Great Barrington — It is exhilarating fun to hear great jazz musicians pushing boundaries with original, new music. A white-hot guitar solo from Pat Metheny is a blast, even if you don’t know the tune. But it is also fun to revisit old standards, songs that have stood the test of time and proven their worth. And when you do, you want them delivered by genuine devotees like Jazz at the Ballroom (JATB), a jazz band and 501(c)(3) organization based in California that is all about advancing appreciation of classic jazz and the American Songbook. The group gives workshops and performances at schools, senior living centers, and hospitals, and, on Saturday, October 7, the band will appear at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center to perform their program “Accentuate the Positive.”
That title is more than just a quote from a song lyric. It reflects the program’s theme, which is about cheering people up, and it gives away the group’s intentions. Their single-minded enthusiasm for this music is charming to behold. (If there is such a thing as an American Songbook geek, then JATB fits the bill.) Just take a look at how they describe their show in the promotional materials for this tour:
“Accentuate the Positive this fall with music from the American Songbook! Look for the silver lining, walk on the sunny side of the street, and dance cheek to cheek with a swinging line-up including TikTok sensation, Stella Cole, and chair-turning crooner from the TV series ‘The Voice,’ Wyatt Michael. Inspired by Bing Crosby’s 1944 hit ‘Accentuate the Positive,’ it’s a night of the memorable music that kept people company through the ups and downs of the 1920s to 1940s.”
In this 30-second video, JATB promotes their Mahaiwe show, describing their genre as “music that inspired, comforted, and connected people and helped them accentuate the positive.”
Do not confuse JATB with bands whose fake books happen to contain all the requisite tunes. These people are dedicated,
their programs meticulously curated—so meticulously that they are able to publish their set list before they go on tour.
Here is a sampling of the tunes they will play at the Mahaiwe:
- “Cheek to Cheek”
- “Tea for Two”
- “I’ve Got a Crush on You”
- “Pennies from Heaven”
- “That’s All”
- “Polka Dots & Moonbeams”
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
- “S’Wonderful”
JATB’s lineup on this tour includes piano, bass, drums, two vocalists, and a saxophone:
- Konrad Paszkudzki – piano
- Stella K. Cole – vocals
- Harry Allen – saxophone
- Wyatt Michael – Vocals
- Mike Karn – bass
- Andy Watson – drums
JATB’s artistic director is Konrad Paszkudzki (pash-kÅ«d-ski), a pianist you may have seen playing with guitar legend John Pizzarelli at some point during his seven-year tenure with John’s band. In addition to performing, Konrad oversees master class and mentorship programs in underserved communities, curates season line-ups for multiple concert series, and is responsible for expanding the JB brand jazz events to venues on the West Coast. (Fun fact: Konrad is a sharp dresser, having served as brand ambassador for Isaia, an Italian menswear brand.)
Hear Jazz at the Ballroom present “Accentuate the Positive” at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, on Saturday, October 7, at 7 p.m. Tickets ($28 reserved, $38 preferred, $48 premium) are available here or by calling (413) 528-0100.
