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WHAT YOU MISSED

In case you haven’t heard, The Oasis Room is the place to hear Jazz and talk with the artists on the southeastern shores of Connecticut! If you haven’t been to this intimate, up-close and personal music hall, located in the historic Garde Arts Center in New London, you must add this to your bucket list! The Oasis Room is a destination!

February, 2010 launched the beginning of incredible musical performances, with the spotlight on Jazz music. It was a very cold Monday night when Trumpet Virtuoso Jeremy Pelt performed. It was like being in the Blue Note in NY, or the Village Vanguard, but it was New London, CT. Pelt was voted Rising Star on the Trumpet two years in a row by Downbeat Magazine and Jazz Journalist Association.

During the month of March, in New England, we can experience all types of weather, from the seriousness of winter to the warmth of the sun with Spring and all its beauty bursting. And that’s what March 2010, was in the Oasis Room. In this up-close and personal, living room style music hall, Kitchings Productions presented an exquisite buffet of jazz type music: from ragtime to jazz saxophone, guitar, and piano.

In March, 2010, Leon Redbone, singer and guitarist specializing in interpretations of early 20th-century music, including jazz and blues standards, walked us back in time. While his origins are shrouded in mystery, his fingerpicking is delivered with a ragtime bounce, mirroring the style of Blind Blake.

Benny Reid, 26 year old alto saxophonist, brought a fresh and potent new voice on the modern jazz scene. While we could hear the influence of Pat Metheny, Reid’s own approach and his highly personal style debuted as a leader. His performance included new music from his second release “Escaping Shadows” which features the wonderful Antonio Sanchez on drums, later to appear in the Oasis Room.

The Oasis Room hosted New London area native Jazz Guitarist and composer, Tosh Sheridan who shared the stage with his mentor Gene Bertoncini, one of the pre-eminent jazz guitarists’ active today. Local guitar master Tosh Sheridan met the “Segovia of Jazz” with his exquisite style in this sold out show. Bertoncini’s fluid technique and lyricism have won him international praise and accolades as the “Segovia of jazz” and recently Gene was just nominated as the best jazz guitarist of the year (08) by the New York Jazz Press Association. We are looking forward to a return performance from these gentlemen.

Award-winning jazz pianist/composer Helen Sung, a graduate of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, shared her world with listeners and welcomed us into a place of passion through music and poetry. Her performance opened with a flurry of Thelonious Monk compositions. And it was the first time Sung composed music for words, and the project has since grown to include poems by poets including Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughs, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Robert Friend.

In May, 2010, the Oasis Room felt the heat rise with three time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sanchez, including special guests Kenny Werner and Scott Coley. This night Antonio had the opportunity to present his own compositions with melodic, rhythmic, and exciting style in only the way he can. Antonio Sanchez began playing the drums at age 5 and was performing professionally in his early teens. He is considered by many critics and musicians alike as one of the most prominent drummers of his generation.

The vibrant and unforgettable Nnenna Freelon, American Jazz Singer, reminded us that home is where the heart is. Ms. Freelon had complete command of her audience with her sultry style and with american standards, including a strong emphasis on swing. Which is the sensibility behind this esteemed jazz vocalist and multi-Grammy® nominee Nnenna Freelon’s latest recording for Concord, Homefree.

Nnenna sings the Duke Ellington penned "Prelude to a Kiss" on the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning AMC show Mad Men. Her spell-binding professionalism caught the attention of our guests and this was a night to remember.

Summer offers a beat all its own. It’s a time when we engage in outdoor activities providing us with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures, as well as new energy and revitalization. This time allowed for a space to create a new musical performance series in the Oasis Room with a special focus on jazz concerts. The focus was directed at musicians who where celebrated as child prodigies and now are talked about as major jazz stars in-the-making.

San Francisco Bay area born, Guitarist Julian Lage and New York based, West Coast born Pianist Taylor Eigsti performed respectively in November, 2010. Julian Lage began playing the guitar at age 5. Lage played a unique style that melded blues, classical, folk and jazz influences that raised our own vibration level to new heights. We heard the most striking, sophisticated and riveting music ever from a young musician. Eigsti started playing the piano at 4 years old, bandleading at age 12. Eigsti’s performance was simply awesome! His rendition of Duke Ellington’s Caravan was very refreshing and original. He incorporated elements of funk and soul music transcending time and space. Eigsti has been featured on Marian McPartland's award-winning NPR program "Piano Jazz" twice. We where privileged to hear their creation of original music that's part of the universal language of jazz, yet also a singular expression of their own specific musical and cultural identities.

In December, 2010, the Oasis Room welcomed Jon Regen, jazz pianist turned singer, songwriter. This originally self-taught pianist and masterful performer expanded our music experience and showed us his unmistakable and individual voice. His soulful performance was fluid and engaging on vocals and piano and left us in awe. Regen was named Runner-Up in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, and was also chosen as one of only 2,000 pianists worldwide to hold the title of Steinway Artist.

Welcoming in the New Year, 2011, and a snowy Friday evening in January with a sold out crowd, we were honored to sit with Pianist Virtuoso and Israeli born, Tamir Hendelman. It was a magical moment in the Oasis Room and a real musical party sharing all his musical adventures and explorations in standards, Brazilian music, blues and his Israeli roots. He had just returned from Paris after performing at the Olympia. Hendelman began his keyboard studies at age 6 in Tel Aviv, Tamir moved to the US at age 12 in 1984, winning Yamaha's national keyboard competition 2 years later at age 14. The Tamir Hendelman Trio can be heard on NPR’s JazzSet with DeeDee Bridgewater.

