Around Town

The Roe / Bickley / Kramer Trio (top) is a regular feature on Monday nights at the Ravens Club on Main Street in Ann Arbor. It is a very tight and swinging trio with dazzling piano by Rick Roe, driving bass lines and solos by Rob Bickley, and dynamic drum fills and solos by Jesse Kramer. The repertoire includes bop favorites and originals by members of the trio. The trio last year released a CD called Heliosphere.

The Nomad Project (above) by guitarist Alex Anest celebrated the recordings of Grant Green at the Blue Llama in Ann Arbor on May 23. The group included tenorist Janelle Reichman, pianist Alexis Lombre, vibraphonist Peyton Miller, bassist Pat Prouty and drummer Gayelynn McKinney. These musicians combine youthful exploration and mastery of their instruments in a delightful and swinging mix.

Oliver Ragsdale was crowned the Detroit 2019 Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association on April 30. The ceremony took place at the University of Michigan Detroit Center; two broadcasters who are members of the Association, John Penney and Linda Yohn, gave oral tributes to Ragsdale (below).

Ragsdale has been a vital force in making the Carr Center an important location for jazz performance and education in Detroit.