This is the sixth season of 2 Stones Events’ monthly concerts with a speakeasy vibe in the lower level of Ciao Amici’s restaurant in downtown Brighton (217 W. Main), presenting a wide variety of jazz styles — fusion, gypsy, Latin, The Great American Songbook, New Orleans, funk, etc.
Jimmy Smith’s Family Band featuring Beth Stalker
Detroit-based trumpeter, composer, and arranger Jimmy Smith is one of the Midwest’s most in-demand musicians. He holds a master’s degree in jazz performance from the Aaron Copland School of Music and studied at both Berklee College of Music and Wayne State University. Alongside his performing career, Jimmy is a dedicated music educator. He has served as an artist-in-residence throughout the NYC public school system, is a certified Michigan music teacher, and currently works as the Director of Bands at Avondale Middle School, where he’s committed to building strong, creative young musicians.
As a recording artist, Jimmy has released three albums as co-leader of the Hughes/Smith Quintet, and most recently a fourth as co-leader of the Yao/Smith/Hughes Sextet on Shifting Paradigm Records. His work has been praised for its energy and craftsmanship—Midwest Record called it “hot stuff throughout that never quits.”
Jimmy is also a founding member of The Woodward Horns and an active freelance performer. Over the years, he has shared the stage with a wide range of regional and national artists, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Verve Pipe, Alexander Zonjic, Mitch Ryder, Melvin Davis, Pat Lewis, Johnnie Bassett, The Paul Keller Orchestra, Ben Sharkey, and Bobby Murray.
Jimmy’s Family Band includes Dale Grisa, keys; Brent Nagy, drums; Ken Pesick, bass; and will feature vocalist/songwriter Beth Stalker. She’s often been referred to as an old soul. With an inherent ability to convey raw emotion, her voice possesses a texture and depth that is easy to love and hard to forget.
She released her first album, Little Liz, Jesus Loves Me, at the age of 5 and has been singing professionally ever since. Stalker is the winner of seven Detroit Music Awards and was also a finalist on American Idol in 2008. She has recorded six albums and has performed around the Detroit area for more than 20 years. Her most recent album, Beth Stalker, Live at O'Malley's, is a collection of some of her favorite jazz and blues standards.
$29 TICKETS — Limited to just 100 seats per show
6 p.m. click HERE.
8:30 p.m. click HERE.
Doors open 30 minutes prior.
‘Cash-only’ (literally) bar: Please, only call the restaurant (810-227-9000) for dinner reservations upstairs before or after your show!