Looking back over this past year and viewing the Jazz Concerts solely within the category, unveils rare treasures of jazz performances orchestrated by a higher source and influence. The Oasis Room is a place to get comfortable and listen to swing, folk music, the blues, ragtime, bluegrass, and especially jazz. Just as within jazz music, the possibilities are improvisational and endless at the Oasis Room. The Oasis Room is THE place to hear the oldest and most celebrated music genres of North America. The Oasis Room is on its way to become a wonderful stepping stone for jazz musicians to present their new and original work. Hope to see you this year! Come and be surprised!!

Top 3 Reasons to Come to the Oasis Room in 2011, Garde Arts Center, New London, CT

#3, you haven't been to the Oasis Room, Garde Arts Center; therefore you haven't had the "artist in your living room" experience yet
#2, you are wishing for the joyful spirit of the season to continue well into the New Year
AND THE #1 reason is…
You want to be a part of The Oasis Room which is THE place to hear the oldest and most celebrated music genres of North America!
See You All There!!!

Best,
Ken Kitchings
Upcoming jazz performances include: Brad Mehldau, pianist, Piano Jazz Summit, bringing back Buster Williams, bassist and a new story to tell, and possibly the quintessential trumpeter, Nicholas Payton from New Orleans.

PAST SHOWS

	Sergio Salvatore & Christos Rafalides March 26, 2011\| in the Oasis Room Two definitively jazz instruments – piano and vibraphone – are paired by two of its best young practitioners in an evening of jazz standards, new work and great improv. Event includes Chat and Dine with the Artists at 7 pm.
	New London Youth Talent Show March 25, 2011\| on the Main Stage To increase opportunities for young people to showcase their talent to a regional audience, the Garde Arts Center, Kitchings Productions and community organizations and volunteers are presenting The New London Youth Talent Showat the Garde Arts Center on Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m. To be broadcast live by radio station Jammin 107.7, the event, directed by Aaron Arbiter and produced by Ken Kitchings of Kitchings Productions, will spotlight the many talents of New London's youth, ages 11 - 21, who will sing, dance, rap, recite poetry and more. Admission is $5 with net proceeds going to Writer's Block Ink. The talent show was suggested by New London resident, vocal artist and youth leader, Frank Colmenares who spoke with Police Officer Anthony Nolan at the first New London Anti-Violence (NLAV) city forum held on December 6, 2010, at the Garde Arts Center Oasis Room. During a lively discussion on how to support and engage youth in the city, Colmenares suggested a talent show and said "in fact, there is a beautiful stage right downstairs." The ball was set in motion and members of NLAV started to move on the suggestion the very next day and Steve Sigel, executive director of the Garde Arts Center, enthusiastically agreed to let the show be performed on the main stage. Over the next couple of months, the pivotal players came together to organize the talent show. Members of the coordinating committee include: Frank Colmenares; Police Officer Anthony Nolan; (NLAV) representatives: Andrea Messenger, Curtis Goodwin and Jessica Hill; Attorney Susan Connolly; Lisa Giordano of Writer's Block, Ink and Emerson Theater Collaborative; Aaron Arbiter of The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center; and New London High School Students, Nicole Arias and Johny Diaz-Saez. With venue and producer established many other community organizations and members all volunteered to help with the event in full support of New London's youth.
	Brad Mehldau Sunday, February 20, 2011 \| on the Main Stage Jazz pianist BRAD MEHLDAU has recorded and performed extensively since the early 1990s. Mehldau’s most consistent output over the years has taken place in the trio format. Starting in 1996, his group released a series of five records on Warner Bros. entitled The Art of the Trio. Mehldau also has a solo piano recording entitled Elegiac Cycle, and a record called Places that includes both solo piano and trio songs.
	Hot Tuna Blues Saturday, February 12, 2011 \| on the Main Stage Hot Tuna founders guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy, who together shaped the iconic band Jefferson Airplane, share an evening of American blues/rock with the legendary blues-harp player and bandleader, Charlie Musselwhite, and the two-time Grammy-winner Jim Lauderdale, one of the premier Americana and Bluegrass artists in music today.
	Tamir Hendelman Friday, January 7, 2011 \| at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center "[Tamir Hendelman] is one of those ‘overnight sensations’ who’s been working steadily for years,” said Dr. Judith Schlesinger in an All About Jazz.com interview. An Israeli-born award-winning jazz pianist, Hendelman has performed with Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, James Moody, Tierney Sutton, Gladys Knight, John Pizzarelli and Quincy Jones just to name a few. He began his keyboard studies at age six, studied at the Tanglewood Institute and received a Bachelor of Music Composition from Eastman School of Music. Hendelman’s musical travels have taken him from Alaska to New York, and Thailand to Israel inspiring his music along the way.
