Katonah Studio Jazz Band at Via Vanti!

Katonah Studio Jazz Band at Via Vanti!

The Katonah Studio Jazz Band takes the stage at Via Vanti in Mount Kisco on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. The group will feature keyboardist Robert Kessler, saxophonist R.J. Marx, drummer Jack Falco and bass player Phil Rowan.

Founded in 2005 by Grammy-award winning composer, audio producer and pianist Robert Kessler and saxophonist R.J. Marx, KSJB is a collective musical ensemble featuring some of northern Westchester’s top players. The group pays respectful homage to classic jazz masters Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Stan Getz, Bill Evans and other giants of the genre.

Via Vanti! is celebrating its fourth anniversary this month. Known for its uniquely healthful eclectic Italian fare, this local favorite, located in the landmark Mount Kisco train station, provides the perfect venue for listening to jazz while sipping wine, grazing on thin-crust gourmet pizzette and sampling unlimited tastes of their award winning gelato and sorbetto. A full menu is available and reservations are strongly suggested for the evening of this event.

KSJB received its name from pianist Kessler’s Katonah recording studio, where the band rehearses. Kessler has recorded, mixed and mastered several independent classical, folk and jazz albums including Playscape Recordings “The Three B’s (Bill Evans, Bud Powell and Beethoven)” with award-winning jazz pianist Ted Rosenthal, Reservoir Studio Productions “All Chopin” offering with internationally acclaimed pianist Eduardus Halim, and “From Sorry Free” and “Hoping It Might Be So” by the vocal ensemble Charis.

Saxophonist R.J. Marx trained with Chicago tenor icon Fred Anderson and attended Berklee College of Music before launching a career in journalism. He returned to gigging in 2001, studying with pianist Pete Malinverni and saxophonist Ralph Lalama. Currently a member of the Jazz Journalists Association, Marx is a founding member of the Katonah Studio Jazz Band.

Drummer Jack Falco studied with Tony Williams and has a diverse musical background including playing with the Miami Symphony Orchestra and Circus Vargas.

Phil Rowan is a Queens-based double bassist. He began taking formal bass lessons at age 13 and performed on occasion with drummer Bob Meyer while in high school. After studying extensively with Dennis Irwin at Purchase College, Phil moved to New York City to be part of its diverse music scene. Rowan keeps busy playing in Old Time Musketry, whose debut album is due in September of 2012 on Steeplechase LookOut, as well as in singer — songwriter Kjersti Kveli’s group, which blends folk rock with contemporary classical and improvisation and is currently working on an LP and EP. Rowan is a recent graduate of Stony Brook University with a master's degree in classical double bass.

Among musicians who appear with the Katonah Studio Jazz Band are saxophonists Don Davis and Emily Tabin, drummer Eric Katz, and bassists Lester Harper, Don Hurta, Doug Drewes and Cameron Kayne.

Via Vanti is located at 2 Kirby Plaza in Mount Kisco, 666-6400; viavanti.com.