Scullers Jazz Blog

An Opportunity--Please Help Us!

Hello Everyone!

Fred, Alexandra, Natalie and I were delighted when we got the call. The Jazz Audiences Initiative asked if we would represent America’s commercial jazz clubs and participate in the Doris Duke Foundation funded study on jazz audiences.

It is no secret that the emergence of internet based entertainment outlets and the struggling economy has truly put the squeeze on all performing arts venues. We find ourselves struggling to stay relevant, true to our mission, perceived as a value to existing audiences all while expanding our horizons to include new audiences. UGGH!

While we are super excited to have been presented with this opportunity, we are only half way there! We need your participation, PLEASE TAKE 5 MINUTES AND COMPLETE THE SURVEY!!!

There are two things we want you to know upfront.

1. You do NOT need to leave your email address - only if you want to be included in our raffle (for a dinner/show/overnight stay for two) or receive a copy of the survey results.

2. At the end of the survey period, Scullers will receive the results of the nationwide survey and this will provide many of the necessary tools we need to forge forward for many years to come.

Please take 5 minutes and fill this out by September 30th.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY

Thank you in advance, it is most appreciated!

Until next time, we’ll catch you at the show!

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

Your Next Trip Should Be with Us

Hello Everyone!

Planning vacations are never easy, and with this economy so many feel it’s just not a good time to allow your mind to wander to when your next real getaway will be. Well here at Scullers for the last couple of years, we’ve partnered with great jazz destinations to be able to offer specifically tailored travel packages to the jazz fan on a budget.

In January 2010, along with 10 couples, we had a blast at the Panama Jazz Festival, in Panama City, Panama. It was terrific. The trip package included beautiful accommodations (it was the official hotel of the festival) daily buffet breakfast, a private tour of the behind the scenes of the Panama Canal, a wonderful reception at the US Ambassador to Panama's home, VIP tickets to all events and tons of other goodies that Scullers and our partner JazzBoston arranged exclusively for our group.

We'll we are doing it again this January. We are working with our partners, American Airlines, El Panama Hotel and JazzBoston on a great package. Last year a 6-night trip with air/hotel and all the goodies started at only $1100 per person.

We hope to make 20 packages available. Please let me know at dayla.santurri@hilton.com if you'd like more information on these packages that should be available by September 1.

Until next time,
We'll catch you at the show.

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

Still Rolling!

Hello Everyone!

The Entertainment Stimulus Promotion is rolling on!

In order to make sure we are getting to as many requests as possible, I am asking that anyone that has received complimentary tickets through this program in the last 90 days, to not send in another request for tickets until next month. While Natalie is doing her best to weed through past winners, it would be less cumbersome if the repeat requests were not sent at all. Thank you to everyone in the Scullers community for helping us make sure this promotion continues.

RECAP OF THE PROGRAM: We are offering up to 4 complimentary tickets per person so what we ask is that you invite friends who have never been to Scullers or folks who really could use a night out on the town. Right now we have complimentary tickets to these upcoming shows. Please list an alternative show in case your first request is sold out, we will contact you within 48 hours if we can fulfill your request, if we are unable to fulfill it, you will not be notified. You are NOT eligible if you have won tickets in the last 90 days through this promotion.

Irma Thomas, Friday, May 21st at 10pm
Julie Lavender, Tuesday, May 25th at 8pm
Lauren Kinhan, Wednesday, May 26th at 8pm
Shawnn Monteiro, Friday. May 28th at 10pm
Nelson Rangell, Thursday, June 3rd at 10pm

To request free tickets: promotions@scullersjazz.com

Until next time, we’ll catch you at the show!

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

Here's the ticket

Hello Everyone!

As you may know by now, we’ve been giving away free tickets every month since October of 2008. It was our response (at that time) to the mounting economic crisis in this country. We were well aware that entertainment budgets would be the first to get cut; just when everyone needed a night out more than ever. It’s been a privilege to maintain this program for the last 18 months. I’ve received countless letters and emails from people telling us how they used the tickets and who they invited and what it meant to them. I am deeply appreciative to everyone that sent those letters to us and I can tell you they were all read and I made every effort to reply in a timely fashion.