	Jon Regen Saturday, December 4, 2010 \| at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center The "Miracle Child from New York," Jon Regen, will bring his national tour to the Garde Arts Center's Oasis Room on Saturday, December 4, at 8 p.m. in support of his latest album "Let It Go." The performance is presented in association with Kitchings Productions.Self-taught on his family's aging grand piano at the age of five, singer-songwriter-pianist Regen lead his first professional group while still in his early teens. After studying piano and music theory at The Eastman School of Music and The University of Miami, Regen eventually relocated back to his home state of New Jersey to apprentice for world-renowned pianist Kenny Barron. Soon to follow was Regen's critically-acclaimed 2000 album "Half-Note." His latest album, "Let It Go" was released in 2008.Featuring Andy Summers of The Police, Martha Wainwright and other renowned guests, "Let It Go" effortlessly combines jazz and pop with Regen's pianistic prowess and unmistakable voice as a singer and songwriter."I've been searching for a way to tell my own story, both as a singer/songwriter and as a piano player," Regen said. "I've made jazz records and pop records but never one that managed to meld the two into something that represents both sides of my split personality. On this one, everything just fell into place."Produced by multi-instrumentalist Brad Albetta (Martha Wainwright, Teddy Thompson) and mixed by legendary British producer John Porter (Ryan Adams, BB King, The Smiths), "Let It Go" feels both resoundingly fresh and reassuringly familiar. The album features 12 newly-penned Regen originals and guest appearances by some of today's most innovative artists, including cellist Julia Kent (Norah Jones, Antony & The Johnsons), drummer Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright), guitarist Jimmy Vivino (Late Night with Conan O'Brien) and singer Kami Thompson (daughter of famed songsmiths Richard and Linda Thompson, and sister of musician Teddy).Regen's follow-up album "Revolution" is due out in early 2011. .
	Al Copley Quartet Thursday, December 2, 2010 \| 8:00 pm on the Oasis Room - Two Sets Kitchings Productions presents a delightful diversion, feet stepping and spirit lifting, energetic, up close and personal evening with Al Copley on piano and vocals, Jimmy "B" Biggins on tenor sax, Lou Bocciarelli on upright bass and Steve "Big Swing" Peck on drums. Strongly influenced by the music of Big Joe Turner, Al Copley's style spans several genres and defies categorization, including swing, boogie-woogie and barrelhouse. His live performances are characterized by their energy and Copley's acrobatic approach to piano performance, reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis. A New York native, Copley co-founded the American jump blues band Roomful of Blues with guitarist Duke Robillard in Westerly, Rhode Island in 1967. Count Basie called Roomful "the hottest blues band I've ever heard." Sixteen years and seven albums later, Copley left Roomful and relocated to Europe in 1984, where he still travels and performs extensively. Throughout his career Copley has performed with musical legends Etta James, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ruth Brown, Jimmy Witherspoon, Snooks Eaglin, John Hammond Jr., Big Mama Thornton/ George "Harmonica" Smith, Otis Rush, and Big Walter Horton, to name a few. Oasis Room at Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street, New London, CT 06320. Tickets $30 general admission. View Al Copley video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixw7SUmKO2A ..."unerringly swinging" BILLBOARD
	Taylor Eigsti Friday, November 19 \| 8:00 pm on the Oasis Room New York-based pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti started playing the piano when he was 4 years old, inspired by his sister Shannon, a jazz and rock pianist. The 23-year-old Eigsti started bandleading at age 12, was quickly labeled a prodigy and released four early albums as a bandleader before having the opportunity to sign with Concord Records. Eigsti released "Lucky to Be Me" in 2006, which was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Instrumental Composition and Best Instrumental Jazz Solo. Recognized worldwide for his innovative, intense improvisation and his unique electrifying rhythmic touch, Eigsti and his trio comes to the Oasis Room for a night of jazz on Friday, November 19, at 8 p.m. Tickets for the Taylor Eigsti Trio are $38.
	New Orleans Nights Featuring Allen Toussaint, Nicholas Payton, and The Joe Krown Trio Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 8 PM on the Main Stage A night celebrating the music of three giants of the New Orleans sound featuring Allen Toussaint, 1998 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy-winning young jazz trumpeter Nicholas Payton, and the “house band “ of New Orleans, The Joe Krown Trio. Toussaint’s songs are timeless hits, including “Working in the Coal Mine,” “Mother-in-Law,” “I Like It Like That,” “Right Place Wrong Time” and “Southern Nights.” His latest releases -- The River in Reverse, 2006 with Elvis Costello (which rose to no. 2 on the Billboard Top Jazz Album chart), and The Bright Mississippi in 2009 – bring Toussaint’s music to a new generation.
	The Bridge Thursday, Oct. 21st, 2010 \| 7:30 PM in the Oasis Room Combining elements of blues and roots, spiced with funk and soul, The Bridge, coming to the Oasis Room Thursday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m., flavors classic/southern roots rock with Americana sensibilities. Through constant touring they have built a loyal following throughout America and Europe fueled by gritty, dynamic live performances and poignantly hand-crafted albums. Founded in 2001 when guitarist and vocalist Cris Jacobs reunited, post college, with high school friend and mandolin player Kenny Liner, Jacobs and Liner solidified the The Bridge's core line-up with the addition of saxophonist Patrick Rainey, bassist Dave Markowitz and drummer Mike Gambone. Tickets to The Bridge are $12.
