Five Spot Jazz Quintet Featuring Mike Greensill at The Back Room

The band features five musicians who have a deep feel for the jazz tradition. All five could be leaders in their own right. Together the band is even better than the sum of its parts.

Hailing from Dursley, England, pianist Mike Greensill might be best known in the Bay Area as resident piano player on Sedge Thomson's weekly Public Radio show, West Coast Live, as well as his role as musical director to vocalist Wesla Whitfield, with whom he's recorded more then twenty albums. Not just a superlative pianist, he's also a gifted composer. The band showcases Mike's compositions and some tasty vocals too....

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The band features five musicians who have a deep feel for the jazz tradition. All five could be leaders in their own right. Together the band is even better than the sum of its parts.

Hailing from Dursley, England, pianist Mike Greensill might be best known in the Bay Area as resident piano player on Sedge Thomson's weekly Public Radio show, West Coast Live, as well as his role as musical director to vocalist Wesla Whitfield, with whom he's recorded more then twenty albums. Not just a superlative pianist, he's also a gifted composer. The band showcases Mike's compositions and some tasty vocals too.

Saxophonist Charlie McCarthy's comes from a musical family: his father was an accomplished trombone player in the Bay Area. His playing experience includes many of the greats in jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, George Shearing, Stan Getz, Joe Williams, and many others. He's contributed some adventurous arrangements to the repertoire. He's featured on both tenor saxophone and flute.

Joe Cohen, featured on alto saxophone, is one of the most in-demand players in the Bay Area, with a busy schedule performing locally and on tour as well as studio work. Always the right note at the right time with an impeccable rhythmic feel. In addition to playing soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, Joe plays piano, flute and clarinet. A partial list of notable players he's worked with includes Bobby McFerrin, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Idris Muhammad and Lavay Smith. As well as a distinctive voice on saxophone, Joe contributes to the repertoire.

John Clark, on bass, studied with Ray Brown and Buster Williams and has extensive performing and recording experience both locally and nationally, appearing with Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Frank Jackson, the Hot Club of San Francisco, Denise Perrier and Jackie Ryan among many others.

Drummer Jack Dorsey is a first call in the Bay Area and has performed and recorded with Etta James, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lavay Smith and many others.

For this gig, the band has put together a program of original tunes that you won't hear anywhere else and new arrangements of jazz standards. The essence of jazz is originality no matter what the style.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Advance tickets are available at the link below, or you may purchase your tickets at the door the night of the show. Doors open one half hour before show time. We accept cash only at the door (ATMs are nearby).

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own adult beverage with no additional corkage fee. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-654-3808. Thank you for your support!

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