05/22 - Saturday :: James Carney Group

James's Website

Featuring: James Carney (Piano & Compsitions), Josh Roseman (Tombone), Ralph Alessi (Trumpet), Sam Minae (Bass), & Mark Ferber (Drummer).

James Carney has cultivated a reputation for developing an original, polystylistic approach to making music - a philosophy that respects and explores both tradition and the avant-garde. He has recorded five albums as a leader - his last two for the Songlines label. Green-Wood (Songlines 1566) was released in 2007 to wide acclaim, and Ways & Means (Songlines 1580) will be released in July 2009. The septet he leads on both recordings, also known as the James Carney Group, features some of New York’s most creative and in-demand musicians:

"Mr. Carney is a sharp pianist and a broadly imaginative conceptualist and composer.” -The New York Times

Margaret's Website

Margaret McDuffie - has been songwriting and performing since the 1980’s. With a turn to jazz, for the last several years she has performed with a variety of regional players, including Ed Diehl, Mike DeMicco, Lou Pappas, Lew Scott, & Art Labriola, and has had the honor of sitting in with Jack Wilkins. Her song choices favor the bluesy standards of the 30’s & 40’s, accented with some of the rare Peggy Lee & Julie London-esque gems of the fifties. She has an expressive range that handles the music with exceptional warmth and depth.

Steve Raleigh - On staff at the National Guitar Workshop, Steve Raleigh has worked and toured with many groups including the Steve Raleigh trio, his quintet Inner Door, Judi Silvano, October Project, Evelyn Blakey, Nick Brignola, Darmond Meader (New York Voices), Clint Holmes, and Tony Martin, as well as opening for Chuck Mangione, and Tommy James to name a few. “An Incredible Guitarist” says John Buscarino, with a “beautiful harmonic sense” -Tony Mottola.

Jim Curtin - has played with numerous jazz notables, among them Hugh Brodie, Ed Diehl, Mike DeMicco and Betty McDonald. For three years he was principal player at the Stamford Jazz Workshops. Also a jazz vocalist, his energetic style is as lyrical as it is full of fine rhythmic pull.