12:51pm |Tonight, McKenna’s on the Bay launches a new Monday Night Jazz series from 6 to 9 p.m. This free event opens with a performance by the much celebrated singer Nancy Sanchez, with Evan Stone on drums, both who are OC Music Award winners. Also joining them is bassist Anthony Shadduck, whose passion and professionalism helped create the series.

Shadduck, in case you don’t know him, is what I consider to be a “heavy hitter” in the Southern California music scene. He’s worked with a long list of musical luminaries, but also has a number of projects as a leader. He’s an adventurous and sophisticated instrumentalist, with an obvious love of music.

“I played a few dates at McKenna’s a while back with my Quartet,” Shadduck said. “Their lounge and bar area have such a classic look, and I could see the potential for this room to become a featured jazz spot in Long Beach. They also have a grand piano, which is always a plus for jazz. It really is a great room for live music and it is enhanced by the great view of the Bay.”

Of Sanchez, Shadduck said, “it is always a pleasure to perform with Nancy. She has a very classic sound and, with her energy and sensuality, has really taken the Orange County jazz community by storm.” Of Stone, he said, “Evan is an establishment unto himself. His playing is creative, intense, and tastful.” Rounding out the quartet is pianist Dhiren Panikker who, according to Shadduck, is “one of my favorite jazz pianist in the area. He is a very tasteful player with fantastic time, and great ideas.”
 
Nancy Sanchez observed that “it is important to have Jazz in the community. Long Beach is a great city, and I’m very excited to play at McKenna’s.”
 
For next Monday, June 20, Anthony has booked the Katie Thiroux Trio. Thiroux, a graduate of the much touted Berklee College of Music, is one of those people whose talent is almost overwhelming. Not only is her zingy singing light and melodic, she’s a phenomenal bassist as well. 
 
“Her bass playing is always on point, with strong time, beautiful tone and lyrical solo ideas,” Shadduck opined. “Her voice has a great understated elegance that pairs well with her playing, and neither is compromise by this combination in the slightest.” To round out the month, Anthony invited vocalist Francesca Delfin Preponis to sing with his Duck Soup Trio, which features Doug Carter on piano and Alan Cook on drums. “We are all Long Beach locals that have been working together for years,” Shadduck said. “Francesca, Doug, and myself are all graduates of the CSULB Jazz Studies department. She brings a great pop sensibility to the ensemble.”
 
The first Monday in July is the 4th, so the Monday Night Jazz series will skip that week and start up again on July 11 with Christine Guter. She is the director of the Vocal Jazz department at CSULB and the award winning ensemble, Pacific Standard Time. She’s an accomplished studio singer, with credits that include soundtrack work on X-Men 3, Superman Returns, Charlotte’s Web, and Happy Feet. She’s also a member of Vocalogy. “I think it’s wonderful that there is a new jazz venue in Long Beach,” said Guter, “and I’m thrilled it’s at McKenna’a. It’s in a beautiful location, and provides great ambiance and fabulous dining. There are so many jazz enthusiasts here in Long Beach. This will be a great new venue for jazz lovers.”
Of Guter, Shadduck said, “This will be a real treat.” 
 
Speaking of the series, Shadduck said, “I hope that this is the start of something bigger, a larger movement among Long Beach Jazz musicians and Long Beach venues to begin a partnership of sorts. These artists represent Jazz for Long Beach and Orange County. To have a Jazz room in Long Beach is a major step towards creating an actual Jazz scene here. This will help make Long Beach a real Jazz destination.
 
“With McKenna’s offering their lounge for this Monday Night Jazz series,” continued Shadduck, “it gives us a strong start, but it is in the hands of the community to come out and support this live music. These players are the real deal. Long Beach Jazz fans should take notice of this.”
 
— 

Learn more about McKenna’s at McKennasOnTheBay.com.
Learn more about Nancy Sanchez at NancySanchezMusic.com.
Learn more about Katie Thiroux at KatieThiroux.com.
Learn more about Christine at Myspace.com/christineguter.