Past Events › RHYTHM

Weatherston is a fine jazz guitarist, and he's assimilated the styles of players like Wes Montgomery and Chet Baker into his own clear tone, while his singing voice is warm, comfortable, and familiar-sounding.

John “T-Bone” Paxton is a veteran trombonist and vocalist professionally [...]

Nate Topolewski has established himself as a well-known artist in the Detroit music scene. He’s a regular at all the iconic clubs like Aretha’s Jazz Café, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, Bert’s Market Place, Cliff Bells, and Woodbridge Pub. He’s jammed with Martha Reeves, Lady Champagne, and The Ralphe Armstrong Trio. Ralphe once said of Nate, “He sounds like Joe Henderson on the doggone tenor saxophone.” And James Carter gave Nate the nickname, “Mr. True-Tone”. Nate has also brought his own band, The 313 Group, to Music Hall Ampetheater, Meadow Brook Hall, and was the house band at Bert's Motown Bistro. ​Nate was a session musician recording with Olujimi Tafafaona and Adeboye Adegbenro and will be on the upcoming In The Tradition and Baba BG Afrobeat albums. He visited New Orleans and joined Charlie Halloran at both The Palm Court and Zony Mash Beer Project. He took the stage at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica with The Alligator Beach Band. And not only did Nate get to open the 2022 and 2023 Detroit Jazz Festival, he had the honor of leading his own set with the J.C. Herd All-Stars. Although Nate is passionate about his own band, he loves playing with other musicians and is experienced in a variety of music genres. He only plays vintage saxophones including a 1919 Buescher True-Tone tenor, 1923 alto, 1906 soprano, and 70’s baritone. ​Besides the names listed above, Nate’s other mentors include: Dominic Bierenga, Vincent Chandler, John Clayton, Scott Gwinnell, Marcus Elliot, Gayelynn McKinney, Bill Meyer, and Chuck Newsome.

James O'Donnell has been entertaining Detroit audiences with his special brand of music for more than three decades...

Weatherston is a fine jazz guitarist, and he's assimilated the styles of players like Wes Montgomery and Chet Baker into his own clear tone, while his singing voice is warm, comfortable, and familiar-sounding.

Trumpet player, vocalist, composer, and arranger, Dave Vessella’s unique sound is reminiscent of traditional New Orleans music and west coast jazz a la Chet Baker. Vessella has played at the Detroit Jazz Festival and the Panama Jazz Festival with Wayne State University and Danilo Perez, Walter White’s Big Band at the Michigan Jazz Festival, The Detroit Pistons house band and many more within Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Paul Keller, a prolific composer and arranger, provides much of the material for this popular band. Keller's incredible swing feel is rock solid and his virtuosic bass solos must be heard to be believed. Duncan McMillan's swinging and tasteful pianistic prowess is on prominent display. Sean Dobbins supplies high-energy rhythmic fireworks that propel this amazing trio's music into orbit!

Vocalist Dawn Giblin concentrates here on her real love, the 1920s – 1940s jazz and popular music that gave the whole world a huge fantastic repertoire through the singing of Connee Boswell, Billie Holiday, Mildred Bailey and Ella Fitzgerald. “Dawn is a trained vocalist, but she doesn’t let that interfere with her down-home swing, her love for the blues, her sly humor, her deep feelings that come through her wide repertoire. Dawn draws on a wide variety of expert musicians to create engaging music that’s always melodic, groovy, and sweet.” Michael Steinman – Jazz Lives. Joining Dawn is Guitarist Colton Weatherston. Colton plays jazz and swing guitar with a style influenced by Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, and Wes Montgomery.Also appearing is Chris Tabaczynski. Chris is a versatile woodwind doubler who specializes in traditional jazz from the 1910’s-50’s. Chris is a member of Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings, The Easy Street Jazz Band, The Planet D Nonet and The Kerrytown Stompers in addition to being the leader of his own group, The Wolverines. He is a devotee of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, Jimmie Noone, Johnny Dodds, Bix Beiderbecke, Frank Trumbauer, Adrian Rollini and many more

The “C” Notes is a long established jazz trio in Detroit, regularly performing at local jazz clubs and restaurants. The group specializes is both classic jazz standards, as well as more modern jazz/rock classics. The Trio features Mark LoDuca Sr. on piano and vocals, Robert Conner on bass and Julian VanSlyke on drums. All veterans of the local jazz seen.