Scullers has weathered the fiscal roller coaster of the past year and a half very well. In fact in 2009, we had one of the best years in our 20 year history. Needless to say we are truly grateful for everyone’s continued support in these rough times.

As an expression of that gratitude, we are extending our Entertainment Stimulus promotion this month and for the foreseeable future. However with busy months ahead and less tickets available, we need your help in making sure the true spirit of the promotion is maintained.

In order to make sure we are getting to as many requests as possible, I am asking that anyone that has received complimentary tickets through this program in the last 90 days, to not send in another request for tickets until next month. While Natalie is doing her best to weed through past winners, it would be less cumbersome if the repeat requests were not sent at all. Thank you to everyone in the Scullers community for helping us make sure this promotion continues.

RECAP OF THE PROGRAM: We are offering up to 4 complimentary tickets per person so what we ask is that you invite friends who have never been to Scullers or folks who really could use a night out on the town. Right now we have complimentary tickets to these upcoming shows. Please list an alternative show in case your first request is sold out, we will contact you within 48 hours if we can fulfill your request, if we are unable to fulfill it, you will not be notified. You are NOT eligible if you have won tickets in the last 90 days through this promotion.

Magos Herrera 4/29 8pm
Berklee Artist Series 5/4 8pm
Feat. George Russell Jr., Lenny Stallworth, Kenwood Dennard, Stan Strickland & Bill Banfield
Another Realm 5/6 8pm
Cyrus Chestnut 5/7 10pm
Kevin Harris 5/12 8pm
Pat Martino 5/14 10pm

To request free tickets: promotions@scullersjazz.com

Until next time, we’ll catch you at the show!

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

TIME FOR SPRING?

Hello Everyone!

Is there any way to slow this thing down!! Are we really talking about the Red Sox rolling back into town? The clocks moving forward? Please don’t get me wrong; I love the spring and live for the summer, but time is just flying by too fast. It’s so scary.

I guess that is how my tenure at Scullers has been; 10 years flew by in an instant. I just realized it when I was sitting down with pianist Hiromi recently. I remember her Berklee College graduation /debut CD release party we had here in 2002. She was a young graduate with an exciting new CD and seemingly endless talent, fast forward 8 years and she is an artist (and newlywed) that has covered a vast musical landscape, selling out world tours, with a collection of critically acclaimed, award-winning recordings and performing with a who’s who in jazz and pop.

I am also reminded of little Grace Kelly, the 8 year old saxophone phenom that bewitched us all. We were convinced she was channeling so many of Jazz' late greats somehow, with a sound that was decades ahead of her years. Well I ran into her father recently who told me Grace is on a world tour with the legendary drummer Teri Lyne Carrington (I think they were in Uruguay that night), during her ‘break’ from touring with her own band. I also was told she is opening for Jamie Cullam this summer at the Newport Jazz Festival. The now 17 year old is a dynamic, incredibly talented singer, songwriter, arranger and saxophonist (she added the singing a few years ago), however she really is still the wonderfully charming young girl we all fell in love with (she’ll be back at Scullers April 1st).

There are so many others like that, Eldar, Christian Scott, Norah Jones, Jamie Cullam, Michael Buble-their journeys have all taken them through Scullers. What a place! Just goes to show you, you never know. Taking a chance on a Scullers mid-week show from an artist you have never heard, could provide you a lifetime of ‘I saw them when…”

Well, time is ticking away, I’ve got to go-it’s show time!

Best Regards,
Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

Oh That Panamanian Devil!

Hello Everyone!

I recently got back from the 7th Annual Panama Jazz Festival with a group from Scullers and JazzBoston and it was so much more than any of us could have hoped for. However, this wasn’t my first trip there. In 2008, Fred and I went down because our dear friend, Grammy-nominated pianist Danilo Pérez had started this festival right in Panama City, Panama on and wing and a prayer and we wanted to support him in any way we could.

The music was terrific. Inspired performances by an international cavalcade of students, faculty and acclaimed jazz stars took place day and night in various lsettings. We were also treated to a broad range of panel discussions, master classes and fantastic jam sessions.

