Sundays at Vic's

THE DENVER POST
JAZZ | Bret Saunders
Classic sound at Vic's keeps growing
By Bret Saunders
Article Last Updated: 09/08/2007 04:05:43 PM MDT

Scott Martin, pianist and leader of a loose aggregation of musicians
who convene to jam on the classics every Sunday at Vic's Coffee in
Boulder wonders, after such a lengthy run, how much longer will it
last?

"It's been four years. When are we going to get fired?"

He laughs after asking the question. Since he took up residence at the
North Broadway shop in 2003, thousands of caffeine-seekers have heard
his good-humored interpretations of Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk
and even Ray Charles. It started out as a solo gig, and before he knew
it, there was a bassist joining in, then a drummer, a clarinetist and
a violinist. Now customers get a singer in the deal and maybe even a
vibraphone solo. At the rate they're going, Vic's is going to have to
move to a bigger space.

"You can't play too loud," Martin adds. There are no amplifiers for
the coffee house crowd, and the singer, Amy Biondo, doesn't even use a
microphone. This has put the musicians in a situation where they need
to employ a lighter touch, and the old songs they lovingly interpret
do benefit from subtlety.

"Sundays at Vic's" is a new CD/DVD combo from Martin and his band, and
even if it was recorded in Colorado's Mile High Music studio, it still
seems like they're just trading ideas at Vic's on any given Sunday at
noon.

Martin plays jazz from the '30s through the '50s with enthusiasm and
obvious affection, and while everyone in the septet holds his own,
clarinetist Bill Tomczak and violinist Dominka Dancewicz make for a
cheerful front line of higher-pitched instruments, helping to make the
project unique. And it's encouraging to hear and see a younger
generation of musicians (most of them appear to be in their 20s and
30s) effortlessly breeze through "In a Sentimental Mood," "They Can't
Take That Away From Me" and other songs that were popular long before
they were born.

Martin produced the new package as a way for listeners outside of the
coffee house to know about what he and his friends are doing.

"The point isn't to make money and get rich. We want to get exposure
and play for people. It's about trying to see what works and broaden
our audience," he says.

In that vein, The Sundays at Vic's project will make its Denver debut
with a CD release party at Dazzle on Sept. 25. But Martin still looks
forward to the genial atmosphere at his regular engagement.

"There are some people who know we're playing, the regulars. But new
people always come in. In the winter, it's a lot more crowded because
people are forced to be indoors," he adds, with a touch of
self-deprecation.

"It's not a jazz audience, it's not even a music audience," Martin
says of the Sunday clientele at Vic's. "People ask, 'What is this? Why
are these people playing in here?"'

But no one complains, and latte by latte, Martin is converting more
customers to a style of music that was prominent when their
grandparents were paying a nickel a cup for the strong stuff.

Sundays at Vic's, 7 p.m., Sept. 25, Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge, 930
Lincoln Street; $15 includes a copy of the CD, Call 303-839-5100.
Find out more about the CD/DVD at http://www.sundaysatvics.com

Grace notes

Saxophonist Nelson Rangell continues his "Straight Ahead" series
tonight at Jazz@Jacks ... On Friday, promising trumpeter Nathan Eklund
headlines at Dazzle ... Guitarist and fusion pioneer John McLaughlin
brings his 4th Dimension band to the Boulder Theater on Sept. 19 ...
Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval brings his outgoing style to CU's Macky
Auditorium on Sept. 20.

Bret Saunders' column on jazz appears every other Sunday in A&E.
Saunders is host of the "KBCO Morning Show," 5:30-10 a.m. weekdays at
97.3-FM. His e-mail address is bret_saunders@hotmail.com. - Denver Post

THE DENVER POST
JAZZ | Bret Saunders
Classic sound at Vic's keeps growing
By Bret Saunders
Article Last Updated: 09/08/2007 04:05:43 PM MDT

Scott Martin, pianist and leader of a loose aggregation of musicians
who convene to jam on the classics every Sunday at Vic's Coffee in
Boulder wonders, after such a lengthy run, how much longer will it
last?

"It's been four years. When are we going to get fired?"

He laughs after asking the question. Since he took up residence at the
North Broadway shop in 2003, thousands of caffeine-seekers have heard
his good-humored interpretations of Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk
and even Ray Charles. It started out as a solo gig, and before he knew
it, there was a bassist joining in, then a drummer, a clarinetist and
a violinist. Now customers get a singer in the deal and maybe even a
vibraphone solo. At the rate they're going, Vic's is going to have to
move to a bigger space.

"You can't play too loud," Martin adds. There are no amplifiers for
the coffee house crowd, and the singer, Amy Biondo, doesn't even use a
microphone. This has put the musicians in a situation where they need
to employ a lighter touch, and the old songs they lovingly interpret
do benefit from subtlety.

