You stay in sync with the bandwe stay in sync with your health
YOU DONrsquoT JOIN US WE JOIN YOUSM
AetnaWeJoinYoucom
copy2017 Aetna Inc 2017178
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 3
ldquoJazz music is Americarsquos past and its potential
summed up and sanctified and accessible to anybody
who learns to listen to feel and understand it
The music can connect us to our earlier selves and to our better selves-to-come It can remind us of where we fit on the time line of human achievement an
ultimate value of artrdquo
mdash Wynton Marsalis
WelcomeDear Guests
Welcome to the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival This much-
anticipated event is a valued tradition with deep roots in our city
Irsquom confident you will enjoy great music incredible performances
and exciting festivities over this weekend Thank you for your
support and attendance
With its deep cultural significance and a history stretching back
more than three decades the Jacksonville Jazz Festival is one
of our cityrsquos signature events Every year this musical showcase
attracts gifted artists and musicians from across the globe In turn
the quality and diversity of the world-class talent featured each year
draws bigger and bigger audiences This growing legacy continues
to elevate Jacksonville and Downtown Jacksonville in particular
as a prime destination for premier entertainment events
Again thank you for attending Like you I look forward to great
performances and a memorable experience
Enjoy
Sincerely
Lenny Curry
Mayor
4 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
TABLE OF CONTENTSWelcome 3Performer Schedule 5Jazz Marketplace 7Jazz Store amp 2017 Poster 9Festival Happenings 10Hall of Fame 13Piano Competition 14Jazz Jam 29Jazz Clinic 30Festival Map 36Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch 49
HEADLINERSFriday May 26Lucky Chops 16Damien Escobar 17Blind Boys of Alabama 21Jane Monheit 23Freddy Cole Quartet 24
Saturday May 27Kamasi Washington 31Gregory Porter 33Hypnotic Brass Ensemble 39The Rippingtons 41Airmen of Note 43
Sunday May 28The Commodores 51Chick Corea Trio 53Joey Alexander Trio 54 Lalah Hathaway 57Bria Skonberg 58Pacific Mambo Orchestra 59
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 5
FRIDAY May 26 Festival open 4 pm ndash midnight Music starts at 5 pm
Swinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
Schedule presented by
More Pe r fo rmances
Jazz Jam with KellyScott
QuintetHyatt Regency
Jacksonville Riverfront Presented by Hot 995
See page 29225 East Coastline Drive
10 pm - Midnight
DJ Nick Fresh 5-530 pm
Catch the Groove 5-6 pm
Jax Jazz Collective 530-630 pm
Jazzmeia Horn 530-630 pm
Freddy Cole Quartet 630 -730 pm
Blake Aaron 7-8 pm
ELEW 7-830 pm
Jane Monheit 8-9 pm
Parker Urban Band 830-930 pm
Damien Escobar 9-10 pm
Blind Boys of Alabama 930-11 pm
Marcus Anderson 10-11 pm
Lucky Chops 1030-Midnight
SATURDAY May 27 Festival open 1 pm ndash midnight Music starts at 2 pm
Swinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
More Pe r fo rmances
Jazz Fest Clinic with Eric Carter
Jazzmeia Horn and Elio Piedra See page 30
Ritz Theatre and Museum 829 N Davis St
Jacksonville FL 32202 10 am - noon
Jazz Fest After Dark
See page 6JazzFestAfterDarkcom
Friday ndash Sunday 10 pm - 2 am
Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition Winner 230-3 pm
Leon Foster Thomas 2-3 pm
Ben Adkins 2-3 pm
Akia Uwanda 3-4 pm
Taylor Roberts 330-430 pm
Eliorsquos Quartet 330-430 pm
Roman Street 430-6 pm
Morgan James 5-630 pm
Stank Sauce 5-6 pm
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble 630-8 pm
Airmen of Note Band 7-830 pm
Party in a Box feat Allana Southerland 630-730 pm
Gregory Porter 830-10 pm
The Rippingtons 9-1030 pm
Clay Benjamin 8-930 pm
Kamasi Washington 1030 pm - Midnight
Video Stream Mainstage 1030 pm - Midnight
Eric Carter 10-1130 pm
SUNDAY May 28 Festival open 1-11 pm Music starts at 2 pmSwinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
More Pe r fo rmances Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
The Noel Freidline Quintet featuring Maria Howell
See page 49
Omni Hotels amp Resorts OmniJazzBrunchEventbritecom
Two Seatings 10 am 1230 pm
Jazz ParadePresented by V1015
See page 59 Starts at the corner of
Monroe and Laura Streets 5 pm
UNF Jazz Ensemble I 230-330 pm
Gregory Agid Quintet 2-3 pm
Brandon Robertson 2-3 pm
Sorin Zlat Trio 4-5 pm
Pacific Mambo Orchestra 330-5 pm
Brian Tarquin 330-4 30 pm
Joey Alexander Trio 530-7 pm
Bria Skonberg 6-730 pm
Doug Carn 5-630 pm
Chick Corea Trio 730-9 pm
Lalah Hathaway 8-930 pm
The Katz Downstairz 7-830 pm
The Commodores 930-11 pm
Video Stream Mainstage 930 - 11 pm
MAY 26amp27
2017DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE
VENUES
1904 Music Hall
5 amp Dime A Theatre Co
Bold City Brewery
Candy Apple Cafe amp Cocktails
De Real Ting Cafe
Downtown Cigar Lounge