But that is really just the beginning.

What happens down there is just magic, that guy (Danilo) must have fairy dust. You are not just a participant or a witness to the cultural tidal wave that is mounting, you are a vital piece of the equation, an essential partner in global responsibility. By the second day, you get it. The festival isn’t just about great music, great weather and giving under-privileged children the opportunity to explore options in music. It’s about broadening all of our horizons, letting the music open hearts and minds; performer, student and listener alike.

Danilo will tell you time and again that what they are doing in Panama is not about building world class musicians but unleashing the best in their young people. The goal is developing well-rounded, open-minded young people who feel empowered to be the best they can be, not solely from a musical perspective.

In a converstation with one of the festival organizations, I mentioned Scullers Entertainment Bailout Program we started back in October 2008, giving away over 5,000 free tickets during the economic downturn. “Good, but not nearly enough” was the response I received. He wanted to know what we did to bring in new generations of listeners such as master classes, workshops, school visits. What educational programs did we have? Who were our academic partners?

All good questions; I had few answers. But I'll have them for next years trip. So here we are in 2010, expect some new things from this little club... stay tuned.

Oh that Panamanian Devil! Danilo’s mission is inspirational, his energy is contagious and his ability to lengthen your to-do list by 1000 is just spell-binding. Needless to say, we’ll be back next year.

For more information on The Danilo Pérez Foundation, check out http://www.fundaciondaniloperez.com/. Maybe you’ll be inspired to join us next year.

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

The List

Hello Everyone!

I love lists. They make me feel organized, proactive, purposeful and most of all, full of anticipation of what is to come. Then of course, one can take it to the next level, where you have lists everywhere and a list of the lists that consume you with thoughts that you are forgetting things that need to go on the list, but which list? And that is where I am. Disorganized, confused and freaking out….I’d say this calls for another list.

There is one list that I started back in February. It’s a wish list, for all the things I am wishing for, for Scullers, for our fair city and our planet.

So here’s the list and I will tell you because I’ve had almost a year heads start on this list, SOME of the items are likely to jump on a completed list VERY soon.

I’ll go from 10 to 1 for dramatic effect:

10. World Peace (naturally)
9. Magically expand the club by about 50 seats or 100, hey I did say ‘magically’
8. To nail down the LONG awaited return of the legendary Nancy Wilson to our stage
7. For a big group from Scullers to join us aboard the January 2011 Smooth Jazz Cruise
6. The new black patent leather Burberry purse (oops that belongs on the list for Santa)
5. A whole new light and sound system for Scullers
4. For the Patriots to ring out the last season of the decade right
3. For the Red Sox to get some offense in the off season
2. For Scullers line up to continue to push all the boundaries
Here’s the drum roll………………….what I want most of all…
1. A dedicated Jazz radio station back on the air in Boston!!!!

I promise a status report very soon in the New Year, it’s already on my To-Do list.

For all of us here at Scullers & the Doubletree Guest Suites Boston, to all of you, our best wishes for a Happy and Safe holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

HAVE YOUR SAY

Hello Everyone!

I’ve said this many, many times. We take our directives from you. So many of the artists we present and promotions we run, began with a recommendation from one of you. Now, on the occasion of our 20th anniversary, we are asking for your help again. Who would you like to see at Scullers? Or who hasn’t been around in a while that you would like us to bring back? Any other suggestions? Let me know at Dayla.santurri@hilton.com.

We are in this together, we always have been. It is through your support and guidance we are celebrating our 20th anniversary. We are looking forward to paving the road to our next milestone, hand and hand with all of you. Let's start today.

Until next time we’ll see you at the show,

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

Once Upon a Time... now it's your turn

Hello Everyone!

