Stephen Gordon & Friends featuring Sullivan Fortner, Rodney Jordan and Derek Douget: The Music of Thelonious Monk

Sat, Nov 23

Show Ticket $25-$30 Dinner is required with all reservations. *6:30 PM SHOW - DINNER RESERVATIONS FROM 5:15 PM *9:00 PM SHOW - DINNER RESERVATIONS FROM 8:00 PM Stephen Gordon - Drums Sullivan Fortner - Piano Rodney Jordan - Bass Derek Douget - Saxophone Thelonious Monk is truly one of the greatest and most influencial master composers and musicians of the 20th century. To celebrate his music is to celebrate his life, his experiences and to honor the ones that he influenced over the decades, which is all of us. Not only a composer but a champion of the American songbook alike, we pay tribute to his legacy. Jazz Times Magazine writes “Whether at the piano or the drums, Stephen Gordon takes the audience along on his musical journey. Including something for everyone, Gordon draws the listeners in and leaves them wanting more.” Joining Gordon for this series and featured in this great legacy quartet is world renowned pianist/composer SULLIVAN FORTNER, a pianist who’s elegance, depth and knowledge is only matched by the richness of his sound and celestial imprinting of swing, melody and courage to conjure up the music of the past and the future, in the present. Saxophonist/composer DEREK DOUGET, who’s warm yet fiery colossus of sound can be heard on many records in the past couple decade, takes the forefront in this quartet as the melodic explorer, displaying a classic sound of personal inquisition and mastery, intellect and fluid soul. Bassist/educator RODNEY JORDAN rounds out this quartet, a masterful player and composer of his own. To hear Jordan play the bass is to understand the heartbeat of life, the bass voice that hold the band together, the deep melodic/rhythmic “Atlas”, one may call him. Jordan is a worldly known musician and educator, and has many recordings under his own name and has been featured on various recordings with dozens of notable musicians in the modern day. Gordon is a veteran, touring and recording member of influential musicians, such as the late great Ellis Marsalis, Joey DeFrancesco, Donald Harrison, Steve Turre, Cyrus Chestnut, Kurt Elling, Jason Marsalis, Bobby Shew, Aaron Goldberg, Peter Bernstein, The Headhunters, Joey Calderazzo, Larry Willis, Tyrone Jefferson, Raymond Williams and so many more. Gordon has performed at Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, Russia, The National Concert Hall in Taipei City, Taiwan, The Village Vanguard, Lincoln Center, Blues Alley, Ronnie Scott’s, St. Nick’s Pub, Twins, The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Donna’s, Sweet Lorraine’s, and many of the greatest venues the world over.