Ed Cherry & Bennie Wallace Guitar & Sax Quintet

Ed Cherry & Bennie Wallace Guitar & Sax Quintet Feat. Bassist Matt Dwonszyk, Guitarist Chris Morrison, Harvel Nakundi on Drums Doors open at 6:00pm. Try to be seated by 6:30pm to have your dinner order taken. Showtime begins at 7:00pm when we transform the space into a theater. Out of respect for the performers and other patrons, please keep talking to a whisper during the performance. Very Limited Occupancy. Tables seating 2, 4, 5 guests, with tables for 6, 8, 12 available upon request. Single, general admission tickets are also available. See The Attached Seating Chart. Admission Is $15.00 - $35.00 Per Person, Ticket prices may be higher for special performances. Having problems with the ticketing system? Call 203-247-4273 Seating Chart Parking: Please park in LaZingara's lot or on Greenwood Ave. or School Street. Please avoid parking in P.T. Barnum Square. Ed Cherry - Guitar “Ed plays with the emotions of singers like Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Greg Allman, and Frank Sinatra. But, that comes through his guitar in a class with the likes of Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, George Benson, Barney Kessell, and Kenny Burrell. Make no mistake, his voice is his own – definitely, his voice is his own!" - Bob Bakert (Jazz Guitar Today, 10/2023) "An expressive instrumentalist, Cherry has a hip, melodic approach that is a refreshing contrast to guitarists who frequently resort to playing 'finger music', the execution of rapid streams of notes that serve no musical purpose other than to fill space"- Jim Ferguson: Jazztimes - 06/02 Born in New Haven,Connecticut, Ed moved to New York in 1978 to play guitar with Dizzy Gillespie from 1978 to 1992 performing in Gillespie's quartet, big band and with The United Nation Orchestra which recorded the Grammy Award-winning Live at Royal Festival Hall (Enja). Gillespie died in 1993, and Cherry released his first recording as a leader, 'First Take' (Groovin' High). That same year, Ed recorded with Paquito D'Riveras' small group which recorded "Havana Cafe" (Chesky Records). Ed also worked with composer/saxophonist Henry Threadgill for two years and recorded three cds with Henry's 'Very Very Circus' group. In 1995, Cherry released his second project as a solo artist, entitled A Second Look (Groovin' High Records). During that same period Ed worked with Hammond organist John Patton recording three critically acclaimed cds with Patton's quartet-'Blue Planet Man','Minor Swing' and 'This ones for Jah'(DIW). From 1997 to 1998, Cherry worked in Roy Hargrove's “Crisol” Latin jazz band, which performed in Havana, Cuba. During this same period, he also worked w/baritone saxophonist, Hamiett Bluiett, recording Bluiett's cd 'With Eyes Wide Open' on Justin-Time records.In 2001, Cherry toured Europe for the first time with his own group. He also released his cd, 'The Spirit Speaks' on the Canadian Justin Time Records label, inspired by the great jazz organist Jimmy Smith with whom he had also recently worked.Ed was asked to perform at the 'Vodaphone Madarao Jazz festival'in 2002 in Madarao Japan with his quartet featuring trumpeter Jon Faddis. More recently , Ed toured with the great Hammond organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, recording one critically acclaimed cd, 'In The Beginning' on Pilgrimage Records in 2012. Currently Ed has a brand new second recording released on Posi-Tone Records. ('It's All Good' his first release in 2012 for Posi-Tone stayed in the JazzWeek charts for 3 months) his second recording for the label is titled "Soul Tree" ( release date February 19 2016 ) featuring Kyle Koehler on Hammond B3 organ and drummer Anwar Marshall. As of this pre release date, it's already gathering rave reviews. Ed continues to work nationally and internationally ; concerts, workshops, jazz clubs. Bennie Wallace - Saxophonist International jazz icon Bennie Wallace is a master tenor saxophonist and composer whose career spans over four decades. Renowned for combining deep Southern roots with adventurous jazz improvisation, he is recognized worldwide for his big, expressive tone, sweeping wide-interval phrasing, and seamless blending of traditional blues soul with modern avant-garde innovation. Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1946, Wallace began playing in local clubs—including the Blue Room, the AmVets Club, and Katie's Four O'Clock Club—with early encouragement from East Ridge High School band director Chet Hedgecoth and professional reed player Billy Usselton. Performing in those Southern venues required mastering guitar-driven repertoires across country and western, western swing, and rock and roll, which heavily shaped his lifelong versatility. After studying clarinet at the University of Tennessee, Wallace relocated to New York City in 1971 with the backing of pianist Monty Alexander, who hired him and facilitated his union entry. Wallace quickly established himself in New York, performing alongside legends such as Barry Harris, Buddy Rich, and Dannie Richmond. Drawing inspiration from saxophone giants Coleman Hawkins and Sonny Rollins, he released his debut recording on an all-star tenor session with Scott Hamilton and Flip Phillips in 1977. Over his career, he has released more than 21 albums as a leader for major labels like Blue Note, Enja, Denon, and AudioQuest, earning five DownBeat awards and top honors at major global festivals. His 1985 Blue Note release Twilight Time showcased his diverse musical roots, featuring collaborations with trombonist Ray Anderson, Dr. John, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Throughout his career, Wallace has toured extensively with Ray Anderson and collaborated with jazz luminaries including Elvin Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Rowles, Chick Corea, and Eddie Gomez. In the late 1980s and 1990s, Wallace expanded into film composition, scoring major features and Oscar-nominated films. His credits include Ron Shelton's Blaze (starring Paul Newman), Bull Durham, White Men Can't Jump, Redux Riding Hood, Little Surprises, and Betty Boop. In addition to his touring and recording career, Wallace serves as the Artistic and Music Director for BackCountry Jazz, leading its music education initiatives and concert programming, including the Greenwich Jazz Festival. Matt Dwonszyk - Bassist Matt is an accomplished bassist, composer, arranger and educator from Rocky Hill, CT. He graduated from the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz studying under his mentor and world-renowned bassist, Nat Reeves and then went on to receive his Masters degree from SUNY Purchase College. After living in New York City, Dwonszyk returned back home to Connecticut due to the 2020 pandemic. He still performs frequently in New York, splitting his time between performing and teaching. Throughout his career, Dwonszyk has performed and recorded with numerous contemporaries as well as legendary jazz artists including Steve Davis, Harold Mabern, Jazzmeia Horn, Bennie Wallace, Dr. Eddie Henderson, Herlin Riley among many others. In 2019, he toured through Canada with the Oleg Butman Trio and in 2022 with Jonathan Barber and Vision Ahead through the West Coast of the U.S. Dwonszyk’s last tour was in October of 2022 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He frequently performs at some of the top jazz clubs in New York City including Smalls Jazz Club, Mezzrow, Ornithology, Dizzy's Coca Cola Club, Smoke and The Blue Note. Since 2019, Dwonszyk has been a faculty member of Manchester Community College and Central Connecticut State College teaching jazz bass and jazz history. In the summer, he teaches at Bennie Wallace’s Back Country Jazz Program and Litchfield Jazz Camp. In 2022, with the Julieta Eugenio Trio, Dwonszyk helped win the 2022 DC JazzPrix Competition at the Washington, DC Jazz Festival. Dwonszyk's debut recording, "Wonderful World", was released May of 2019 featuring world-class trombonist Steve Davis. His second album, "A Year and a Day", was released July 1st, 2022 featuring Dwonszyk’s band, the Dwonztet.