So many stories start with “Once upon a time…” so it’s appropriate that Scullers story will start there. Fred, Alexandra and I have collected dozens of great stories from the two decades of history that makes Scullers what it is today. However, we know there are so many others out there. We have hosted so many first dates, wedding proposals, anniversary celebrations and family gatherings, each with a special story. Our stage has showcased so many new artists who went on to become superstars (i.e. Norah Jones, Chris Botti, Jamie Cullam) and so many legends who shared with us one of their last performances (i.e. Grover Washington Jr., Shirley Horn, Bobby Short, Kenny Rankin)and we know you were there and have memories to recount.

Now, on the occasion of our 20th anniversary we are asking for your help so we may put a collection of these memories together. We are asking that you share these memories with us (not a writer, no worries, just do your best, stories/comments short and long welcome) either via email Dayla.santurri@hilton.com or mail them to us at Scullers Jazz Club 400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston Ma 02115 and please pass this on to others who may have stories to share. We will want to have your name and contact information as well so we can get in touch with you if we’d like to use the story.

We are truly excited about this project. The Scullers story is an interesting one and one that has many untold chapters. We are excited to finally put together the whole story and you are, as you know, a very big part of that.

Until next time we’ll see you at the show,

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

It's That Time of Year Again

Hi Everyone!

Here we are, back from our Summer hiatus--where Dayla managed to shave a few strokes off her game without cheating, Carole is all tan and glowing (and even though she said she wasn't in Vegas, no one believes her), Alexandra's got that just out of Europe air about her and our Freddy-well you know he worked the whole time...no news there.

LET THE MUSIC BEGIN!

And just when we were all really beginning to miss the music and seeing you all every night-it's all back. To TOP things off (excuse the pun here) we've got T.O.P- Tower Of Power in the house July 23-25 who will blow our newly painted doors off the hinges and remind us why they are always some of our favorite shows.

If you haven't recently, check out our coming attractions page, we have posted our complete lineup through October. Our November and December show schedule including New Year's Eve will be posted in the next week.

Can't wait to see you soon!

Until next time, we'll catch you at the show.

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

Where Did the Free Tickets Go?

Hello Everyone!

I am sure you are noticing the Complimentary Ticket Offer is taking a leave of absence. So let me begin by saying its only temporary. There are a couple of reasons for the hiatus. First, there are very few eligible shows the month of June and in July, as most of you know, we take a much needed Summer break so we wanted to take advantage of this break in our schedule to retool the program.

Secondly and most importantly, the program has garnered so much attention, (we are literally receiving hundreds of requests for these tickets,) that we are having trouble with our limited office support to keep up with the demand. So we hope you’ll understand our commitment to the program and our efforts to make the program continue to work for everyone.

We understand the importance of giving back to our community, and so many of whom have supported us for these 20 years. We also understand in a city at the forefront of jazz education, fostering the next generation of talented musicians, we shoulder the responsibility to make sure there are audiences here to support them for years to come.

The artists, the venues, the audiences- we all need to work together. It’s a synergy I am happy to say that has been our life blood since the very beginning. We didn’t need a recession to wake us up to the notion but we have certainly used it to step up our attention to details.

From everyone here at Scullers, we wish you a happy and safe Summer. We’ll be working hard to make sure the Fall of 2009 is one to remember for everyone!

Until next time, we'll catch you at the show.

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

Let Us Entertain You

Hello Everyone!

Years ago we used to have a short paper survey outside the club door that asked “Who would you like to see at Scullers?” We elicited great suggestions, some of the artists we knew of and some were new to us. But when the piles for one performer would add up, we looked into it and more times than not, we booked the artist. If you are wondering who was booked as a result of these surveys, Diana Krall, Chris Botti and Andre Ward come to my mind, boy where we glad we listened!

The survey also asked what media outlets you utilized to stay informed on what was going on in the city and Scullers. It’s funny when I think back, I’d say this started in the early 90’s and was still in existence when I got there in 2000. The media categories where Print, Radio & TV. Those categories are almost archaic now. No web? No HD & Satellite Radio? No Facebook or Twitter?

Well we decided it was time to circle back to semi-annual surveys. You will soon be receiving an email survey from us and I sincerely hope you will take the time to fill it out. It will ask the same questions, “Who would you like to see at Scullers?” and also how you stay informed (promise to update the options.) For all the reasons you already know, this helps Scullers stay tuned to what will keep you excited and engaged and keeps us relevant as the world around us changes so quickly.