"Sundays at Vic's" is a new CD/DVD combo from Martin and his band, and
even if it was recorded in Colorado's Mile High Music studio, it still
seems like they're just trading ideas at Vic's on any given Sunday at
noon.

Martin plays jazz from the '30s through the '50s with enthusiasm and
obvious affection, and while everyone in the septet holds his own,
clarinetist Bill Tomczak and violinist Dominka Dancewicz make for a
cheerful front line of higher-pitched instruments, helping to make the
project unique. And it's encouraging to hear and see a younger
generation of musicians (most of them appear to be in their 20s and
30s) effortlessly breeze through "In a Sentimental Mood," "They Can't
Take That Away From Me" and other songs that were popular long before
they were born.

Martin produced the new package as a way for listeners outside of the
coffee house to know about what he and his friends are doing.

"The point isn't to make money and get rich. We want to get exposure
and play for people. It's about trying to see what works and broaden
our audience," he says.

In that vein, The Sundays at Vic's project will make its Denver debut
with a CD release party at Dazzle on Sept. 25. But Martin still looks
forward to the genial atmosphere at his regular engagement.

"There are some people who know we're playing, the regulars. But new
people always come in. In the winter, it's a lot more crowded because
people are forced to be indoors," he adds, with a touch of
self-deprecation.

"It's not a jazz audience, it's not even a music audience," Martin
says of the Sunday clientele at Vic's. "People ask, 'What is this? Why
are these people playing in here?"'

But no one complains, and latte by latte, Martin is converting more
customers to a style of music that was prominent when their
grandparents were paying a nickel a cup for the strong stuff.

Sundays at Vic's, 7 p.m., Sept. 25, Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge, 930
Lincoln Street; $15 includes a copy of the CD, Call 303-839-5100.
Find out more about the CD/DVD at http://www.sundaysatvics.com

Grace notes

Saxophonist Nelson Rangell continues his "Straight Ahead" series
tonight at Jazz@Jacks ... On Friday, promising trumpeter Nathan Eklund
headlines at Dazzle ... Guitarist and fusion pioneer John McLaughlin
brings his 4th Dimension band to the Boulder Theater on Sept. 19 ...
Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval brings his outgoing style to CU's Macky
Auditorium on Sept. 20.

Bret Saunders' column on jazz appears every other Sunday in A&E.
Saunders is host of the "KBCO Morning Show," 5:30-10 a.m. weekdays at
97.3-FM. His e-mail address is bret_saunders@hotmail.com. - Denver Post

Java jive: Coffee shop jazz ensemble releases its debut album

By Vince Darcangelo
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

A little more than four years ago, Scott Martin was looking for a place to play. An accomplished jazz pianist, he was hoping to put together a jazz night with a core group of members and a rotating cast of players sitting in each week.

As it was, Vic's Espresso in north Boulder had just acquired a piano, and soon a seven-piece jazz ensemble coalesced around Martin.

The septet became known as Sundays at Vic's, and on Wednesday the group will release its self-titled debut CD/DVD with a performance at the coffee shop. We caught up with Martin and Dominika Dancewicz, the group's Polish violinist, to get their thoughts on Sundays at Vic's serendipitous beginning, the new CD and their plans for world domination.

Your band has an interesting background. How did Sundays at Vic's come about?


Scott Martin: I walked into Vic's one day, about four years ago, and I saw they had a little piano there and a sign-up sheet. When I saw that I thought it would be the perfect place to do a weekly jazz jam session.

Dominika Dancewicz: I think that this eclectic feel that Sundays at Vic's has stems from the fact that we have these eclectic backgrounds in jazz, classical and pop, and also we are from different countries, too. I think it's weird for a jazz band formed in the United States to have that background. I think that just adds to the Sundays at Vic's coolness. It's interesting the walks of life that have brought us together. It's tough playing jazz after years of being a classical musician, but it's very, very exciting to me. It also makes the band sort of eclectic and unusual.

You will be releasing a two-disc CD/DVD on June 6. Is this a live or studio recording?

SM: It's a studio recording, but we did it live. There are no overdubs and no edits. I think we did two takes of a couple of songs.

You claim to be taking jazz music back to its pop roots. Could you explain that?

SM: The style of jazz that we do, it's not necessarily (dance music) in the sense of being a swing dance band, but it has a nice, bouncy, feel-good rhythm to it. We just really have fun playing, and that translates to the people listening to it.

I think people have tried to stretch jazz over the decades into the esoteric. You can use a simple approach so that you focus on making it feel good and be fun to play. I think that is the essence of what jazz was if you look back into the '30s, '40s, '50s. That's what they would listen to on the radio. I still think jazz could have that role in the music scene today.