	The Paul Thorn Band Wednesday, October 20th \| 7:30 pm on the Oasis Room Paul Thorn was a prizefighter and skydiver before becoming an acclaimed Americana singer/songwriter with a unique and distinctive sound: reflective, rowdy, lots of guitar, the thinking man's alternative country artist. The voice of a man who has walked a long, hot span over dusty Mississippi country roads, Thorn excels as a musical storyteller with an authentic connection to the blues, country, gospel, rhythm and blue, and rock ‘n’ roll of the Mississippi heartland. As a boxer, Thorn once fought against Roberto Duran and as a musician, he has toured and collaborated with Sting, Paul Carrack, Joe Diffie, Tanya Tucker, Ronnie Milsap, and Carole King.
	Patty Larkin Friday, May 21, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center Patty Larkin is part of the urban-folk/pop music phenomenon that spun off of the singer/songwriter explosion of the seventies, reinterpreting traditional folk melodies, rock, pop, bossa nova, drawing on anything from Dylan (Bob) to Dylan (Thomas). A self described “guitar driven songwriter,” Larkin has wound her way through soundscapes of evocative vocals, inventive guitar wizardry and imaginative lyrics. Her songs run from impressionistic poetry to witty wordplay. Over her 25 year career, Patty Larkin has worked with some of the brightest stars in American music, honing a reputation as a “musician’s musician” along the way. Rolling Stone praises her “evocative sonic shading” and she has been described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly) and a “drop-dead brilliant” performer (Performing Songwriter).
	Nnena Freelon and Quartet Saturday, May 8, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center With her quartet of some of jazz music’s finest musicians, six-time GRAMMY® Award-nominee Nnenna Freelon displays at the Oasis Room her well-deserved international; reputation as a compelling and captivating live performer. A skilled interpreter of the classic songs from the likes of Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, the Cambridge, MA native recently teamed up with the World Famous Count Basie Orchestra, creating new music, new arrangements, and a new recording. In addition to her performing and recording career, Freelon is also active in the education and healthcare fields, has served as National Spokesperson for Partners in Education, and conducts workshops, clinics, and master classes.
	An Evening with Colin Hay Thursday, May 6, 2010 \| 7:30 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center As frontman and principle songwriter for eighties hit machine Men at Work, Colin Hay is responsible for one of the most identifiable sounds in pop music: infectious, Caribbean-spiked blue-eyed soul with a pointedly quizzical lyrical outlook. Classic songs like "Down Under," "Overkill," and "Who Can It Be Now" unfold before the ears like miniature movies, with timeless twists and a bittersweet sense of humor. The wit and warmth that defined the now-classic Men at Work albums is still intact in Colin Hay. Whether fronting an electric band, contributing to a Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band performance, or in a more low-key acoustic setting, Hay's everyman charm, familiar voice, and clever observations still resonate with an audience. He most recently is known for his musical contributions and appearances on the hit TV series, Scrubs.
	Antonio Sanchez Trio with special guests Kenny Werner and Scott Colley Saturday, May 1, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center Three-time Grammy Award-winner Antonio Sanchez is considered by many critics and musicians alike as one of the most prominent jazz drummers of his generation. Born in Mexico City, he pursued a degree in classical piano at the National Conservatory in Mexico and in 1993 he moved to Boston where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in Jazz Studies at Berklee College of Music. He has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names including Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden, Gary Burton and Toots Thielmans.
	Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks Wed, April 21, 2010 \| 7:30 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center Singer-songwriter Dan Hicks, widely acknowledged since the early 1960’s as one of the central defining figures in American roots music, brings his irresistible sense of rhythm, hip lyrical styling, laid-back vocalizing, and infamous on-stage wit to the intimate Oasis Room. Along with his acoustic ensemble and backup singers The Lickettes, Hicks and his band have deftly blended elements of Swing, Jazz, Folk and Country music to create the appealing sound he sometimes calls "Folk Jazz". The lyrics of his songs range from the simply sublime to the sublimely ridiculous are presented with his uniquely skewed and inscrutable touch. Having recorded with Bette Midler, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Rickie Lee Jones and Brian Setzer, he continues to carve his own way through a number of genres from proto-psychedelic to western swing and jazz; from Tin Pan Alley to country blues, while always cultivating his own unique sound
	An Evening with John McEuen Saturday, April 17, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center A broad spectrum of music Americana, with a bit of "the old country" music thrown in for good measure, has made John McEuen. “America's instrumental poet” . A founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, with whom he still tours, John’s musical impressions from over 30 years of worldwide travels are brought to the stage with performing expertise that sets him apart from others, and focuses on acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin. With his band, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, he has made over 30 albums, including the platinum-selling Will The Circle Be Unbroken. His diverse skills on banjo, fiddle, guitar and mandolin have led reviewers and fans to call John McEuen “The String Wizard.”