Oh and in case you were wondering, Scullers is now on Facebook and Twitter

We are having a good time on both those mediums, in fact we found a ‘Friends of Scullers’ Facebook account already set up when we signed up. A very special thanks to Raffaella Sara DiStefano for starting that and eliciting so many wonderful remarks. We added you as a friend!!

Okay Friends, I am signing off to Tweet everyone!

Until next time…we’ll see you at show.

Best regards,

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club
Twitter Twitter Facebook

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

Hello Everyone:

Spring time in Boston is an interesting thing. It’s interesting because as the seasons all adjust to, dare I say, a ‘climate shift,’ our Spring is now a chilly affair. All the great rites of Spring, the Red Sox home opener, the Boston Marathon, a stroll in the Boston Commons, Easter and Passover they still come this time every year and we still enjoy them, but you’ll have to bring your long underwear to do so.

I’m in my 30’s and I remember being able to wear pretty Spring dresses to Easter Brunch and going to Red Sox Games in April in shorts. I remember having a fantastic barbeque while I was still at Northeastern on Marathon weekend and it was hot enough to dip your toes in the Jamaica Pond.

However, regardless of the wind chill factor, it is still a wonderful time of the year. So much anticipation, for the upcoming improvements to the weather and the incredible things that happen right here in this great city of ours.

Speaking of anticipation, Scullers is about to announce our Summer and Fall schedule and in celebration of our 20th year, it’s one of our best ever. We'll host Arturo Sandoval, Chuck Mangione, Howard Jones, Mindi Abair, Tower of Power, Dave Koz, Average White Band, Acoustic Alchemy and a few surprises I am just not ready to give up yet.

However, before we get ahead of ourselves, be sure to check out our website n to check out our current offerings. I hope to see you there this Spring, you can leave the long underwear at home!

Until next time…we’ll catch you at the show!

Best Regards,
Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

A NOTE FROM DAYLA,
SCULLERS GENERAL MANAGER:

Hello Everyone!

Scullers Jazz Club: 20 Years of Jazz 1989-2009, it seems unbelievable. It’s trite I know, but it’s true, time flies when you are having fun with your friends. We know we are blessed to say that 2008 was our best year in our 20 year history and we are already two strong months into another exciting year.

I feel like I say this all the time, but we are so lucky and I am just so lucky too. Twenty years, and so many incredible shows, so many great friends we’ve made along the way and the memories just keep on coming. I’ve been here for the last ten and what a ten they’ve been, aside from a unique and incredibly inspiring learning experience, I will always cherish the memories that have paved the way to where we are today.

You never realize what you stockpile in your brain. In fact, it wasn’t until I was asked in a radio interview to go down memory lane that I realized what I’ve accumulated from this journey thus far. I remember the afternoon the legendary Toots Thielemans and I spent two hours in the back of a minivan on our way to New Hampshire to meet Matt Lauer for an interview on the Today Show. Toots presented me with a tiny Honer harmonica and gave me my one and only lesson. I can still do a mean opening line of Sesame Street on that thing. I remember Rebecca Parris, Shirley Horn and I had quite a post show experience, a night that just wouldn’t end. Shirley had a Drambuie in one hand and a Heinken in the other, and she held court in a session that lasted into the wee hours of the morning until I literally crawled into the one of our hotel rooms. I received quite an education that night.

I remember the night Gato Barbieri just seconds before going on stage dropped his sax. We crammed the whole band into my tiny office and called every saxophonist in town we knew. Gato insisted all he needed was a flashlight and a coat hanger (I am serious here.) Finally Billy Pierce showed up with his tenor just about the time Gato proclaimed his own sax was now fully operational. One and a half hours later, the crowd was treated to one heck of a show, riding on Gato’s horn.

