Leland Baker and his Sunday Jazz ensemble performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, featuring musicians he met through various configurations in the New England area. All members of the ensemble have played with Baker at the Courtland Club, a Providence cocktail bar.
“We’re definitely so honored and grateful to be here on this sacred ground,” Baker said, reflecting on the group’s performance at the festival.
The Sunday Jazz set at Newport featured original compositions and arrangements by band members, including Baker on tenor sax, Alexandria DeWalt on flute and vocals, Noah Campbell on tenor and soprano sax, Dan Liparini on guitar, Michael Carabello on piano, Kweku Aggrey on bass, and Marcus Grant on drums.
Baker and Jason Shechtman, founder and director of Courtland Club, initiated the weekly Sunday jazz sessions in 2019.
“We play there every Sunday,” Baker explained. “We do two sets. First set is 6 p.m., second set is 8:30. I would say make reservations because it does sell out a lot.”
Following their Newport Jazz Festival appearance, Baker and his rhythm section – Carabello, Grant, and Aggrey – are set to close out the festival festivities with a jam session at The Parlor in Newport from 9 p.m. to midnight on Aug. 4.
As for the future of Sunday Jazz at Courtland Club, Baker shared, “We’re taking a little break right now. But we’ll be back, I think, after Aug. 11.”
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