	Piano Jazz Summit Featuring Cedar Walton, Jerry Terrasson, and Hiromi Uehara Thursday, March 31, 2010 \| 7:30 pm The legendary hard pop jazz pianist Cedar Walton recorded with Freddie Hubbard, John Coltrane, and Joe Henderson. Two-time Grammy nominee Jacky Terrasson, was acclaimed by The New York Times Magazine as “one of 30 artists under the age of 30 most likely to make an impact on American culture in the next 30 years.” Keyboardist-composer Hiromi Uehara has performed and recorded with Chick Corea, and Stanley Clarke, electrifying audiences with a creative energy that defies the conventional parameters of jazz.
	Helen Sung "Sung With Words" featuring vocalist Carolyn Leonhart Friday, March 26, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center Sung With Words is a new 'music-illuminating-poetry-inspiring-music' project created by pianist & composer Helen Sung. The idea for the project grew from her friendship with poet and former National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia, who (re)introduced her to world of poetry. Having generally avoided poetry after the reading required in high school, Sung began to thumb through poem collections found at her local library. During her reading she discovered that imagining a poem(s) to melody helped her with understanding & interpreting the words; she began to compose formal musical settings for poems, starting with Gioia's "Entrance" from his award-winning collection "Interrogations at Noon." It was the first time Sung composed music for words, and the project has since grown to include poems by poets including Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughs, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Robert Friend. Also, in a unique twist, a poem by Rhina Espaillat inspired Sung to write a corresponding poem-vocalese which is interwoven into the Espaillat piece. "Sung With Words" features a core instrumentation of vocalist with jazz piano trio.
	Gene Bertoncini & Tosh Sheridan Saturday, March 20, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center In an evening of inspiring acoustic jazz wizardry, jazz guitarist and composer Tosh Sheridan, a New London-area native, shares the intimate Oasis stage with his mentor the world-renowned solo jazz guitarist Gene Bertoncini. Tosh earned his Bachelors of Arts degree in Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music in 1998, and a Masters in Jazz Performance from City College of New York.
	Benny Reid Quintet Friday, March 12, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center A fresh and potent new voice on the modern jazz scene, 29-year old alto-saxophonist Benny Reid reveals a unique compositional vision along with an instrumental mastery with influences of Pat Metheny. Reid has performed with such luminaries as Eric Reed, Toshiko Akiyoshi Band, Chico O' Farrell Band, Buddy Rich Band, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Big Band,, Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Valli, The Temptations and others. A New Jersey native, Reid credits both his parents along with his first sax teachers with shaping his early interest in jazz. From age 15 on, Reid’s main mentor was former Buddy Rich alto saxophonist Andy Fusco, and later completed jazz studies at Indiana University. http://www.bennyreid.com/
	An Evening with Leon Redbone -SOLD OUT! Tuesday, March 9, 2010 \| 7:30 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center With his iconic guise of white fedora, jacket and sunglasses, his gravely voice and mastery of the acoustic guitar, and stage theatrics that gravitate between vaudeville and performance art, the musically resonant and personally elusive Leon Redbone, has continue, over the course of his 30+ year, 15+ album career, his love affair with tunes from the turn-of-the-20th century flapper-era radio ditties, Depression-spawned ragtime and World War II folk-jazz.
	Catie Curtis Saturday, March 6, 2010 \| 8:00 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center The vivid songwriting of Catie Curtis combines insightful lyrics with soulful strumming and energy. A veteran artist with a 15-year career, Curtis has recorded ten solo albums and has toured with the Lilith Fair as well as Dar Williams and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Her songs have appeared in numerous television shows (Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, Grey’s Anatomy and Alias) and independent films. In March of 2006, Catie was named grand prize winner of the International Songwriting Competition, for her song "People Look Around", co-written with Mark Erell, written in response to Hurricane Katrina. In 2009 Curtis, began a youth music endowment (“Aspire to Inspire”) that donates guitars to underprivileged youth and performed at the Human Rights Campaign’s official Obama inaugural ball beside Melissa Etheridge and Rufus Wainwright.
	Jeremy Pelt Monday, February 22, 2010 at 7:30 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center Trumpet virtuoso Jeremy Pelt, 5-time winner of both the Downbeat and Jazz Journalists Association Rising Star polls, spans the musical spectrum from electric jazz-rock, to pure acoustic jazz, with his current quintet featuring J.D. Allen on sax, Danny Grissett on piano, Dwayne Burno on bass, and Gerald Cleaver on drums. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Pelt has played with many of today's and yesterday's Jazz luminaries, and has also been featured in a variety of different bands, including the Roy Hargrove Big Band, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Big Band and The Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band. A Kitchings Productions presentation Tickets: $28 General Admission, Limited Seating (Please note: Ticket price subject to $3 per ticket internet convenience fee)

