead to form.  And that is where the two meet. www.gregoryhoskins.com   www.tinanewlove.com   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmmUmr0EBKY
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C.R. Avery: Saturday, November 26: 8:00pm, $20 door/$15 students/ seniors/ un(der)waged. CR Avery: Outlaw Hip-Hop Harmonica Player; Beatbox Poet; Punk Piano Player; String Quartet Raconteur; Rock & Roll Matador; Playwright. He is a unique, raw and dynamic performer. He has recorded 15 LPs and presented six hip hop operas; he is writing his fourth book and now paints. His new album All The Angels Didn’t Scare Me, is his 16th.  CR is a Canadian music sensation. His lyrics, vocal delivery, energy, and artistry have won him international acclaim. He is a one-man band, but one for this generation. His incredible live performances have been described as Bob Dylan in the body of Iggy Pop….  Every show is all or nothing and his fearless approach to all genres of music both on stage and in the studio proves the longevity of this talented, astonishing creator who has so much more to come. www.cravery.com

MATT EPP & CHRISTINA MARTIN: Friday, November 25. Doors: 7:30 / 8pm start. $20 /$15 students/seniors/un(der)waged. Award Winning Nova Scotia Singer-Songwriter Christina Martin’s musical journey has led to extended stays in the United Kingdom and Germany, from where she has cultivated a substantial following across mainland Europe. Along the way, she has earned multiple ECMAs and Music Nova Scotia Awards. In this show the Roots/Rock/Pop songstress will perform original tunes from her award winning album It’ll Be Alright (2016 East Coast Music Award – Pop Recording of the Year), accompanied by her guitar player, acclaimed Nova Scotia producer and musician Dale Murray. “Anyone who has yet to experience her music is missing out.” Sarah Waspe, Grapevine Live UK Listen: https://youtu.be/LSsESMeA-i0  www.christinamartin.net
MATT EPP: After eight records of world-class song writing, constant national and international touring, a loving and dedicated fan base, and building himself into a well-oiled music machine, Matt Epp is exploring a new path. That path has been providing the inspiration for his most electrifying and heart-wrenching music to date. Ready In Time, Epp’s recent release, challenges the listener to see their world, their community, their loves with open eyes, and to do right by them. “…Matt Epp is simply one of the best of a generation of fine songwriters emerging … and carrying forward the torch of Canadian songwriting that goes back to Lightfoot, Mitchell, Young, Cohen and Cockburn. It’s what we’re really good at.” Gary Cristall – Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Listen: http://youtube.com/matteppmusic  www.mattepp.com

Spanjazz: A Gary Santucci Project: Friday, November 18. 8:00pm. $20 /$15 students/seniors/ un(der)waged.  A collection of musical compositions inspired by world music rhythms performed in a jazz context by the 7-piece world-beat jazz ensemble, Spanjazz.  Featuring Jordan Abraham – keyboard, Simon Wheeldon – saxophone, Jordan Tunney – trumpet, Aidan Sibley – trombone, James Gannett – bass, Steve Wilson – drums and Gary Santucci – guitar. All musicians in this newly-formed group are highly respected performers in their own fields; the juxtaposition of their different styles and approaches creates the unique sound and experience that is Spanjazz. November 18 will also be a fundraising concert with the ensemble. There will be food and refreshments as well as “Art for Sale” at very reasonable prices. More to come.

Shari Vandermolen & SWINGLINE: Saturday, November 12. 8:00. $20/$15 students/seniors/un(der)waged. SWINGLINE is an inspired and accomplished group of musicians hailing from the greater Hamilton and Toronto areas bringing you big-band jazz standards and a little soulful R & B to round things off.  They originally came together purely for the love of music, for playing together, and for developing new musical connections with other musicians. Now they’re in demand.  Shari Vandermolen’s rich vocals filled the niche completing the band and we now get to listen and appreciate!  Shari Vandermolen’s recent CD release kept her busy but she is thrilled to be back at one of her favourite venues with her favourite “little big-band”.  They will have you humming along and tapping your feet all night long giving you that big-band sound you crave!  http://swingline.webs.com/    Listen:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXw_ytuzvFc

Parker Abbott Trio/ Aubrey Wilson Quartet: Friday, November 11. Doors: 7:30 / 8pm start. $20 /$15 students/ seniors /un(der)waged. Two top-quality jazz groups for the price of one. The Parker Abbott Trio is a keyboard-centric group of Toronto based musicians exploring the intersections between two pianists (Teri Parker and Simeon Abbott) and a drummer (percussive powerhouse Mark Segger) and using a huge sonic palette to do so. Using a plethora of keyboard instruments and a pan-stylistic approach to composition and improvisation, the trio has created an utterly original, multi-faceted jazz group. This show is a CD release show for their third album ‘Elevation.’
The show also features a set by the local and highly respected Aubrey Wilson Quartet (voice, piano, bass, and drums, playing standards). The two jazz bands have their own unique sound. There also just might be a Remembrance Day spin on the show…. Listen to the Parker Abbott Trio: http://parkerabbotttrio.com/ .

The 2016 Steel City Jazz Fest! November 2 – 5 @The Pearl: The Steel City Jazz Festival is a Hamilton-based music festival celebrating the city’s talented and diverse jazz community. Now in its fourth year, the Festival kicks off on October 27, and runs until November 5 at two of Hamilton’s premiere jazz venues, Artword Artbar and The Pearl Company Arts Centre.
Check out the complete festival schedule and events at www.steelcityjazzfest.com  and follow them @steelcityjazz on instragram and twitter.
Online ticket sales @: https://www.bruha.com/  
Schedule:
November 2: Hammer Hoppers Present Alex Pangman & The Alleycats November 3: Mike Malone & All-Star Sextet “Kind of Blue”
November 4: Jazz Connection Big Band
November 5: Graduating Students from Mohawk’s Contemporary Music Program: “Scenic”

Hammer Hoppers Presents: Alex Pangman & Her Alleycats: Wednesday, November 2. Doors: 7:00/Lesson: 7:30/Show: 8:00. $15 / $10 with a MacSwing membership card…  Hammer Hoppers presents Canada’s Sweetheart of Swing, Alex Pangman. Vocalist and band leader Alex Pangman knows exactly how to get the dance floor jumping. Her music has been showcased three times at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, on a national tour, and was recently recognized with a Juno Award nomination for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year with her album ‘New’. Join us on the dance floor and be serenaded by Alex’s stylish musical offerings. The Theme: Classic Vintage. Hammer Hoppers offers dance instruction and socials for vintage swing dances, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Authentic Jazz, and Balboa.
7:30-8:00PM: Drop-In Beginner Lesson
8:00-11:00PM: Alex Pangman & Her Alleycats
Listen to Alex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJcAQPyTkak
Online ticket sales @: https://www.bruha.com/