Is it mostly improv when you play live?

SM: We just completely wing it. What we do at Vic's is we get there and somebody starts playing something. We just do it. Whatever comes after that is going to be the natural consequence of where we just ended. That's part of the jazz tradition. It's not that you go up there with a set list. You do songs different ways different times.

What are your goals for promoting the new record?

SM: The timing of this summer has been a little off because of the way everything was ready too late to apply to what was going on this summer. People start planning out their summer bookings six months to a year in advance.

At this point our goal is to try to tour next summer in Europe and around the States. This CD release party, I'm looking at this as step one. This is where we are. Now, with that party, we're completing that phase and looking to expand what we do.

DD: We are expecting all the best and to be able to travel and share with other people what we're doing. Playing in Boulder has been a great opportunity. Vic's has been a great nest for us. But there will be a time, and probably very soon, that we'll be able to be present wider. I believe that it's quite soon. I think that we have a big chance to be perceived as something new and fresh in jazz. Our hope is that it's just going to hit the audiences everywhere like that. That's why we want to go abroad.

For online photo gallery that accompanies article, go to

http://dailycamera.com/news/2007/may/30/java-jive/

© 2006 Daily Camera and Boulder Publishing, LLC. - Boulder Daily Camera

Java jive: Coffee shop jazz ensemble releases its debut album

By Vince Darcangelo
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

A little more than four years ago, Scott Martin was looking for a place to play. An accomplished jazz pianist, he was hoping to put together a jazz night with a core group of members and a rotating cast of players sitting in each week.

As it was, Vic's Espresso in north Boulder had just acquired a piano, and soon a seven-piece jazz ensemble coalesced around Martin.

The septet became known as Sundays at Vic's, and on Wednesday the group will release its self-titled debut CD/DVD with a performance at the coffee shop. We caught up with Martin and Dominika Dancewicz, the group's Polish violinist, to get their thoughts on Sundays at Vic's serendipitous beginning, the new CD and their plans for world domination.

Your band has an interesting background. How did Sundays at Vic's come about?


Scott Martin: I walked into Vic's one day, about four years ago, and I saw they had a little piano there and a sign-up sheet. When I saw that I thought it would be the perfect place to do a weekly jazz jam session.

Dominika Dancewicz: I think that this eclectic feel that Sundays at Vic's has stems from the fact that we have these eclectic backgrounds in jazz, classical and pop, and also we are from different countries, too. I think it's weird for a jazz band formed in the United States to have that background. I think that just adds to the Sundays at Vic's coolness. It's interesting the walks of life that have brought us together. It's tough playing jazz after years of being a classical musician, but it's very, very exciting to me. It also makes the band sort of eclectic and unusual.

You will be releasing a two-disc CD/DVD on June 6. Is this a live or studio recording?

SM: It's a studio recording, but we did it live. There are no overdubs and no edits. I think we did two takes of a couple of songs.

You claim to be taking jazz music back to its pop roots. Could you explain that?

SM: The style of jazz that we do, it's not necessarily (dance music) in the sense of being a swing dance band, but it has a nice, bouncy, feel-good rhythm to it. We just really have fun playing, and that translates to the people listening to it.

I think people have tried to stretch jazz over the decades into the esoteric. You can use a simple approach so that you focus on making it feel good and be fun to play. I think that is the essence of what jazz was if you look back into the '30s, '40s, '50s. That's what they would listen to on the radio. I still think jazz could have that role in the music scene today.

Is it mostly improv when you play live?

SM: We just completely wing it. What we do at Vic's is we get there and somebody starts playing something. We just do it. Whatever comes after that is going to be the natural consequence of where we just ended. That's part of the jazz tradition. It's not that you go up there with a set list. You do songs different ways different times.

What are your goals for promoting the new record?

SM: The timing of this summer has been a little off because of the way everything was ready too late to apply to what was going on this summer. People start planning out their summer bookings six months to a year in advance.

At this point our goal is to try to tour next summer in Europe and around the States. This CD release party, I'm looking at this as step one. This is where we are. Now, with that party, we're completing that phase and looking to expand what we do.

DD: We are expecting all the best and to be able to travel and share with other people what we're doing. Playing in Boulder has been a great opportunity. Vic's has been a great nest for us. But there will be a time, and probably very soon, that we'll be able to be present wider. I believe that it's quite soon. I think that we have a big chance to be perceived as something new and fresh in jazz. Our hope is that it's just going to hit the audiences everywhere like that. That's why we want to go abroad.

For online photo gallery that accompanies article, go to

http://dailycamera.com/news/2007/may/30/java-jive/

© 2006 Daily Camera and Boulder Publishing, LLC. - Boulder Daily Camera