Here is the most recently revised schedule of Featured Jazz Artists scheduled to appear at the Club Saratoga through October 20th of 2018. If you do not wish to receive this schedule, please reply with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line or text area. Otherwise, please forward to anyone who loves great music! Every Saturday, from 3pm to 7pm (for32 years now and counting!), the 'Toga Trio, featuring Paul Ierino (piano), John Thorene (bass) and Jeff Peabody (drums,), performs with various guest artists or as a fabulous piano trio. Last Saturday’s Recap: Hanna Cesario trekked 5 hours to get to her show from Mankato to Duluth…facing more of the same road construction delays as our other guest artists from South of Minnesota’s own Mason-Dixon Line (which, I am told, runs unofficially from East to West and through Hinkley!). But, she made it on time full of energy. Hanna and the ‘Toga Trio kept it moving right along and covered 32 songs in four sets! Hanna’s voice, as is her trademark, was spot-on as she performed ballads, jazz and blues with ease and clarity. As one audience member put it, “ …you have a voice that flows like honey…” Well said! This talented young lady not only sings and performs with her ukulele, and a band in Mankato, but is also a voice teacher, a pianist and a piano technician…tuning and repairing these sometimes-ungainly acoustic beasts to keep them playing and sounding as they should. Set 1: Instrumental intros, as is customary, kicked of the set with ‘Kenny Barron’s Bossa,’ (1970 Kenny Barron, with a completely re-written bridge and other embellishments by Paul Ierino). Oscar Peterson’s 1976 version of ‘You Look Good To Me’ was next and then Hanna sang Irving Berlin’s 1926 ‘Blue Skies.’ Ellington and Russell’s 1940 but still very popular, ‘Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,’ included a nice solo on the double bass by Mr. John Thorene, that was a nice contrast to Hanna’s voice, which is at least three octaves higher. ‘Bye-bye Blackbird,’ (1926 Henderson & Dixon) sounded great, although I’ve never been able to figure out what the lyrics mean…If anyone could tell me, it would satisfy a long-standing curiosity! ‘Crazy,’ (1961 Willie Nelson), made famous by Patsy Cline, sounded wonderful…Willie’s original title for the song was ‘Stupid,’ but Patsy Cline’s husband changed the word in the title and the lyrics to ‘Crazy,’ to make it sound less self-depreciating. Hanna did a fabulous job on ‘Moonglow,’ (1933 Will Hudson, Irving Mills & Eddie DeLange) with some nice vocal improvisation and jazz phrasing to embellish this already great tune! Set 2: Duke Jordon’s 1953 ‘Jordu’ set the pace for the second set, with Charlie Parker’s 1953 (’53 was a great year for music!) ‘My Little Suede Shoes.’ Billy D’s break song for the original ‘Toga Trio came next, as Hanna sang ‘Get Your Kicks On Route 66,’ (1946 Bobby Timmons). Another terrific bass solo and some very nice piano improv were part of George and Ira Gershwin’s ‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me.’ Ms. Cesario sang Cole Porter’s 1935 classic ,’ Begin the Beguine’ beautifully…like an early ‘Vegas club singer, with class and grace! Victor Young and Ed Heyman’s 1945 beauty, ‘Love Letters,’ was the next selection and the set ended with ‘All Of Me,’ (1931 Marks & Simons)…..but wait…it was break time but Hanna wasn’t done yet…so she picked up her ukulele and sang ‘Sleepin’ Bee, ‘(1954 Truman Capote and Harold Arlen), and then did a 1935 movie tune from ‘Top Hat,’ ‘Isn’t It A Lovely Day.’ Set 3: ‘Softly As In A Morning Sunrise,’ (1928 Oscar Hammerstein & Sigmund Romberg) started out the next set, with Duke Ellington’s 1942‘C-Jam Blues,’ featuring Paul’s amazing keyboard performance. More great keyboard, bass and drums from the trio, as they set up a funky backbeat for a modernized rendition of Cole Porter’s 1929 ‘What Is This Thing Called Love?’ Hanna sang Antonio Carlos Jobim’s 1962 ‘Desifinado,’ which means, ‘slightly off key,’ and was never even close to being off key! The hauntingly beautiful movie tune, ‘Cry Me A River, ‘ (1956 Arthur Hamilton), was made famous by Julie London, even before in was featured in the film ‘The Girl Can’t Help It.’ Hanna does sound very much like Julie London when she performs this song! More classic movie music followed with Irving Berlin’s 1946, ‘They Say It’s Wonderful,’ made popular by Ethyl Merman’s performance in ‘Annie Get Your Gun.’ A really nice blues-shuffle, ‘Walkin’ After Midnight,’ (1957 Alan Block & Donn Hecht) wrapped up the set. Set 4: Oscar Peterson’s beautiful 2004 ‘Requiem,’ an Oscar Peterson version of Reynolds & Lyon’s 1974 ‘Backyard Blues,’ and a third by Oscar…his 1964 ‘Hymn To Freedom,’ initiated the final set. Hanna took the stage and sang ‘There Will Never Be Another You,’ (1942 Warren & Gordon, from movie ‘Iceland’). Channeling Dorothy from ‘The Wizard Of Oz,’ Hanna performed ‘Over The Rainbow,’ with every bit of the sensitivity of the late Judy Garland! Ray Charles had a hit in 1961 with Bobby Sharp’s blues composition,‘Unchain My Heart,’ showcasing Hanna’s command of blues tunes. Back from the blues to another show tune, ‘Pure Imagination, ‘ (1971 Bricusse & Newely originally performed by Gene Wilder in the movie ‘Willie Wonka And The Chocolate Factory), which led to the final selection of the session, ‘Alright, Ok, You Win,’ (1953 Watts & Wyche)…a song that Peggy Lee had a long-standing hit with. Thanks to Hanna Cesario for the beautiful singing and making the trip up for this gig, and Paul, John and Jeff for all of the music and fun they provide….to you, our audience, for supporting these talented people, and to our club owners, Phil F. and Dan L. for the venue. Also, Emily (your fearless wasp- swatting barkeeper!), Tony S. (club manager) and Rachel, (your server) for all of the great service. See you next week with Rich Mowers and Billy Barnard! These guys have it down for fantastic guitar, saxophone and vocals! The Jazz Link at www.clubsaratoga.com/jazz.html is up and running. For those of your friends that haven’t subscribed to the e-mail list for jazz….they can click on the link that says,”Click here for Jazz Schedule,’ and they will have it. Legal Matters: Fun is always in the air at the ‘Toga, and incredibly accomplished musicians are there performing every Saturday afternoon from 3pm to 7 pm. All are welcome to come and enjoy the music and friendly atmosphere, but you must be 21 years old and be prepared to show proper I.D. to staff, or be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian! A lot of young music enthusiasts do show up with parents or grandparents. So, kids…round up the old folks and come on down! Music is for everyone and we don’t like having to turn anyone away! The updated summary: Saturday, September 8, 2018: Rich Mowers & Billy Barnard! Many of you have heard Billy and Rich play with John Thorene on the bass at the Radisson. Mr. Barnard, “The Professor” teaches guitar and jazz studies at UMD…Check out his bio at UMD http://sfa.d.umn.edu/node/1516 …you will see that this fabulous music educator and guitar player has performed with none other than Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Rufus Reid. Rich has been playing in various groups since 1984, performing with or accompanying Wayne Newton, The Harry James Orchestra, Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians, The Mills Brothers, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Patti Austin, Johnny Mathis, Russ Morgan, Fred Sturm, Steve Lippia, Paul McKee, Tom Matta, Andre Hayward, Bob Bacca, The Wayne King Orchestra, Clambake and the Pied Pipers,The Big Time Jazz Orchestra, UMD Jazz Ensemble, Twin Ports Wind Ensemble, The Club Saratoga Jazz Trio, Lounge Hounds, The Hounds, Dr. Soul and the Blueshounds, The Shack Pack, Steve Millar and the Diamondheads, Radio Days, Northshore Big Band, Big Woods Big Band, Red Rudeck and the Talkabouts, Hungry Five Society, Multiplicity, Ray Ahlgren, and most recently The Trio with Billy Barnard and John Thorene. Saturday, September 15, 2018: Lee Engele Lee is scheduled to rejoin the ‘Toga Trio as a featured vocal artist. Lee has performed at the Metropolitan Room in New York, fronts Twin Cities big bands, and her active solo career has put her in the company of both local and national artists such as Butch Thompson and clarinetist Evan Christopher. She has appeared at numerous events and jazz festivals including the Twin Cities Jazz Festival for the past 17 years. She has also performed in concert at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, Hopkins Center for the Arts, and the Old Log Theater. Lee has three self-produced CD’s to her credit, as well as featured internationally on a number of jazz compilation CD’s www.leeengele.com Saturday, September 22, 2018: Greg & Tanya Moore will share their amazing talents with us…Greg on sax and clarinet, and Tanya performing vocals! Tanya Moore is active on the Twin Ports arts scene as a singer, teacher, terrific vocal coach, actress and music director. She has been singing at Club Saratoga since 2008. Tanya has performed on the UW-Superior University Recital Series as part of the recurring Greg Kehl Moore and Friends jazz-themed recitals.