Greg Chako

The Jazzman Fall 2024 Update

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Next week I go into the studio to record a ‘sequel’ to Standard Roots with my trio featuring bassist Mason Daugherty and drummer Michael Meloy. It will consist of all ‘first-takes’ from the Great American Songbook . . . songs like med-up swingers My Shining Hour, It's Alright With Me, Will You Still Be Mine; well-known Bossa-Nova's like Black Orpheus and Corcovado; and a couple blues in the style of Wes Montgomery.

While we're there, the same trio will record ‘our 1/2’ of a new Xmas album that will be released next year. The trio will perform songs like Winter Wonderland, I'll be Home for Xmas, and Christmas Time is Here, while the ‘2nd 1/2’ will feature Classical guitarist David Ferrera playing my beautiful arrangements written for solo classical guitar, all popular Xmas songs like Have Yourself a Merry Merry Xmas, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing! and Silent Night. These solo-guitar arrangements are truly unique, blending my knowledge of jazz harmony with a through-composed classical style!

I'm so excited to keep moving forward with such a diverse recording schedule and momentum. I am eternally grateful for the musicians, the label and the recording studio for their invaluable help in realizing my musical imagination! It literally could not have been accomplished without any one of them. This year alone, I put out Life After 40, featuring all-originals with various Latin grooves and percussion by former Miles Davis alumni, Steve Thornton; Standard Roots, a return to my guitar-bass-drums trio roots; Greg Chako Live!, a ‘best-of’ compilation of earlier works, featuring tart tenor, varied percussion, and funky Latin-grooves, interspersed with my trio playing Horace Silver compositions; and I co-led and produced David & the HeartStrings, with energetic & soulful swing-n-blues-n-ballads!

Please check out my 20-CD catalogue on my website https://gregchako.com/music-store and/or my Bandcamp page https://gregchako.bandcamp.com.

Or even better yet! Please come to one or more of my regular gigs in the Cincinnati area and get some CDs from me personally! Get my live performance schedule here: https://gregchako.com/live-performances



My last 3 shows at Caffe Vivace, Cincinnati's premier jazz club, have either sold-out or nearly so . . . I urge you to please come to our next show there in just 3 weeks! Please buy tickets early - we're are going to be ROCKIN' the house with David & the HeartStrings + the HeartBeat - no holds barred!

Please don't miss it! Thursday Nov. 7th is the date. Details and a link for tickets here: https://gregchako.com/event/5778259/697407240/david-the-heartstrings-the-heartbeat
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My newest exciting collaboration is with singer and percussionist Patsy Meyer and Groove Latin! We first worked together on my album, Friends, Old & New in 2022 (see the official album video here: https://youtu.be/k4XAhooJ-Xg?si=PL-JulhuWQlzRbOZ), and now we're back at it, busily rehearsing and in steady rotation into summer next year at a marvelous location on the river (Newport on the Levee) with great food & drinks: Amador Cuban Restaurant. The group features not only Latin classics, both instrumental and vocal, but also originals by Patsy and I. Bassist David Lloyd replaces Mason for our upcoming dates Oct. 26 & Nov 16 … check my website “Live Performance” calendar page for more details. Great music in a marvelous venue (with room to dance!)



I'm proud to have partnered with Soul Music for Seniors and my friend, Daven Roberson. Our first collaboration was for Barrington of WestChester, Senior Lifestyle. David & the HeartStrings performed at a well-attended “Great Gatsby” party for both the residents and a separate show open to the public - It was a HUGE success!

We look forward to more opportunities to offer our music in service to seniors as well as for other worthy causes, such as a fundraiser event  we did recently for https://planswohio.org/, a non-profit organization that helps liaise between the disabled needing government services and the government officials there to provide those services.

The speeches we heard that night from the families of children who had been truly helped tremendously by PLAN were touching enough to elicit tears from your eyes - we were so proud that we could do our part by enthusiastically presenting our music . . .

. . . in the spirit of giving, positivity, and abundance . . .

I've always believed that music is a healing art, like a medicine for the soul . . . and it never ceases to amaze me when I witness with my own eyes how transformative and electrifying it can be . . . to myself and to others . . . it's my goal in life to be an integral part and messenger of the healing and uplifting  effects that music can provide!

My trio plays a private VIP dinner party for 90 people tomorrow night at the Taft Museum in downtown Cincinnati. If you have a private event coming up which could be greatly enhanced by the perfect live-ambient music, please book me here: https://gregchako.com/contact-booking and I can custom-cater to your needs.

The David Lloyd Trio @the Symphony Hotel features myself and drummer Michael Meloy this Friday, Oct. 18th. It's great guitar-led jazz, bossa, blues, and originals too - no cover and a really cool and unique environment - hope to see you there! 7:30-10:30pm

This is a long blog and I truly hope somebody reads it! It may seem like I have a lot going on, but trust me, it's never enough! My activity trying to get gigs, keep gigs, be creative, give of myself through non-profit work, teaching/mentoring, brainstorming and making new recording ideas a reality, are all what keeps me alive and spiritually relevant in the world. I am ‘all in’ with playing, promoting, and sharing the benefits of music writ-large. I'm actively seeking and encouraging to the best of my ability an ongoing dialogue with like-minded music-lovers - so please reach out for conversation. Thanks for listening!
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