Three Women Jazz Masters + Two

Preview: Linda Brown Jazz Project at Jazz on Jay; Thursday, July 24

Thursday at Jazz on Jay, the Linda Brown Jazz Project features longtime leaders among jazz women: bassist-leader Linda Ellen Brown, pianist Peg Delaney and vocalist Jody Shayne; plus trumpeter/flugelhorn player Steve Horowitz and drummer Andy Hearn.

Linda Ellen Brown. Photo supplied

Brown and Shayne appeared on Jackie Alper’s WRPI “Mostly Folk” show in a “Women in Jazz” feature; a format they continued at Justin’s Sunday Brunch, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s Noon Series and others. Both also played in the jazz band Airwaves, opening for Dizzy Gillespie and playing Proctors televised fundraiser that saved the theater. Once driving home from an Airwaves gig, Brown heard Jim Wilke feature them on NPR’s national “Jazz After Hours” program on her car radio.

Brown studied jazz guitar with Jack Fragomeni; improvisation with Nick Brignola and Leo Russo; electric bass with JB Dyas; double bass with Mike Wicks, Steve LaSpina and Rich Syracuse. She earned a B.S. in Arts Management from Russell Sage College and a Master’s in Public Administration from UAlbany and serves on the board of A Place for Jazz.

Jody Shayne. Photo supplied

The Shayne, Delaney and Brown trio, core of the Linda Brown Jazz Project, played together for years. When the Rensselaerville Institute commissioned Delaney to form a group of local women jazz players, she recruited Brown; and when the Albany Public Library asked Delaney to form a “Gals Who Play Jazz” ensemble, she again turned to Brown. Both revere saxophonist Nick Brignola; Delaney has published transcriptions of Brignola solos while Brown noted the late saxophonist as a prime inspiration, along with Brignola’s guitarist Jack Fragomeni who, she says, “inspired me to play jazz.” She previously studied piano, woodwinds and guitar; her first live bass gig was with Fragomeni and others in The Music Guild in 1974.

Brown formed her Linda Brown Jazz Project when Borders Books & Music invited her to form a band for its grand opening and weekly jazz performances, featuring Delaney, Shayne and others. In addition to leading her own band, Brown played on Michael Benedict’s “The New Beat” album (2006).

Peg Delaney. Photo supplied

Composer, player and leader Delaney has twice received the New York State Council for The Arts: Meet the Composer Grant, was semifinalist in Musician magazine’s Best Unsigned Band Competition and taught music at Skidmore College. She performs solo and leads bands large and small.

Berklee graduate Shayne sang with New York jazz stars including Archie Shepp, notably his “Things Have Got To Change” album, plus projects with Sheila Jordan, Beaver Harris, Roswell Rudd and Jimmy Garrison. She’s also released the albums “Love Is A Garden” (1998) and “Firefly Rides” (2015).

Steve Horowitz at Jazz on Jay. Michael Hochanadel photo

Trumpeter and flugelhorn player Steve Horowitz played Jazz on Jay in June, and also plays with the gypsy-jazz bands Gadjo and Helderberg Hot Club.

Andy Hearn. Photo supplied

Drummer Andy Hearn trained at the Crane School of Music and at first specialized in musical theater before broadening his musical horizons to play with many jazz, R&B and blues artists. He has opened shows for King’s X, NRBQ, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes; and he teaches at Lisha Kill Middle School.

Thursday, the Linda Brown Jazz Project will play originals by Delaney and Shayne, including “Wanderlust,” “Lullabye for Jessica,” and “Melontime (The Familiar Face).” On standards including “Here’s to Life” and “I Thought About You,” Brown says they’ll “pay homage to the tune and then deconstruct and re-assemble it in a way that fits the moment.”

Brown’s future gigs include a trio show at the Albany Institute of History and Art Aug. 13; with the Yolanda Bush Cool Water Collective at Schenectady PorchFest 2025 Sept. 20 and at the Van Dyck Music Club November 15.

Jazz on Jay free concerts are noon to 1:30 p.m. at Jay Square, the new park space opposite Schenectady City Hall. The rain site is Robb Alley at Proctors, 432 State St. Seating is provided indoors at Robb Alley, but patrons are invited to bring their own seating and refreshments to Jay Square.

Jazz on Jay is presented by the ElectriCity Arts and Entertainment District and sponsored by the New York State Council on the Arts, a Schenectady County Legislature Arts & Culture Grant, Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation, The Schenectady Foundation, Price Chopper/Market 32, MVP Health Care, Schenectady County, Schenectady City Hall, and Proctors Collaborative. This blog is a series media sponsor.

Jazz on Jay continues July 31 with the Nicholas Dwarika Quartet.