	Sergio Salvatore & Christos Rafalides March 26, 2011\| in the Oasis Room Two definitively jazz instruments – piano and vibraphone – are paired by two of its best young practitioners in an evening of jazz standards, new work and great improv. Event includes Chat and Dine with the Artists at 7 pm.
	New London Youth Talent Show March 25, 2011\| on the Main Stage To increase opportunities for young people to showcase their talent to a regional audience, the Garde Arts Center, Kitchings Productions and community organizations and volunteers are presenting The New London Youth Talent Showat the Garde Arts Center on Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m. To be broadcast live by radio station Jammin 107.7, the event, directed by Aaron Arbiter and produced by Ken Kitchings of Kitchings Productions, will spotlight the many talents of New London's youth, ages 11 - 21, who will sing, dance, rap, recite poetry and more. Admission is $5 with net proceeds going to Writer's Block Ink. The talent show was suggested by New London resident, vocal artist and youth leader, Frank Colmenares who spoke with Police Officer Anthony Nolan at the first New London Anti-Violence (NLAV) city forum held on December 6, 2010, at the Garde Arts Center Oasis Room. During a lively discussion on how to support and engage youth in the city, Colmenares suggested a talent show and said "in fact, there is a beautiful stage right downstairs." The ball was set in motion and members of NLAV started to move on the suggestion the very next day and Steve Sigel, executive director of the Garde Arts Center, enthusiastically agreed to let the show be performed on the main stage. Over the next couple of months, the pivotal players came together to organize the talent show. Members of the coordinating committee include: Frank Colmenares; Police Officer Anthony Nolan; (NLAV) representatives: Andrea Messenger, Curtis Goodwin and Jessica Hill; Attorney Susan Connolly; Lisa Giordano of Writer's Block, Ink and Emerson Theater Collaborative; Aaron Arbiter of The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center; and New London High School Students, Nicole Arias and Johny Diaz-Saez. With venue and producer established many other community organizations and members all volunteered to help with the event in full support of New London's youth.
	Brad Mehldau Sunday, February 20, 2011 \| on the Main Stage Jazz pianist BRAD MEHLDAU has recorded and performed extensively since the early 1990s. Mehldau’s most consistent output over the years has taken place in the trio format. Starting in 1996, his group released a series of five records on Warner Bros. entitled The Art of the Trio. Mehldau also has a solo piano recording entitled Elegiac Cycle, and a record called Places that includes both solo piano and trio songs.
	Hot Tuna Blues Saturday, February 12, 2011 \| on the Main Stage Hot Tuna founders guitarists Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy, who together shaped the iconic band Jefferson Airplane, share an evening of American blues/rock with the legendary blues-harp player and bandleader, Charlie Musselwhite, and the two-time Grammy-winner Jim Lauderdale, one of the premier Americana and Bluegrass artists in music today.
	Tamir Hendelman Friday, January 7, 2011 \| at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center "[Tamir Hendelman] is one of those ‘overnight sensations’ who’s been working steadily for years,” said Dr. Judith Schlesinger in an All About Jazz.com interview. An Israeli-born award-winning jazz pianist, Hendelman has performed with Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, James Moody, Tierney Sutton, Gladys Knight, John Pizzarelli and Quincy Jones just to name a few. He began his keyboard studies at age six, studied at the Tanglewood Institute and received a Bachelor of Music Composition from Eastman School of Music. Hendelman’s musical travels have taken him from Alaska to New York, and Thailand to Israel inspiring his music along the way.
	Jon Regen Saturday, December 4, 2010 \| at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center The "Miracle Child from New York," Jon Regen, will bring his national tour to the Garde Arts Center's Oasis Room on Saturday, December 4, at 8 p.m. in support of his latest album "Let It Go." The performance is presented in association with Kitchings Productions.Self-taught on his family's aging grand piano at the age of five, singer-songwriter-pianist Regen lead his first professional group while still in his early teens. After studying piano and music theory at The Eastman School of Music and The University of Miami, Regen eventually relocated back to his home state of New Jersey to apprentice for world-renowned pianist Kenny Barron. Soon to follow was Regen's critically-acclaimed 2000 album "Half-Note." His latest album, "Let It Go" was released in 2008.Featuring Andy Summers of The Police, Martha Wainwright and other renowned guests, "Let It Go" effortlessly combines jazz and pop with Regen's pianistic prowess and unmistakable voice as a singer and songwriter."I've been searching for a way to tell my own story, both as a singer/songwriter and as a piano player," Regen said. "I've made jazz records and pop records but never one that managed to meld the two into something that represents both sides of my split personality. On this one, everything just fell into place."Produced by multi-instrumentalist Brad Albetta (Martha Wainwright, Teddy Thompson) and mixed by legendary British producer John Porter (Ryan Adams, BB King, The Smiths), "Let It Go" feels both resoundingly fresh and reassuringly familiar. The album features 12 newly-penned Regen originals and guest appearances by some of today's most innovative artists, including cellist Julia Kent (Norah Jones, Antony & The Johnsons), drummer Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright), guitarist Jimmy Vivino (Late Night with Conan O'Brien) and singer Kami Thompson (daughter of famed songsmiths Richard and Linda Thompson, and sister of musician Teddy).Regen's follow-up album "Revolution" is due out in early 2011. .
	Al Copley Quartet Thursday, December 2, 2010 \| 8:00 pm on the Oasis Room - Two Sets Kitchings Productions presents a delightful diversion, feet stepping and spirit lifting, energetic, up close and personal evening with Al Copley on piano and vocals, Jimmy "B" Biggins on tenor sax, Lou Bocciarelli on upright bass and Steve "Big Swing" Peck on drums. Strongly influenced by the music of Big Joe Turner, Al Copley's style spans several genres and defies categorization, including swing, boogie-woogie and barrelhouse. His live performances are characterized by their energy and Copley's acrobatic approach to piano performance, reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis. A New York native, Copley co-founded the American jump blues band Roomful of Blues with guitarist Duke Robillard in Westerly, Rhode Island in 1967. Count Basie called Roomful "the hottest blues band I've ever heard." Sixteen years and seven albums later, Copley left Roomful and relocated to Europe in 1984, where he still travels and performs extensively. Throughout his career Copley has performed with musical legends Etta James, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ruth Brown, Jimmy Witherspoon, Snooks Eaglin, John Hammond Jr., Big Mama Thornton/ George "Harmonica" Smith, Otis Rush, and Big Walter Horton, to name a few. Oasis Room at Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street, New London, CT 06320. Tickets $30 general admission. View Al Copley video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixw7SUmKO2A ..."unerringly swinging" BILLBOARD
