ABOUT
JAZZ URBANE CAFE
The Cafe will be an urban arts venue that spotlights the local and national artists who define and celebrate the diverse cultural traditions that make Boston a unique and global city. Our arts program will consist of nightly musical performances from local artists on the Jazz Urbane Recordings label (the Cafe’s sister company) and across greater Boston. Jazz Urbane Cafe will also offer other presentation modes - ranging from film screenings to dance to dramatic theater to multimedia installations - to provide a holistic presentation of form and expression.
Tastefully complementing our performance series will be an exciting culinary program designed to make the Cafe a full sensory experience. Our dinner, lunch, catering and takeout menus will feature a fusion of global flavors with many ingredients sourced locally. The commitment to unique, sensuous flavors made from many local ingredients will extend to the Cafe’s bar program where offerings will include craft spirits and beers and a wine selection curated to be approachable for casual wine drinkers and thrilling for wine lovers.
Finally, the Jazz Urbane Cafe is intended to be a community space and will be available for a variety of events. For smaller events, our private dining area will be available for reservation.
Stay tuned to our website for information on performance, menu and reservation details.
OUR TEAM
Charles Hunter
CEO/ Managing Partner
Charles has led several establishments in the capacity of General Manager / Managing Partner including his own establishment; Eleven Clinton a Jazz Supper Club in New Jersey. Although Charles believes in giving his Chef the room to flourish, he remains passionate about cooking and continues to do so on a regular basis, in his free time. Completely immersed in the work of creating a great experience, Charles values the opportunity to be able to step back and witness the positive effect his work and contributions have on the guests at his table.
Zahili Zamoa
Musical Director
Zahili is a pianist, composer, bandleader, arranger, and educator. Born in Manzanillo, Cuba, she started playing piano at the age of six, and graduated from the National School of Music with
a performance degree. She feels most defined by her Cuban heritage and her status as an immigrant. Her passion for music has taken her to Canada, to South East Asia and, now, to the United States – a land of immigrants. She is always moving forward, guided and driven by her music and the need to grow as an artist
and a person, to share her music and her love of life with others. She aspires to inspire; to be a messenger
Scott Goulding
Talent Buyer
Scott Goulding, Drums. An internationally recognized Jazz performer, recording artist, and educator, he has appeared as a sideman on over 40 CD releases on labels in the U.S., Europe and Japan, including releases with Jerry Bergonzi and Larry Grenadier. Scott has recorded at the world famous NYC studios Avatar and Sear Sound with James Farber as the engineer. Scott has performed in such notable venues as The Blue Note in NYC, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC, Cotton Club in Tokyo, Japan, and The Blue Note in Nagoya, Japan.
Guara Pimenta
Executive Chef
Chef Pimenta came to the United States from Brazil in 1999 and began his journey in the kitchen as a cook, working his way through some of Boston’s most influential restaurants, from Ambrosia on Huntington to Lucca, Prezza, and beyond. He didn’t become a chef overnight. He became one by going through the trenches, learning the hard way, earning every skill through discipline, mistakes, long nights, humility, and perseverance. He is, above all else, a father to three remarkable girls, Giulya, Milla, and Livia. They are his greatest teachers and his strongest motivation. Fatherhood grounded him, reshaped his values, and taught him that real strength is built with patience, presence, and love.
Joe Stewart
Production Manager
Joseph comes to Jazz Urbane with a 25+ year career as a sound engineer and production manager in the Boston area and as a touring sound engineer around the world and across many genres. Currently he is a production manager at the Berklee College of music, and has previously held that position at Scullers Jazz Club and the Lizard Lounge Cambridge where he worked with some of the best artists in the world in jazz, Americana, folk, blues and rock. From the smallest clubs to the biggest festival stages he excels in bringing a transparent and natural performance experience to every audience.
JAZZ URBANE RECORDINGS
The Jazz Urbane is a contemporary recording/performing collective which embraces and is infused with great R&B song writing, melodies, band grooves and style. Not really a “new movement”, just a new configuration of mindset/artistry. It is a “collaborative of artists”, a music that crosses several bridges.
First assembled in 1981 as The Bill Banfield Band, Jazz Urbane Recordings has since grown into a multi-faceted label representing nearly one dozen artists including Zahili Gonzalez Zamora, Joey Blake, Shana Tucker, Gregory Groover, Jr., and the Charles Overton Group among others.
To learn more, please visit jazzurbane.com
