The RJ Spangler Trio has a performance grant that allows us to play free concerts for schools, non-profits, libraries, etc.  We have openings in September, October, November & December. Please see a recent video of our lecture in August at Baldwin Public Library exploring the jump and swing jazz of the 40s and 50s: Jazz Lecture Series with RJ Spangler | | | | | | | | | | | Jazz Lecture Series with RJ Spangler | | | | About the program and performers: RJ Spangler speaks about the history of Detroit's jazz & blues roots and performs musical examples with an all-star band.  RJ is a graduate of GPS, class of '75! About Larry:  Born & raised in Aliquippa, Penn.,near Pittsburgh in 1947, where he got his start playing jazz, showing the ropes to his friend, jazz guitar great George Benson. Smith moved to New York where he played with some big names such as organist Shirley Scott, drummer Joe Chambers and multi-saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk. For years, Smith bounced around from New York to New Jersey to Detroit (where he sunk roots after his mother moved here) and back. Larry had a special relationship with one the all-time great sax players - Sonny Stitt.  Sonny knew & encouraged Larry going back to his teenage years, when passing through Pennsylvania.  This lead to Larry touring with Sonny as a regular member of his group.  Quite an honer for a man that plays the same instrument as the leader! In Detroit he lead his own bands & also played in Detroit jazz master Roy Brooks Artistic Truth band.  Larry has a reputation as an old-school keeper of the bebop flame and a killer when it comes to the blues. As Charles Latimer said in the Metro Time "his specialty is ballads. He shuts his eyes, hunches his shoulders, and holds his saxophone like a prom date. The ballads are so touching they'd make the devil cry." Larry appears as  a special guest on James Carter's 1996 Conversin' with the Elders & Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge disc, released in 2004.  He has also toured with the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin.  Drummer RJ Spangler has appeared on over 60 recordings and has toured the US, Canada & Europe quite a few times.  He lectures on Detroit jazz & blues history and  beyond his trio, he leads the Planet D Nonet swing band as well as a blues band.  His latest release is "This Is What We Do" w/ the RJ Spangler on the Eastlawn label. Guitarist Oliver Nevels is another veteran player whom has recorded & toured nationally with organist Charles Earland, appearing on two of his CDs, including "I Ain't Jivin' I'm Jammin" for the legendary Muse label. He also toured with organist Richard "Groove" Holmes.   Bassist Greg Cook is a Detroit main stay, having proven himself playing with the top of Detroit's jazz scene: Geri Allen, Roy Brooks & Marcus Belgrave & many others.  He toured Europe with soul great Bettye LeVette and held down the bass chair in Rat Pack show for countless performances.   RJ Spangler can be contacted at rjspd9@gmail.com Presented by Jazz Foundation of Americahttp://www.jazzfoundation.org/