	Taylor Eigsti Friday, November 19 \| 8:00 pm on the Oasis Room New York-based pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti started playing the piano when he was 4 years old, inspired by his sister Shannon, a jazz and rock pianist. The 23-year-old Eigsti started bandleading at age 12, was quickly labeled a prodigy and released four early albums as a bandleader before having the opportunity to sign with Concord Records. Eigsti released "Lucky to Be Me" in 2006, which was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Instrumental Composition and Best Instrumental Jazz Solo. Recognized worldwide for his innovative, intense improvisation and his unique electrifying rhythmic touch, Eigsti and his trio comes to the Oasis Room for a night of jazz on Friday, November 19, at 8 p.m. Tickets for the Taylor Eigsti Trio are $38.
	New Orleans Nights Featuring Allen Toussaint, Nicholas Payton, and The Joe Krown Trio Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 8 PM on the Main Stage A night celebrating the music of three giants of the New Orleans sound featuring Allen Toussaint, 1998 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy-winning young jazz trumpeter Nicholas Payton, and the “house band “ of New Orleans, The Joe Krown Trio. Toussaint’s songs are timeless hits, including “Working in the Coal Mine,” “Mother-in-Law,” “I Like It Like That,” “Right Place Wrong Time” and “Southern Nights.” His latest releases -- The River in Reverse, 2006 with Elvis Costello (which rose to no. 2 on the Billboard Top Jazz Album chart), and The Bright Mississippi in 2009 – bring Toussaint’s music to a new generation.
	The Bridge Thursday, Oct. 21st, 2010 \| 7:30 PM in the Oasis Room Combining elements of blues and roots, spiced with funk and soul, The Bridge, coming to the Oasis Room Thursday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m., flavors classic/southern roots rock with Americana sensibilities. Through constant touring they have built a loyal following throughout America and Europe fueled by gritty, dynamic live performances and poignantly hand-crafted albums. Founded in 2001 when guitarist and vocalist Cris Jacobs reunited, post college, with high school friend and mandolin player Kenny Liner, Jacobs and Liner solidified the The Bridge's core line-up with the addition of saxophonist Patrick Rainey, bassist Dave Markowitz and drummer Mike Gambone. Tickets to The Bridge are $12.
	The Paul Thorn Band Wednesday, October 20th \| 7:30 pm on the Oasis Room Paul Thorn was a prizefighter and skydiver before becoming an acclaimed Americana singer/songwriter with a unique and distinctive sound: reflective, rowdy, lots of guitar, the thinking man's alternative country artist. The voice of a man who has walked a long, hot span over dusty Mississippi country roads, Thorn excels as a musical storyteller with an authentic connection to the blues, country, gospel, rhythm and blue, and rock ‘n’ roll of the Mississippi heartland. As a boxer, Thorn once fought against Roberto Duran and as a musician, he has toured and collaborated with Sting, Paul Carrack, Joe Diffie, Tanya Tucker, Ronnie Milsap, and Carole King.
	Patty Larkin Friday, May 21, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center Patty Larkin is part of the urban-folk/pop music phenomenon that spun off of the singer/songwriter explosion of the seventies, reinterpreting traditional folk melodies, rock, pop, bossa nova, drawing on anything from Dylan (Bob) to Dylan (Thomas). A self described “guitar driven songwriter,” Larkin has wound her way through soundscapes of evocative vocals, inventive guitar wizardry and imaginative lyrics. Her songs run from impressionistic poetry to witty wordplay. Over her 25 year career, Patty Larkin has worked with some of the brightest stars in American music, honing a reputation as a “musician’s musician” along the way. Rolling Stone praises her “evocative sonic shading” and she has been described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly) and a “drop-dead brilliant” performer (Performing Songwriter).
	Nnena Freelon and Quartet Saturday, May 8, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center With her quartet of some of jazz music’s finest musicians, six-time GRAMMY® Award-nominee Nnenna Freelon displays at the Oasis Room her well-deserved international; reputation as a compelling and captivating live performer. A skilled interpreter of the classic songs from the likes of Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, the Cambridge, MA native recently teamed up with the World Famous Count Basie Orchestra, creating new music, new arrangements, and a new recording. In addition to her performing and recording career, Freelon is also active in the education and healthcare fields, has served as National Spokesperson for Partners in Education, and conducts workshops, clinics, and master classes.
	An Evening with Colin Hay Thursday, May 6, 2010 \| 7:30 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center As frontman and principle songwriter for eighties hit machine Men at Work, Colin Hay is responsible for one of the most identifiable sounds in pop music: infectious, Caribbean-spiked blue-eyed soul with a pointedly quizzical lyrical outlook. Classic songs like "Down Under," "Overkill," and "Who Can It Be Now" unfold before the ears like miniature movies, with timeless twists and a bittersweet sense of humor. The wit and warmth that defined the now-classic Men at Work albums is still intact in Colin Hay. Whether fronting an electric band, contributing to a Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band performance, or in a more low-key acoustic setting, Hay's everyman charm, familiar voice, and clever observations still resonate with an audience. He most recently is known for his musical contributions and appearances on the hit TV series, Scrubs.
	Antonio Sanchez Trio with special guests Kenny Werner and Scott Colley Saturday, May 1, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center Three-time Grammy Award-winner Antonio Sanchez is considered by many critics and musicians alike as one of the most prominent jazz drummers of his generation. Born in Mexico City, he pursued a degree in classical piano at the National Conservatory in Mexico and in 1993 he moved to Boston where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in Jazz Studies at Berklee College of Music. He has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names including Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden, Gary Burton and Toots Thielmans.
	Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks Wed, April 21, 2010 \| 7:30 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center Singer-songwriter Dan Hicks, widely acknowledged since the early 1960’s as one of the central defining figures in American roots music, brings his irresistible sense of rhythm, hip lyrical styling, laid-back vocalizing, and infamous on-stage wit to the intimate Oasis Room. Along with his acoustic ensemble and backup singers The Lickettes, Hicks and his band have deftly blended elements of Swing, Jazz, Folk and Country music to create the appealing sound he sometimes calls "Folk Jazz". The lyrics of his songs range from the simply sublime to the sublimely ridiculous are presented with his uniquely skewed and inscrutable touch. Having recorded with Bette Midler, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Rickie Lee Jones and Brian Setzer, he continues to carve his own way through a number of genres from proto-psychedelic to western swing and jazz; from Tin Pan Alley to country blues, while always cultivating his own unique sound
	An Evening with John McEuen Saturday, April 17, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center A broad spectrum of music Americana, with a bit of "the old country" music thrown in for good measure, has made John McEuen. “America's instrumental poet” . A founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, with whom he still tours, John’s musical impressions from over 30 years of worldwide travels are brought to the stage with performing expertise that sets him apart from others, and focuses on acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin. With his band, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, he has made over 30 albums, including the platinum-selling Will The Circle Be Unbroken. His diverse skills on banjo, fiddle, guitar and mandolin have led reviewers and fans to call John McEuen “The String Wizard.”
	Piano Jazz Summit Featuring Cedar Walton, Jerry Terrasson, and Hiromi Uehara Thursday, March 31, 2010 \| 7:30 pm The legendary hard pop jazz pianist Cedar Walton recorded with Freddie Hubbard, John Coltrane, and Joe Henderson. Two-time Grammy nominee Jacky Terrasson, was acclaimed by The New York Times Magazine as “one of 30 artists under the age of 30 most likely to make an impact on American culture in the next 30 years.” Keyboardist-composer Hiromi Uehara has performed and recorded with Chick Corea, and Stanley Clarke, electrifying audiences with a creative energy that defies the conventional parameters of jazz.
	Helen Sung "Sung With Words" featuring vocalist Carolyn Leonhart Friday, March 26, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center Sung With Words is a new 'music-illuminating-poetry-inspiring-music' project created by pianist & composer Helen Sung. The idea for the project grew from her friendship with poet and former National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia, who (re)introduced her to world of poetry. Having generally avoided poetry after the reading required in high school, Sung began to thumb through poem collections found at her local library. During her reading she discovered that imagining a poem(s) to melody helped her with understanding & interpreting the words; she began to compose formal musical settings for poems, starting with Gioia's "Entrance" from his award-winning collection "Interrogations at Noon." It was the first time Sung composed music for words, and the project has since grown to include poems by poets including Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughs, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Robert Friend. Also, in a unique twist, a poem by Rhina Espaillat inspired Sung to write a corresponding poem-vocalese which is interwoven into the Espaillat piece. "Sung With Words" features a core instrumentation of vocalist with jazz piano trio.
	Gene Bertoncini & Tosh Sheridan Saturday, March 20, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center In an evening of inspiring acoustic jazz wizardry, jazz guitarist and composer Tosh Sheridan, a New London-area native, shares the intimate Oasis stage with his mentor the world-renowned solo jazz guitarist Gene Bertoncini. Tosh earned his Bachelors of Arts degree in Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music in 1998, and a Masters in Jazz Performance from City College of New York.
	Benny Reid Quintet Friday, March 12, 2010 \| 8 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center A fresh and potent new voice on the modern jazz scene, 29-year old alto-saxophonist Benny Reid reveals a unique compositional vision along with an instrumental mastery with influences of Pat Metheny. Reid has performed with such luminaries as Eric Reed, Toshiko Akiyoshi Band, Chico O' Farrell Band, Buddy Rich Band, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Big Band,, Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Valli, The Temptations and others. A New Jersey native, Reid credits both his parents along with his first sax teachers with shaping his early interest in jazz. From age 15 on, Reid’s main mentor was former Buddy Rich alto saxophonist Andy Fusco, and later completed jazz studies at Indiana University. http://www.bennyreid.com/
	An Evening with Leon Redbone -SOLD OUT! Tuesday, March 9, 2010 \| 7:30 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center With his iconic guise of white fedora, jacket and sunglasses, his gravely voice and mastery of the acoustic guitar, and stage theatrics that gravitate between vaudeville and performance art, the musically resonant and personally elusive Leon Redbone, has continue, over the course of his 30+ year, 15+ album career, his love affair with tunes from the turn-of-the-20th century flapper-era radio ditties, Depression-spawned ragtime and World War II folk-jazz.
	Catie Curtis Saturday, March 6, 2010 \| 8:00 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center The vivid songwriting of Catie Curtis combines insightful lyrics with soulful strumming and energy. A veteran artist with a 15-year career, Curtis has recorded ten solo albums and has toured with the Lilith Fair as well as Dar Williams and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Her songs have appeared in numerous television shows (Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, Grey’s Anatomy and Alias) and independent films. In March of 2006, Catie was named grand prize winner of the International Songwriting Competition, for her song "People Look Around", co-written with Mark Erell, written in response to Hurricane Katrina. In 2009 Curtis, began a youth music endowment (“Aspire to Inspire”) that donates guitars to underprivileged youth and performed at the Human Rights Campaign’s official Obama inaugural ball beside Melissa Etheridge and Rufus Wainwright.
	Jeremy Pelt Monday, February 22, 2010 at 7:30 pm at the Oasis Room of the Garde Arts Center Trumpet virtuoso Jeremy Pelt, 5-time winner of both the Downbeat and Jazz Journalists Association Rising Star polls, spans the musical spectrum from electric jazz-rock, to pure acoustic jazz, with his current quintet featuring J.D. Allen on sax, Danny Grissett on piano, Dwayne Burno on bass, and Gerald Cleaver on drums. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Pelt has played with many of today's and yesterday's Jazz luminaries, and has also been featured in a variety of different bands, including the Roy Hargrove Big Band, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Big Band and The Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band. A Kitchings Productions presentation Tickets: $28 General Admission, Limited Seating (Please note: Ticket price subject to $3 per ticket internet convenience fee)