Live Music Returns to Wally's Cafe with Performances by Berklee Faculty, Alumni, and Students Kevin Harris, associate professor of piano, is coleading the legendary jazz club's house band.
By
Colette Greenstein
September 23, 2022
Kevin Harris
Image by Luisa Harris
After a two-year closure due to the pandemic, Bostons iconic Wally's Cafe Jazz Club recently reopened, with Kevin Harris, an associate professor in Berklees Piano Department, coleading the house band. Harriss band, Sphere 427, which features coleader and saxophonist Noah Preminger, bassist Max Ridley B.M. '16 M.M. '17, and drummer Tyson Jackson '19, a teacher at the Berklee City Music High School Academy, is performing at the club every Friday and Saturday at 10:00 p.m. In its first weekend show, the quartet was joined by drummer Ilya Blazh, a current student in Berklees Master of Music in global jazz program.
Since 1947, Wally's Jazz Cafe has been one of the best scenes in Boston to hear renowned musicians as well as rising talent. From jazz and blues to Afro-Latin, funk, and swing, skilled professional musicians have performed their musical explorations while providing mentorship to younger musicians, said Harris. Many aspiring musicians have walked through the doors of Wally's and, by observing and imitating, have discovered and enhanced their ability to communicate at a highly creative level on their instrument. Boston is very fortunate to have this historic landmark reopening its doors and contributing again to these valuable traditions.
Founded by Joseph L. Walcott in 1947, Wallys is Boston's oldest Black-owned jazz club. Its hosted performances from a who's who in jazz, from Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Dexter Gordon, and Roy Haynes to Terri Lyne Carrington B.M. '83, esperanza spalding B.M. '05, Branford Marsalis '81, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah B.M. '05, Walter Beasley '84, and Roy Hargrove '89, among others.
It means so much to us having the students and faculty back performing at Wallys Cafe. We have an organic and symbiotic relationship with the musicians from your world-class institution, said Frank Poindexter, Wally's general manager and Walcott's grandson. Wallys wouldnt be Wallys were it not for the great musicians being trained and educated at Berklee. We thrive on being a place where the musicians can put into practice what they are learning at the college, but also facilitating lifelong networks between the students, faculty, and alumni.
Now back to being open seven days a week, Wally's is showcasing a different genre of music each night: funk and R&B on Sundays; world music on Wednesdays, with Francisco Mela, a Cuban percussionist and Berklee associate professor; and the Timba Messengers, a Latin jazz and salsa band led by Panamanian singer-songwriter and Berklee faculty member Gaby Cotter, on Thursdays. For more information, visit wallyscafe.com.
Related Categories
News
Most Popular
Lena Glikson-Nezhelskaya B.M. '15 won an Emmy Award for her sound editing on Netflix's Stranger Things.
Image courtesy of the artist
Berklee Alumni Win Emmy Awards for Stranger Things, Barry, and More Four alumni were recognized for their accomplishments in composition, sound mixing, and sound editing.
Latest
Image by Kelly Davidson
It's Time to Change How We Talk About Disability in Education The managing director of Berklees newly renamed Institute for Accessible Arts Education makes the case for why our language surrounding disability matters.
Andr s Cepeda, an acclaimed Colombian singer-songwriter, will perform alongside Berklee students in a Signature Series concert on November 10.
Image courtesy of the artist
Andr s Cepeda to Present Berklee Signature Series Concert The Latin Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter will perform music in various styles alongside Berklee students on November 10.
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Berklee Signature Series Presents the Dee Dee Bridgewater Ensemble The concert will feature Bridgewater and students celebrating the music of composer and bandleader Horace Silver.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
26/03/2026
Extron and Audio-Technica have announced that their Design Solutions devices, Ce...
26/03/2026
SPORTEL Asia took place March 24-25 at the Orchard Hotel Singapore, drawing 370 participants representing more than 220 companies from 35 countries. Approximate...
26/03/2026
LTN will demonstrate satellite-to-IP migration solutions for broadcasters, cable networks, MVPDs, and station groups at NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2100).
The C-Ban...
26/03/2026
The Seattle Mariners have partnered with Daktronics to install an upgraded outfi...
26/03/2026
The Esports Foundation (EF) has awarded National Team Partner status to organizations and individuals across more than 100 countries and territories for the Esp...
26/03/2026
Telestream has announced expanded integration between its Vantage workflow platf...
