Capital District Jazz is excited to announce a new concert series “Jazz at the Spring” to be staged monthly in Saratoga Springs. The series premiers on Thursday, September 28th with the amazing clarinetist and world- renowned whistler, Brad Terry. “Brad Terry is such a happy sounding player.... and whistler; remarkable, really inventive. It's infectious.” —Jim Hall

For his only appearance in the Capital District, Brad Terry will reunite with jazz guitarist Mark Kleinhaut. Terry and Kleinhaut used to perform regularly when the two were living in Mid-coast Maine and they toured together in Cuba. Kleinhaut is delighted to be making music again with his dear friend. Kleinhaut notes, “Brad turned eighty a few weeks ago and most people would be slowing down, but he is out on the road making music and playing with the vitality of a kid. I don’t think Brad considers himself an elder statesman of Jazz, but he is. When I think of the talent, experience, and history he embodies, I fully expect to be taken to school and I’ll enjoy every minute of it.” Kleinhaut is excited about opening the new series and introducing Brad Terry to Capital District audiences. He says, “The intimate performance space at Spring Street Gallery allows us to be close to the audience, as if we were doing a house concert. We can experience an immediate connection to the audience, and the acoustic qualities of Spring Street will be perfect for Brad’s signature whistling- folks will be blown away when they hear him!”

Brad Terry started playing the clarinet as a teen under the tutelage of friend and neighbor Benny Goodman. As Brad’s musical education progressed, his talent and dedication was noticed by Count Basie saxophonist Buddy Tate. Tate took his young protégé to the epicenter of the music in 1950’s, the jazz clubs in Harlem, where the young Terry had the opportunity to hone his skills on the bandstand with some of the greatest jazz musicians of the time. Over the course of Terry’s 60-plus-year career he has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Tate, Doc Cheatham, Red Mitchell, and the legendary guitarist Lenny Breau, to name a few. Brad Terry recognized the fabulous opportunity he was given as a young player, and continues to share his knowledge with the next generations of jazz musicians. Terry has led Jazz workshops and clinics in many countries including the US and Poland. In recent years, he has been active touring and recording as a duo with Polish pianist Joachim Mencel and with Peter Herman, the young guitar sensation from Maine.

Jazz guitarist Mark Kleinhaut currently resides in Saratoga Springs. During Kleinhaut's thirty-year career, he has recorded over 60 compositions, released seven albums including a Jazzweek Top 20 disc with saxophonist Bobby Watson, and an album with trumpeter Tiger Okoshi. In 2013, Kleinhaut was included in Scott Yanow's book, The Great Jazz Guitarists, The Ultimate Guide, published by Backbeat Books. JazzTimes writer and author Bill Milkowski calls Kleinhaut, “one of the truly brilliant guitarists on the jazz scene today.”

Rounding out the trio is the great bassist John Menegon, who was an integral member of the Dewey Redman Quartet, as well as the David "Fathead" Newman Quintet, spending over a decade performing, touring, and recording with each of them. Additionally, John has played with many jazz luminaries including Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette, Kenny Barron Slide Hampton, Sheila Jordan, and Matt Wilson to name but a few.

Jazz at the Spring will be held the last Thursday of each month at the Spring Street Gallery, Saratoga Springs, and is sponsored by Capital District Jazz, Ltd. (CDJ) a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization formed by practitioners and fans who love jazz music. American in origin, jazz reaches and draws from millions of performers and listeners around the globe who are inspired by its rich history, excited by its technical complexity, and moved by its emotional depth. The members of CDJ want to share their love of jazz with current and potential performers and enthusiasts throughout the "Capital District". CDJ's mission is to build and serve a wider audience for jazz through education; to create performance opportunities for jazz musicians; and to develop venues for these pursuits. CDJ supports All Ears: Jazz and Improvised Music Workshop, which is a fun hands-on way for students of all ages to learn about jazz.

CDJ is offering a number of free tickets for youth age 17 and under. If you are interested in obtaining a free ticket please inquire via email info@cdjazz.org. Tickets are $15 and are available at: brown paper tickets: www.jazzatthespring.brownpapertickets.com or http:// www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3066344