Real Good for Free: Albany Musicians’ Association’s Jazz Gala @ Colonie Elks Lodge, 4/25/10

Sure would be nice if every month was Jazz Appreciation Month, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, that’s not the case…

But April isn’t over quite yet, and to top off all of the multitude of great jazz performances around Nippertown this month, the Albany Musician’s Association is presenting its sixth annual Jazz Gala on Sunday at the Colonie Elks Lodge.

Co-sponsored by the Swingtime Jazz Society and A Place for Jazz, the free, six-hour celebration begins at 2pm and features performances by many of the area’s finest musicians.

In addition, the event will honor two longtime local jazz heroes: big band vocalist Garry Stevens and Knickerbocker News jazz writer and columnist Georgia Urban.

Here’s the musical line-up for the bash:
2pm: The Lansingburg High School Stage Band under the direction of Kevin Champagne
3pm: The Leo Russo Octet
4pm: Tribute to Georgia Urban
4:15pm: Tommy Ippolito, solo jazz accordion
4:30pm: Sensamaya
5:20pm: “Swingin’ Songstress Set” featuring April Marie, Colleen Pratt, Jody Shayne and Patti Melita with the Peg Delaney Trio
6:15pm: Tribute to Garry Stevens featuring the Joey Thomas Big Band with Ray Lamere