centro

ETHAN PHILION QUARTET
2024-05-24 20:00 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | bar centro, 804 E. Center St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53212
Ethan Philion Quartet is a Chicago-based group led by bassist Ethan Philion featuring Greg Ward (alto saxophone), Russ Johnson (trumpet), and Dana Hall (drums). Their debut album, Gnosis, was released on October 6th on Sunnyside Records and drew praise from Downbeat Magazine, Chicago Jazz Magazine, JAZZIZ and more. Critic Larry Applebaum praised the ensemble’s “deep listening and open-ended solos” in his 4 Star review of Gnosis in Downbeat. Gnosis was heralded as “the best of new jazz to come” in the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The quartet performs Philion’s compositions with an emphasis on group interaction and hard-hitting improvisations. They have performed throughout the Chicago area and midwest at the Hyde Park Jazz Fest, Constellation, Cliff Bell’s, The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Street Cabaret, the California Clipper, and more.

Philion’s debut album, a large ensemble project called Meditations on Mingus, received widespread praise from Downbeat, JAZZIZ, Jazzwise, and more. The project was featured as a headlining act for the 2022 Chicago Jazz Festival and performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Jazz Club. Philion was one of the 2022 Jazz Institute of Chicago’s New Works Fresh Voices Fellowship recipients and has won fellowships with Luminarts and Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead. He was the winner of the 2019 International Society of Bassists Jazz Competition.

DOORS AT 7

TLALOK RODRIGUEZ QUARTET
2024-05-25 20:00 - 22:30
Tlalok is a bilingual singer / songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Milwaukee. Originally a Chicago native, he comes from a long line of musicians dating back to his great-grandfather who was a composer from Vicente Guerreo, Mexico. A century later he keeps the family tradition alive through boleros, bossa novas, and vibrant performances channeling the passion of his ancestors.

DONNA WOODALL
2024-05-30 20:00 - 22:30
Voted 2023 Wisconsin Area Music Industry’s (WAMI) Female Vocalist of the Year, Donna Woodall has established herself as a skilled, multi-genre singer/songwriter and bandleader in the Milwaukee music scene. Donna artfully blends the musical styles of artists such as Carole King, Cassandra Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, Sting, The Beatles, and Tracy Chapman with elements of traditional jazz and blues. The result? A fresh, new twist on familiar pop songs. Audiences are delighted by her eclectic song selections, cool originals, creative renditions of classic hits and jazz standards, and her bold moves into different music genres- all the while staying grounded in her jazz roots. In 2024, Donna continues to share her gifts as she performs at top Wisconsin festivals/events and in regular rotation at notable venues in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin.

ANTHONY DEUTSCH & JULI WOOD
2024-05-31 20:00 - 22:30
doors at 7

BADLAND
2024-06-01 20:00 - 22:30
Ben Dameron’s BADLAND has one foot in the past and another in the future. Powerful guitar tones punctuate a distinct modern jazz aesthetic – from epic soundscapes to haunting arias.
DOORS AT 7

JAZZ JAM - every 1st Thursday - no cover + drink specials
2024-06-06 20:30 - 23:30

MAX BROWN QUARTET (Cordless)
2024-06-07 20:00 - 22:30
This cordless quartet from Madison aims to incorporate free/experimental music with its members favorite standards and jazz tunes.
Max Brown is a trombonist, composer, and arranger who plays music in all styles but mainly focuses on jazz. Max is currently based in Madison, Wisconsin and he is additionally working his way into the Chicago and Milwaukee jazz scenes. He is a bandleader of both a jazz quartet and a jazz/original music sextet. Max has also built a presence in Indiana, where he spent 6 years studying both jazz and classical music

MJI NIGHT at bar centro
2024-06-08 20:00 - 22:30
details to follow
doors at 7

Shuga Blu
2024-06-13 20:00 - 22:30
Shuga Blu is the new baby of Milwaukee musician, Keshena Armon. We pride ourselves on performing feel good music for our audience of all ages. They perform classic to current gems in the R&B, Soul, Pop and Rock genres!

Casimir Riley Quartet
2024-06-14 20:00 - 22:30
Casimir Riley – saxophone
Isaiah Kitts – guitar
George Bellesteros – bass
Yanni Chudnow – drums

ROBIN PLUER plus Special Guests; Juli wood & John Sieger
2024-06-15 20:00 - 22:30
Robin Pluer; songbird fantastique.

Juli Wood; tenor sax and soprano sax and gut wrenching, soulful vocals.

John Sieger, the grand songwriter on guitar and gritty soul stirring voice.

Join the trio for a trip of jazz, French tunes, and a slash of country.

Always straight from the heart!
Doors at 7

Nelson Devereaux and Noah Barker “Subtle Frequencies” Release Tour featuring Lesser Lakes Trio
2024-06-19 19:30 - 23:00
Minneapolis-based (and Milwaukee native) saxophonist, Nelson Devereaux, and LA-based pianist, Noah Barker, met in the LA indie rock band Paul Cherry in 2021 as they toured the country for Paul’s record: “Back On The Music”. They have since played shows in nearly every state in the US and several in Canada.

The two artists quickly realized that they share a passion for jazz and improvised music as they pushed the boundaries of Paul’s ensemble with their solos night after night- exposing audiences to their rich and unique individual styles, rooted in the tradition of jazz.

In August of 2023, Noah and Nelson recorded “Subtle Frequencies” in Los Angeles- a dreamy, and calming five track album that came out on the Chicago-based record label FPE on April 26th.

