BlueStem Jazz

Ben LaMar Gay – Nick Mazzarella – Jon Rune Strom – Tollef Ostvang 11/2023
BlueStem’s own, Thomas Ferrella lends his artistic mojo to Russ Johnson’s new album – REVEAL on Calligram records, give a look-see-listen here
Luke Leavitt, our piano ambassador for our SOUND TILE series is leaving our fair state for lands beyond. Good luck Luke with your new adventures and a hearty thanks for all you have done for BlueStem Jazz.
From our series, Jason Stein [cl], Damon Smith [b] and Adam Shead [d] have released a new album titled HUM on Irritable Mystic Records that was recorded at the North Street Cabaret! Congrats!
Mars Williams is a beloved member of the creative music community, whose influence radiates outward from his home in Chicago to every corner of the globe, was diagnosed with cancer. Dave Rempis has organized a go-fund-me campaign to assist in his expenditures, so please consider giving generously!  https://www.gofundme.com/f/marswilliams
BlueStem Jazz is spreading the love and partnering with the Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret to help bring the Marvin Dolly Trio to Spring Green, April 15th.
Evan Verploegh has released two albums on Bandcamp.  One with Ben Baker and another with Brennan Connors and Seth Davis.  These recordings arose from their live BlueStem performances we hosted at Audio For The Arts on  1.15.22 and 10.15.22.  Beautiful work and congrats!
BlueStem Jazz proudly purchased a 1943 Baldwin L grand piano that will live at North Street Cabaret. Piano maestro and sensei, Brian Mott, assisted us in the purchase and did a thorough mechanical overhaul, declaring – “she is ready to rock”.
BlueStem Jazz delivers our second drum kit to Audio for the Arts, a PDP Concept Maple Bop kit – it is gonna swing with that Yamaha C6 grand!
BlueStem Jazz receives our new TAMA drum kit which will live at the North Street Cabaret. BIG THANKS to Heid Music for sponsorship!
Friends of BlueStem Jazz are honored to form a partnership with our fellow brethren in Milwaukee, Improvised Sound, to help co-sponsor shows there, a healthy Milwaukee scene is a healthy Madison scene!
Friends of BlueStem Jazz proudly co-sponsor the Instigation Festival – 2022 [Sept 14th – 18th] in Chicago
Friends of BlueStem Jazz proudly co-sponsor the Catalytic Sound Festival – 2021 [Vienna, Trondheim, Rotterdam, Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C.]
BlueStem Jazz is starting a near-weekly solo piano series at the Garver Feed Mill featuring Luke Leavitt titled SOUND TILE!  This free series debuts May 27th 5-7pm.  Guaranteed, Luke will keep things interesting.  Stay tuned!
WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL interviews the BlueStem Jazz power trust before Silver Lining award ceremony. article
WORT 89.9 fm PETRICHOR RADIO with DJ ohjho [aka anthony cerulli] 4/19/22 – the wheres, hows and whys interview with the bluestem brain trust
DJ Rob Szocik, ‘Alternating Currents’ WMSE 91.7 fm, interviews the “Wonder-Twin Super Heroes” – David Stone and Thomas Ferrella. Listen here. 2/27/22 (starts at 2:17)
Buzz Kemper [Audio For The Arts] showcases a prerecorded BlueStem Jazz show by pianist Matt Blair on his every 3rd Sunday Acoustic Moose show on Monona’s WVMO 98.7fm radio show – VOICE OF MONONA. Way to keep Monona weird Buzz!
Tune into Bob Kerwin’s newly reintroduced MADISON JAZZ CALENDAR for everything hip, cool, groovy and up to date about jazz in Madison!  THANKS BOB!
Alan Fark – musician, musical impresario, owner/director of MINOR 7th.com, Ralph Towner’s website designer, 5-star cool guy….joins the BlueStem team and will now assist in our social media endeavors.  Grazie amico mio!
SHOUT OUT!! BlueStem Jazz receives a healthy grant from the Dane County Nonprofit Assistance Fund, dispersed through the Madison Community Foundation. Way to recognize the little guys making a difference in our community presenting and promoting jazz for your soul. BIG THANKS!
