An evening in two parts (sets).
First – The Golden Age of Hollywood. It will feature songs from movies from the 1920's-early 1960s.
Second – Modern Cinema Americana – songs from the late 1960's-present.
The main performers are the Jillian Smith Trio featuring: Azzaam Hameed and Allen Halstead. They have added special guests drummer, Sam Zuccini, and bass player, Pete Toigo, for this performance, and have three guest performers: Chris Dollard, Jeanne O'Connor, and Jeannine Oderkirk.
The evening was conceived by John Griffith, of the popular Bar People website and musician and active arts community member Judy LaPook. The show will be hosted by Jillian Smith.
Smith is a jazz and blues vocalist based in Saratoga Springs, who has delighted audiences throughout the Capital Region and Central New York for more than 15 years. Known for her warm, smoky voice and expressive style, she has performed at premier venues including Turning Stone Resort Casino, the Stanley Theatre in Utica, the Capitol Theatre in Rome, and the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival in Syracuse, among many others.
A graduate of the Ithaca College School of Music, Jillian is a passionate advocate for music education. Beyond performing, Jillian created the original Broadway Music Lecture Series, Stories & Songs of Broadway’s Great Composers, which she presents to independent senior living communities throughout New York’s Capital Region. Combining live performance with engaging stories about Broadway’s legendary composers, lyricists, and musicals, the program offers audiences an entertaining and enriching journey through the history of American musical theater.
Whether performing with her trio or collaborating with other outstanding musicians, Jillian brings warmth, authenticity, and a love of great songs to every performance. She is delighted to present this special fundraising performance benefiting Caffè Lena.
BIOS OF PERFORMERS FOR MOVIE NIGHT
Jillian Smith Trio: Jillian has developed a close musical partnership with her trio companion’s pianist Azzaam Hameed and saxophonist Allen Halstead. Together, they have cultivated an intuitive musical rapport that has become a hallmark of their performances. While all three artists maintain active performing careers with other musicians, they continue to reunite as a trio, sharing a musical connection that audiences have come to recognize and enjoy.
AZZAAM HAMMED
Azzaam Hameed is a pianist, vocalist composer and arranger with more than 50 years of musical experience. His signature sound jazz, gospel, R&B, and Latin into a soulful uplifting musical experience. For more than 42 years, Azzaam has served as organist and pianist At Friendship Baptist Church. Throughout his career, he has provided music for a wide variety of secular and faith-based events, with a mission centered on spreading love, peace, and unity through music.
Caffè Lena audiences may know him from his performances with Garland Nelson and Friends for A Joyful Noise events.
Wildly regarded as one of the Capital Region’s most sought-after keyboardists he has performed along many talented vocalists and musicians throughout the area. His original music, Music with Your Mind in Mind, is available on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and YouTube
ALLEN HALSTEAD
Allen Halstead is a local saxophonist with over 50 years of musical performance experience. Allen’s early years were spent playing in many types of projects which ranged from lounge trios to 10-piece rhythm bands. His musical styles include all genres of music: R&B, jazz standards, classic rock, smooth jazz, and big band tunes. He has played all types of venues from small quiet lounges to wedding parties to the large stage. His mentors include such greats as John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Gato Barbieri, David Sanborn and Grover Washington. Allen is a 1981 graduate of Florida State University with a Master of Music degree. While in college, he was able to experience playing with such well-known artists such as Stan Kenton, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lou Rawls. Allen plays tenor, alto and soprano saxophones using each horn to uniquely express what the music is trying to tell the audience.
PETE TOIGO:
Chatham, NY bassist Pete Toigo first played at Caffè Lena in 1989 with Emilio Dabul and The Babahasens. Since then, he’s performed at Lena’s with Scott Smith, Sonny & Perley, Jeanne O’Connor, String of Pearls, Pat Melita & Nat Phipps (as part of the Dance Flurry) and most recently with Mark & Jill.
SAM ZUCCINI
Sam Zucchini (born Sam Brewton) is a drummer, vocalist, and educator who has worked with an assortment of artists including Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, David Bromberg, the Gibson Brothers, John Sebastian, Levon Helm, Carly Simon, Kate Taylor, Donald Fagen, Phoebe Snow, Pete Seeger, and back in the day, with the award-winning band, "the Zucchini Brothers.”
CHRIS DOLLARD
“I'm a passionate full-time performer and a standout pianist and vocalist in the vibrant Upstate New York music scene! With a dynamic history of entertaining in a wide array of venues, restaurants, clubs, and special events— my goal is to deliver a vibrant and personalized musical experience that makes each event truly unforgettable. Peace and Love!”
JEANNE O’CONNOR
Jeanne O'Connor is a versatile jazz vocalist whose warm, expressive style has taken her from legendary New York venues like the Blue Note, to concert halls and festivals around the world. Equally at home with jazz standards, the Great American Songbook, pop, Latin, and R&B, Jeanne is preparing for the 2027 release of her new album, The Sweetest Sounds.
JEANINE O
Jeanine Ouderkirk is a jazz vocalist and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Saratoga Springs, NY. Aside from performing, Jeanine joyfully spends her time as a music educator at Saint Gregory’s School in Loudonville, NY teaching PK-8th grade General Music and at Union College as a Voice Teacher in the Jazz and Pop styles. More information can be found at: www.jeaninemariemusic.com
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Note: Caffe Lena does not permit ticket reselling above face value. Tickets purchased for the purpose of resale may be canceled without notice, and refunds for such purchases will not be granted.