Element Bistro amp Bar
Hourglass PubIntuition Ale Works
Jacksonville Landing
Myth NightclubSpliffrsquos Gastropub
The Volstead
SPONSORS
City of Jacksonville
StrongbowMoon River Pizza
Pajic amp Pajic 904 Happy Hour
Folio WeeklyDowntown Vision
The ElbowVisit Jacksonville
PERFORMANCES BY
Groove Coalition
Stank SauceDr ScienceMaster RadicalTough JunkieLeisure ChiefBilly amp BellaLPTLimitlessRaisin Cake Orchestra
Bonnie BlueKnight KrawlerArvid SmithOuija BrosHigher LearningUniversal GreenLe OrchidSnacks Blues Band
Taylor RobertsSPQJamison Williams
Nan Nkama Pan-African Drum
amp Dance Ensemble
Tropic of Cancer
DJ GURUFjord ExplorerGeexellaDrew Tucker amp The New Standard
Dancing Bear Folk is PeopleGhost TropicBlue MuseJohn Parkerurban amp Friends
Clay BenjaminTriPowBrent Byrd amp The Suitcase Gypsies
Swing Bone Dixie
The Good Wood Band
Marcus Anderson
Brandon LucasJazz Jam with Eric Carter
Flag on FireChad JasmineUncle BroJax Comedy Collective
Noteworthy
JAZZFESTAFTERDARKCOMFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT
FOLLOWING THE
JACKSONVILLE JAZZ FEST
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 7
Amazing amp Beautiful Butterflies La Soucique Studio
TK Beauty EssentialsMbellish by CharMegaAboriginal Bling Bam
African Art MarketplaceBonnie Jayne Art
Gladnomad Clothingbeyou
Aloha DesignWanawake
Caricature ArtistDampS Outfitters
Mo Jazz CollectionMojo Jerky
Eye of Joy ArtLifenblackandwhite
Ricky Steele DesignsBoutique 316
Glass Flower GlassesKelvin Henderson Art
Jazz Marketplace offers an exciting shopping experience in the heart of the festival Wind your way through prize-winning artists master craftspeople specialty vendors and existing downtown establishments The marketplace will feature unique wares
such as hand-made clothing jewelry original art and other handcrafted items
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 9
Commemorate your experience at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival with some official gear This yearrsquos merchandise includes t-shirts cups hats posters and other items to keep you cool
The Official Jazz Festival Store is conveniently located in the heart of the festival in Visit Jacksonville Visitor Center on Laura Street Be sure to check out the other exciting activities and attractions Jacksonville has to offer while you are here
The Poster Since its inception in 1981
the Jacksonville Jazz Festival has presented itself with striking visual imagery in the form of the official poster Over the years talented local artists have contributed their unique touch to this much anticipated and collectible piece of marketing and memorabilia The festival is proud to present this yearrsquos poster design by local artist and designer Corey Kolb
This year the print will be silkscreened on French paper Prints can be purchased at the Official Jacksonville Jazz Festival Merchandise Store with limited editions signed and numbered by the artist
About the DesignThe idea that jazz is a
collective sound that allows individual musicians to improvise within the framework of the form reminds the artist of collage style design Collage often uses montage textures and objects to form a cohesive visual conceptndashndashmuch like jazzrsquos constantly evolving structurendashndashand this is the feeling he wanted to evoke in the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Fest poster
About the ArtistCorey Kolb is a user
interface and user experience designer for randrr He was born in Sarasota Florida and came to Jacksonville by way of Ashland Massachusetts in 1998 He attended the University of North Florida and obtained a BFA with a concentration in graphic design and digital media Corey has placed twice in the AIGA Itrsquos Always Summer Poster Show and collaborated with Eric Hinote on the ldquoRise From The Ashesrdquo mural located in downtown Jacksonville in 2013 He has a passion for music of all genres record collecting and gardening
Jazz StoreHyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
1
2
3
4
s
CHURCH
NEW
NAN
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
ST JOHNS RIVER
The FloridaTheatre
VisitJacksonville
Main LibraryHemming Park
FederalCourthouse
Ed BallBuilding
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel Jacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
SwinginrsquoStage
Presented by JacksonvilleAviation Authority
Groovinrsquo StagePresented by Aetna
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EAN
Dance Party
Find the AARP Dance Party at the intersection of W Adams
and N Laura Streets Meet us at the corner of Adams
and Laura streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live
DJ and having daily drawings for a hands-free digital assistant
This is your chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the
people here in Jacksonville
Stop by the V1015 tent and get all the details about Sista Strut ndash our