Now a quickly-forming unit, the pair are touring the Midwest bringing the “Subtle Frequencies” vibe to a live audience- perfect for any occasion.

For more info on Nelson please visit:
www.nelsondevereuxmusic.com

For more info about Noah Barker please visit:

https://noahbarker.bandcamp.com

Lesser Lakes Trio: A collaborative venture bourn from the restless searching of three sonic storytellers. As the namesake holds, there is something timeless and haunting in a waterway whose path skirts the larger bodies for more subtle divergencies, defying where gravity would cause most to rest. Jamie Breiwick, Devin Drobka, and John Christensen’s singular goal in this trio is to speak a regional riddle that unlocks a universal desire for musician and audience alike; to feel the wonder of it all.

bar centro closed during the 3 Thursdays of Summerfest
2024-06-20 20:00 - 22:30, 2024-06-27 20:00 - 22:30

bar centro closed during Summerfest
2024-06-21 20:00 - 22:30, 2024-06-22 20:00 - 22:30, 2024-06-28 20:00 - 22:30, 2024-06-29 20:00 - 22:30, 2024-07-05 20:00 - 22:30, 2024-07-06 20:00 - 22:30

BRIAN LYNCH and THE SPHERES OF INFLUENCE third coast edition - PRESENTED by MJI
2024-06-26 20:00 - 22:30

bar centro closed for The 4th of July Holiday
2024-07-04 20:00 - 22:30

LUCAS LABEAU QUINTET
2024-07-11 20:00 - 22:30
Lucas Labeau – piano
DOORS AT 7

ALVIN COBB JR. TRIO
2024-07-12 20:00 - 22:30
A native of Atlanta, Alvin Cobb, Jr., is a drummer, composer-songwriter, producer, and photographer currently based in Chicago. Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune once wrote, “Here was a drummer who can make his instrument sing, the lyricism of his work sustaining listener interest…Cobb has emerged as a distinctly charismatic player.” Graduating from Florida State University (B.A.) and Northwestern University (M.M.) with degrees in Music Performance, Alvin has gone on to work with countless artists, including Chance the Rapper, Nola Adé, Marcus Printup, Sherman Irby, Victor Goines, Dee Alexander, Patricia Barber, and Sarah Marie Young. He is the leader of the Alvin Cobb, Jr. Trio, consisting of bassist/vocalist Katie Ernst and pianist Julius Tucker. This trio formed during the pandemic to independently produce livestream concerts that would help raise funds for various charity organizations. Since their start in late 2020, the trio has performed at multiple festivals, held a residency at Chicago’s Andy’s Jazz Club, toured original live film scores, and placed 3rd in the 2022 Chicago Reader, “Best of Chicago” Poll for Best Jazz Ensemble. Heavily inspired by straight-ahead jazz trio playing, their music also incorporates cinematic textures, folk melodies, free improvisation, and modern Black music elements from Hip-Hop and R&B. Alvin’s debut album featuring this trio performing his new original compositions was released in May 2024.

HEIRLOOM
2024-07-13 20:00 - 22:30

Jazzy Joan Presents Jazz Where it is and Where it's Going: Current Day Jazz Artists from Armenia
2024-07-18 19:00 - 23:30
“Jazz Artists from Armenia & the Diaspora” will be a beautiful night of recordings from current day artists, with special guests Michael Kamalian and Vahan Kamalian providing live, musical interludes as they “jam” with the recordings on dumbeg and oud. They will also play traditional Armenian music. Is there a connection between traditional folk music and current-day jazz? You bet!
NO COVER
DOORS AT 6:30

JEANNE MARIE FARINELLI QUARTET
2024-07-19 20:00 - 22:30
Jeanne Marie Farinelli is a saxophonist and educator in the Milwaukee area. In her music, Jeanne Marie fuses modern and traditional sounds to create a unique and soulful approach to improvised music.
“Modern Soul” is a celebration of the traditions and modern sounds of jazz. In this special showcase the Jeanne Marie Farinelli Quartet will be performing the classic 1960 Soul Station album by Hank Mobley. During the second set they will be exploring modern compositions by artists such as Ben Wendel, Brandee Younger, and Jonathan Greenstein.
Jeanne Marie Farinelli (saxophone) will be joined by some of the area’s top musicians with Lucas Labeau on piano, John Christensen on bass, and Hannah Johnson on drums.

MJI NIGHT at bar centro - Paul Silbergleit Trio
2024-07-20 20:00 - 22:30

PETER ROLLER - an evening of acoustic music
2024-07-25 20:00 - 22:30
Guitarist – Roller is a performer of many Roots guitar styles, a kid from suburban NJ who wound up as the main accompanist for one of the last of the early Southern bluesmen. As a working musician, he is currently performing in settings that range from acoustic and electric blues to French chanson to Soul-Jazz organ trio to Jamaican rock steady to bluegrass and country rock.

Teacher – A retired college professor devoted to teaching guitar students to play a variety of styles including: bottleneck and lap slide/Dobro, acoustic fingerstyle, blues and roots-rock electric guitar.

Composer – A composer of music with influences from ragtime blues, Hawaiian slack key and steel guitar, bossa nova, R&B, and the American fingerstyle guitar tradition. Roller currently has original Soundtrack pieces in the European shows: Monty Don’s American Gardens & Hiking in the Alps Foothills.

Author/Scholar – With a PhD in Ethnomusicology focused on ethnic and popular musics of North America: published the only book documenting U.S. amateur garage bands in generations from the late 50s through the 90s; presenter on music topics at festivals, colleges, bookstores, cultural centers and in documentaries.