Oh and dare I forget, the night the music wouldn’t die!! This is really one of my favorites. Dee Dee Bridgewater wouldn’t end the set. After an incredible two hour late show, she kept taking requests from every audience member who had one. At one point, she just sang solo because the band gave up trying to remember how to play all these random songs. When hotel guests came down in their pajamas to complain, she asked them what their favorite songs were, serenaded them and by 2am, everyone in the place, including the guests in pajamas, were standing on the chairs holding up candles to a percussion of songs one right after the next. What a night!

I’ve spoken many times of the incredible firsts the club has had, when Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Jamie Cullam, Michael Buble and Chris Botti made their Boston debuts right on our stage. However, I think what resonates with me more were all the lasts. I had no idea when Ray Brown provided me his wisdom on how to improve my golf swing and we promised to play when he came back the following year, he would be gone by the end of that Summer. I wish I knew when Lou Rawls, Fred and I dined with Lydia Shire at Locke Ober, that he was already dying of brain and lung cancer and this would be his last trip to Scullers. The list goes on, Grover Washington Jr., Bobby Short, Joe Williams, Stanley Turrentine, Freddie Hubbard, Esbjorn Svensson, David “Fathead” Newman…. I am so happy they played a role in our legacy and perhaps, and I say this humbly, we all played a role in theirs.

We have also made friends here that have never taken the stage, never sang a song, played a chord. They are you. Alexandra, Fred, Natalie, Matt, Jim, Carole and the whole staff--we see you all the time, we know you by name, we’ve celebrated birthdays and anniversaries together and we feel as if we are all friends sharing these experiences together, and what a ride it’s been. Twenty years and still rolling….

As we look toward our collective future together, our Scullers family, is about to get a little smaller. Scullers is about to lose two of its biggest supporters. For many of you, Chris Coffin and John Ralston are names you might not recall and perhaps even a picture might not trigger your memory. However, Chris and John as the General Manager and Food & Beverage Director, respectively, for the hotel for the last nine years have played pivotal roles in the success of the club and their achievements have been the cornerstones supporting the club in reaching this milestone.

John is moving on to a great opportunity for him and his family and we all wish him the best. Many times I relied on him for his counsel, his level head and his thoughful prospective on just about any topic. As for Chris, he leaves Scullers and the hotel in such a vastly better place then where he found it. Everyone here, especially me, hope he knows that Scullers success and longevity is directly attributable to his hard work and dedication. I know there were days when Chris might have thought hostage release negotiation would have been a walk in the park then dealing with some of our craziness. So as we celebrate our 20th, we remember two team members whose energy, determination and long hours made this day possible.

To Chris and John, we couldn't have done it without you; you will be missed.

Until next time, we’ll catch you at the show,

Best regards,

Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club

Dinner Anyone?

Hello Everyone!

Have you ever heard the saying, ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get hungry?’ Okay, well maybe it was just my Italian grandmother who made that up, but she was right, at least for me. With all the craziness around us these days, I find comfort in taking time out for special meals with friends and family, to decompress and appreciate what it is you do have.

Along that same theme, I’ve spent the last couple of weeks looking over and tasting new menu items with the Chef and his team in order to retool our New Dinner and Show offerings for the changing times. We know there are so many choices here and while most of you already know how special Scullers and our entertainment is, we want to introduce or perhaps re-introduce you to the special experience that is our Dinner and Show package is. As we reach the 20 year milestone, we thought this was a great opportunity to do just that.

I think you’ll love what we’ve come up with; in fact some of the suggestions that guided our decisions came directly from you. Starting in March, we will offer two dinner and show packages. During the week, we’ll offer our STRAIGHT, NO CHASER menu. This two course menu offers incredible appetizer and entrée choices and will appease your palette and your purse. We’ve lowered the price to you and hope this will encourage you to join us more often.

On Friday and Saturday nights we’ll feature our traditional three course dinner, the SUITE JAZZ TRIO. We’ve expanded the menu here to include many more appetizer options and soon to be your new favorite entrée choices. We’ll have a little something for you to try right as you sit down and to finish a new concept in desserts.

We hope we’ll see you soon in Scullers Jazz Club’s Green Room! As always, I welcome and appreciate all comments on everything we do here at Scullers. So please share your comments with me at Dayla.santurri@hilton.com Bon Appetit!