Event Information

  • Event Date:
  • Event Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
  • Location: 1425 25th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95816

Midtown Vanguard Jazz Series Presents: JOE MAZZAFERRO QUINTET featuring RODNEY WHITAKER, CARL ALLEN, CHAD LEFKOWITZ-BROWN & JOE GILMAN

Trumpeter Joe Mazzaferro brings his quintet to the CLARA Auditorium for the Midtown Vanguard Jazz Series in preparation for his sophomore album Only Time Will Tell, set to record in March 2020. Joining Mazzaferro is a star-studded cast of “Who’s Who” in the modern scene including bassist Rodney Whitaker, drummer Carl Allen, tenor saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, and pianist Joe Gilman.

The musical concept of this project is to reflect music from the past with a collection of reimagined timeless standards and original compositions that have evolved over the course of 10 years. In 2017, Mazzaferro released his debut album In Terms Of… which features saxophonist Jeff Clayton along with drummer Carl Allen and pianist Donald Brown. The album peaked at #43 on the JazzWeekCharts and received high praise from critics being described as “vintage hard bop with maturity” (George Harris, Jazz Weekly) as well “a little bebop, a little swing, and a lot of tenderness, heart, and passion come together on this intriguing debut”(Tom Henry, Toledo Blade).

His musical approach has been considered “part of the Clifford Brown/Freddie Hubbard tradition, but Mazzaferro does not sound like either and has his own warm sound and inventive straight ahead style” (Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene). Mazzaferro is currently the Coordinator of Jazz Studies at California State University, Stanislaus, a member of the Capital Jazz Project, and co-founder of the Sacramento Jazz Orchestra. Personnel: Joe Mazzaferro (Trumpet) Chad Lefkowitz-Brown (Tenor Sax) Joe Gilman (Piano) Rodney Whitaker (Bass) Carl Allen (Drums)