BlueStem Jazz politically sits on the fringes of the local jazz scene even though for 6 years running we have hosted over 250 shows – and the silver lining [one of many] is that we are in excellent company!  Read this article in FILMMAKER on a new documentary film titled FIRE MUSIC – The Parts That Were Left out of the Ken Burns Documentary https://www.firemusic.org/
Al Rasho, famously known for running one of the best clubs in town – THE NORTH STREET CABARET, is now our marketing director. Welcome Al and a big THANKS!
Michael Brenneis’ SHOWBIZ ROUNDUP are now podcasts!, tune in here to hear the latest interviews with our bands.
All About Jazz: Meet BlueStem Jazz’s Dave Stone & Thomas Ferrella by Hrayr Attarian. You can read the article here
BlueStem Jazz receives $2,000 grant from Wisconsinonymous Huge honor!
BlueStem Jazz’s partnership with Garver Feed Mill expands in 2021 to include Fridays from late spring through late summer/early fall, so stay tuned!
MADISON ARTS awards BlueStem Jazz $3,000 grant in support of our 2021 Spring Jazz Festival at Schenks Corners.
Tony Castaneda hosts BlueStem Jazz on his WORT 8 o’clock buzz morning show 8/6/2020, BlueStem Jazz announces their first show since the covid lockdown and their robust fall schedule at the Garver Feed Mill Patio.
BlueStem Jazz is excited to announce our newest event partner, THE GARVER FEED MILL PATIO – hip venue, enlightened people, chill vibe…way to make BlueStem feel at home!
Welcome Michael Brenneis to the BlueStem Jazz all-volunteer staff!  Michael Brenneis is a drummer and composer, based in Madison, Wisconsin. He will be our blogger doing pre-show reviews and interviews called the ShowBiz Roundup. He wants everyone to know that he’s a musician not a journalist. After reading his amazing posts, BlueStem may argue with the journalist comment.
BlueStem Jazz welcomes Rick Campbell to our volunteer staff. Rick possess an incredibly deep knowledge and appreciation of all things jazz, but especially of avant-garde jazz. He is also a very generous donor to Friends of BlueStem Jazz and will act as our liaison to WORT 89.9 fm. PROVOKE CULTURE!
ALCHEMY CAFE  becomes a BlueStem Jazz sponsor! Where our musicians eat for free and our patrons to all BlueStem Jazz events eat and drink at a 10% discount day of the show.
An Extra Large Thanks to generous supporters.  Our Giving Tuesday fundraising was very successful. Look forward to more great music in Madison during 2020
wmse 91.7fm [milwaukee] with alternating currents DJs rob szocik and zoro [aka brent boock] – interview on all things bluestem, 12/1/19   https://wmsearchive.blob.core.windows.net/2019/12/12-01-2019-18-00.mp3  [starts at 1:02:50]
11/19 “friends of bluestem jazz” give generously to wort 89.9fm and form partnership to buy underwriting promotion for 2020
10/16/2019 – bluestem jazz proudly gets picked to host three artists from south arts first jazz road tours‘ grants:  brandon ross,  Melvin Gibbs, J.T. Lewis – harriet tubman. jaimie branch – fly or die. david rempis, tashi dorji, tyler damon – kuzu.
bluestem jazz launched  non-profit sponsors/presenters of progressive jazz in madison, wi.   https://isthmus.com/music/bluestem-jazz-nurtures-growing-madison-jazz-scene/
wort 89.9 fm fire worship with joanne pow!ers 5/14/19 – interview on the state of jazz in madison
badger herald by emilie burditt 1/28/19 https://badgerherald.com/artsetc/2019/01/28/davu-seru-jamal-r-moore-combine-traditional-jazz-with-nontraditional-instruments/
isthmus by allison geyer 11/29/18  https://isthmus.com/music/plutonium-jazz-drummer-michael-brenneis/
isthmus by kiel majewski  5/3/18  https://isthmus.com/music
wort 89.9fm 8 o’clock buzz with tony castaneda  5/3/18 – interview about our May JAZZFEST
wisconsin state journal by gayle worland  4/27/18    http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/know-your-madisonian-former-er-physician-immersed-in-art-and/article_76e8962b-0ab4-555d-ab5a-6676b82e5c60.html
wort 89.9fm 8 o’clock buzz with jonathan zarov  2/23/18
capital times by erik lorenzsonn  2/27/17  http://host.madison.com/ct/entertainment/music/concert-series-brings-big-jazz-names-to-a-diy-space/article_9881e660-4c5c-56ac-962c-1d1e56fb21e3.html