The Westview Project is a Rochester-based jazz trio/quartet with Jeff Lawlis on piano, Doug Stone on sax, Dave Arenius on acoustic bass and Jim Blease on drums. The band formed in late 2006, bound by a mutual interest in jazz from the 50’s and 60’s. After a few months of rehearsing the band played its first gig at the Flat Iron Cafe in early 2007.
The band’s repertoire draws heavily on standards, bop, post-bop, Latin and 60’s boogaloo from composers such as Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, Thelonius Monk, and Horace Silver. The group performs a number of original tunes and released its first CD featuring nine original compositions in May, 2011.
The Westview Project has played at Amore Restaurant (Wegmans East Avenue), Bistro 135, The Grill at Strathallan, Horizons Restaurant at Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, The Little Theater Cafe, Pane Vino Ristorante, Pomodoro Grill and Wine Bar (both University Ave. and Pittsford locations), The Mendon House, Prosecco, North Shore Grill, Lovin’ Cup and other venues.
The band has performed at events for the Memorial Art Gallery, at the Clothesline Arts Festival, Corn Hill Arts Festival, Wegmans Italian Festival and Fairport Canal Days. The Westview Project played for the grand opening weekend at Von Maur department store in Victor and returns each year to play during the holidays. The band has been featured twice on WGMC Jazz 90.1 FM radio’s live broadcast concert series. In 2012 the band played at the Xerox-Rochester International Jazz Festival (Verizon Wireless Big Tent venue). The Westview Project has also performed for numerous wedding and private events.