26/03/2026
FOR-A Corporation has announced a partnership with Nippon TV and NVIDIA to distr...
26/03/2026
CBS Sports and the WNBA have expanded their partnership through a new long-term, multiplatform rights agreement. CBS Sports will feature up to 20 regular-season...
26/03/2026
Zac Brown Band will star in the Sunday Night Baseball show open on NBC and Peacock, NBC Sports announced. The open was filmed at American Family Field, home of ...
26/03/2026
Major League Baseball opens the 2026 season with nationally televised games across multiple media partners. Fans can visit MLB.com/Watch for a complete schedule...
26/03/2026
DIRECTV has announced an agreement to carry nine new MLB-operated team channels, covering the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers (Detroit SportsNet), Kansas City R...
26/03/2026
Nationals.TV, the Washington Nationals' local broadcast channel, is now avai...
26/03/2026
Starting Thursday, March 26, MLB.TV will be available on the ESPN App, giving fans access to more than 2,000 out-of-market regular season games. Fans can also r...
26/03/2026
Spotify's partnership with NAVER, Korea's leading digital platform, is built around one simple goal: making it easier for listeners in Korea to discover...
26/03/2026
Exclusive to ComposerCloud for first month
Sample library and virtual instrument gurus EastWest have announced the upcoming release of a new virtual drum i...
26/03/2026
Friday 27 March
Friday 27 March will mark Dynamic Range Day 2026, the annual day of online activity that was started in 2010 by mastering engineer Ian Sheph...
26/03/2026
Includes four separate instruments
Max Richter's SRM Sounds venture have just announced their fifth release, ASMR Choir. Captured at the main live room ...
26/03/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), has been tasked with administering the Sixth Presi...
26/03/2026
By Matt Klein
Hello to everyone reading this - whether you're a current YEP, HPA member, or just YEP-curious. I'm Matt Klein, one of the co-chairs of t...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
28 participating companies, from start-ups to blue-chips, lead the UK Group as part of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland presence across all the Halls at N...
26/03/2026
Arkona Unveils BLADE//planner and Major Usability Enhancements at NAB 2026
Brie Clayton March 26, 2026
0 Comments
New graphical configuration tool and...
26/03/2026
Bitfocus showcases complete control at NAB Show 2026
Brie Clayton March 26, 2026
0 Comments
Continuing development drives advances in security, availa...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Nevion introduces powerful new Panel Builder to enhance VideoIPath broadcast con...
26/03/2026
2026 Oscar Nominated Films Powered by Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton March 25, 2026
0 Comments
DaVinci Resolve Studio used on 27 of this year's no...
26/03/2026
Leader to present full suite of advanced Test & Measurement solutions at NAB Sho...
26/03/2026
Boston Conservatory to Present New England and Collegiate Premiere of Groundbrea...
26/03/2026
Thursday 26 March 2026
HBO Max included for Sky and NOW customers from 26 March...
26/03/2026
Thursday 26 March 2026
Sky Sets Iconic Costumes Dancing Together Like Never Before' in Brand CampaignTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy o...
26/03/2026
Wuppertal March 26, 2026
CS live Builds Future-Ready OB Van With Riedel MediorNet and hi Control SystemRiedel Communications today announced that Czech-based ...
26/03/2026
Back to All News
Have a Wish Worth Dying For? Netflix's First Korean YA Hor...
26/03/2026
Back to All News
The Truthers, Starring Jose Coronado and St phanie Magnin, Pre...
26/03/2026
Enhancements to Harmonic's Sports Streaming Solution Introduce Server-Side Multiview, Contextual Metadata-Driven Advertising, Dynamic In-Stream Ads and Robu...
26/03/2026
Open the report
Our 2025 report brings together results from 79 business magazine titles across 22 market sectors, published by 49 media owners. Over the year,...
26/03/2026
Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...
26/03/2026
RT Commercial today announced Fiat as sponsor of The Louise Duffy Show on RT Radio 1, Weekdays 3pm 4pm.
The Louise Duffy Show is the home of daytime music...
26/03/2026
That gaming backlog won't clear itself - GeForce NOW is here to help. Stream the latest titles straight from the cloud across a variety of devices.
This we...
26/03/2026
Wayne, N.J., March 26, 2026 Phantom High-Speed announces the latest product li...
Live Music Returns to Wally's Cafe with Performances by Berklee Faculty, Alumni, and Students Kevin Harris, associate professor of piano, is coleading the legendary jazz club's house band.
