This Week At Ace’s – October 17-21, 2018 – The Music, The Artists & More
Ace Gillett’s Musical Happenings – Week of 10.17.18
Greetings, Jazz Fans! Ace Gillett’s Music Director John Olson here to let you know what we have cued up for your listening pleasure this week. Come out and enjoy live music in Fort Collins at our underground lounge.
Jenna McLean & Spencer Zweifel
Wednesday, 10/17 – 7:30 to 11:00
This Wednesday will feature Jenna McLean on vocals, accompanied by Spencer Zweifel on piano. My first introduction to Jenna was from nights she would sit in to sing a few numbers at Ace Gillett’s while studying for her Degree in Voice Performance from the University of Wyoming. Since that time, she’s received her Masters in Jazz Studies from UNC in Greeley and is currently pursuing her Doctorate. Jenna is influenced by Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Rachel Price, Sara Bareilles and many others, and literally knows hundreds of jazz standards from the Great American Songbook. Spencer is currently pursuing a degree in Jazz Studies from UNC and has been a regular performer at Ace Gillett’s since he was in High School. He is an expressive soloist and a sensitive accompanist, and is one of the few musicians that has performed at Ace Gillett’s in a solo, duo, trio and quartet setting.
Nick Benitez
Thursday, 10/18 – 8:00 to Midnight
We’re happy to be featuring New York City native Nick Benitez, for his first performance at Ace Gillett’s. Nick Benitez is a trumpeter, educator, and composer from New York City. He grew up playing mostly traditional South American and Caribbean music and picked up the trumpet at the age of 11. Having toured the country, parts of Canada and the Caribbean, Nick has played and recorded a wide variety of music from Jazz to Afro-Beat to Salsa and African Bomba music. The young trumpeter has shared the stage with artists such as Jon Faddis, Vincent Herring, Ignacio Berroa, Alan Ferber, Ingrid Jensen, The Mills Brothers, Cyrille Aimee, Jon Secada, Gloria Estefan, Arturo O’Farrill, and many more. Nick is currently a first year doctoral candidate at The University of Miami and frequently flies to NYC for regular performances with his Afro-Beat group, ‘The Brighton Beat’. Please come out to welcome Nick for his first appearance at Ace!
The Subterraneans feat. Andrew Vogt
Friday, 10/19 – 8:00 to Midnight
The Subterraneans welcome back Andrew Vogt on multiple saxophones. Andrew is a favorite among the Ace Gillett’s regulars and has been a staple on the Fort Collins Music Scene for over 15 years. I met Andrew shortly after he moved to Fort Collins, and we’ve played music together literally hundreds of times in a wide variety of settings. He has been a regular performer at Ace Gillett’s since our opening night eight and a half years ago. The ultimate musical chameleon, Andrew is comfortable in any musical setting from be-bop to sharing the stage with Dead Floyd. Joining myself with Andrew this Friday will be Seth Lewis and Ben Markley, so it’s sure to be a great night of Subterranean Jazz.
Jack Roben
Saturday, 10/20 – 8:00 to Midnight
It’s Guitar Trio night, featuring relative newcomer Jack Roben with Seth Lewis and myself. Jack moved to the area this Fall to pursue his Masters in Jazz Studies at UNC after graduating from the fabled jazz program at the University of North Texas. If you haven’t had an opportunity to hear Jack yet, you’ll quickly understand why he is already on his way to becoming a fixture on the Colorado Jazz Scene. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear this young, new talent.
Mark Sloniker
Sunday, 10/21 – 7:00 to 11:00
Fort Collins’ longtime favorite pianist Mark Sloniker joins us for his regular Sunday slot. If you haven’t heard Mark before, you must be new to the area as he has probably performed more times in Fort Collins than any other musician this town has known. I first met Mark over 35 years ago, when he moved to Fort Collins to join the fusion band Kinesis. After Kinesis disbanded, Mark became a fixture on the Fort Collins jazz scene playing for many years at the now-defunct Wine Cellar Restaurant and later for a long-time run at Jay’s Bistro. Mark is currently the Music Director at the Sunset Lounge – fortunately for us, they’re not open on Sunday nights so we get to enjoy his signature jazz sound every week. Mark is often joined by his wife Colleen Crosson and daughter Emma Sloniker on vocals, making Sunday nights a special family night of music. In addition to performing a broad selection of jazz standards, Mark has a wide range of original music. With a little prodding, he might play one of my personal favorite compositions of his, “Speaking Without Words” for you on Sunday.
As always, Thank you for supporting live jazz at Ace Gillett’s – I hope to see you there soon!
John Olson
Music Director
Ace Gillett’s Lounge