2nd Annual 3K Breast Cancer Strut ndash plus register to win four Disney Florida Resident Annual Passes
Second Line Jazz Parade Presented by V1015
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the
Second Line Jazz Parade winding through the streets on Sunday
May 28 at 5 pm
Guest Services Presented By UF Health
Visit one of the Guest Services booths presented by UF Health and let our helpful volunteers answer any questions about the festival Also be sure to
pick up your UF Health sunscreen and glow stick
See the map inside the guide for locations
Love all the jams you are hearing this weekend
Wish you could have more every day Switch to HOT995 FM
and you can Visit the HOT995 tent and download our free app
for your chance to win great prizes
Jazz Fest After Dark returns for another year Following
the last act of the festival lineup each night enjoy even more live music from 10 pm until 2 am Participating bars and clubs are located within a couple of blocks
from the Jazz Festival stages
You donrsquot join us we join you
Stop by the Aetna tent and cool off under our misting tent located near
Hemming Park track your steps and register to win an Apple Watch
Check out our pop-up Jazz
Garden piano fountains for the perfect photo opportunity
Saturday May 27 Only
Bring a friend and ShareaCoke Visit the Ice Cold Coca-Cola Summer Tour display on Saturday and get your very
own personalized mini Coke can and samples of the worldrsquos most
refreshing drink
Visit the SunPass Mobile Service Center and find out how you can save time and money on Floridarsquos toll roads and bridges Purchase a SunPass and open up a pre-
paid toll account to start saving SunPass is also accepted in
Georgia and North Carolina with more states to follow
Festival Happenings
10 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Join AARP at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 26-28th Meet us at the corner of Adams and Laura Streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live DJ and having daily drawings for a digital assistant Itrsquos open to the public and free to attend so therersquos no reason not to be there
At the event yoursquoll get a chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville Whether yoursquore looking to advance or change careers seeking caretaking advice or wanting to get involved in the community we provide helpful support and resources so that you can you achieve your goals and live your best life
Stop by the AARP Pavilion anytime during the festival We look forward to meeting you For more details visit aarporgJacksonville
AARP ISJAZZED ABOUTJACKSONVILLE
MO-arpstl_td282121_jacksonville-jazz-festival_8d5x11_170501_cp-nh_v12[2]pdf 1 5217 1231 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13
The Hon Jake Godbold 1999
Dan Kossoff 1999
Mike Tolbert 1999
Ira Koger2000
Rich Matteson 2000
The Hon Elaine Brown 2003
Marcus Roberts2003
Dick Brown 2004
JB Scott 2017Now in his 20th year as an educator JB Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series He has instructed thousands of students over the decades including many who have gone on to great jazz careers As a performer he has appeared with jazz greats including Al Hirt Pauito DrsquoRivera John Pizzarelli Kurt Elling and with the Jax Symphony and Equinox Big Band among others His JB Scott Swinginrsquo All Stars has recorded numerous CDs and is well known As a promoter and supporter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival JB has mentored young jazz artists performed at the event frequently been a panel judge for the Piano Competition arranged for venues and continues to support the festival in many other aspects Vic DiGenti
2004
Cecil Cole 2005
Teddy Washington2006
Longineu Parsons2006
Von Barlow 2007
Dr Bill Prince 2008
Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009
Bob Bednar2010
Narsquoim Rashid 2010
The Hon Bill Chappell 2011
Bunky Green 2011
Bernard ldquoWomackrdquoHoward 2012
Gary Starling 2012
Lisa Kelly 2013
Theresa OrsquoDonnell Price 2013
Ace Martin 2014
Noel Freidline 2015
Jack Melvin 2016
JACKSONVILLE
JAZZ FESTIVAL
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 3
ldquoJazz music is Americarsquos past and its potential
summed up and sanctified and accessible to anybody
who learns to listen to feel and understand it
The music can connect us to our earlier selves and to our better selves-to-come It can remind us of where we fit on the time line of human achievement an
ultimate value of artrdquo
mdash Wynton Marsalis
WelcomeDear Guests
Welcome to the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival This much-
anticipated event is a valued tradition with deep roots in our city
Irsquom confident you will enjoy great music incredible performances
and exciting festivities over this weekend Thank you for your
support and attendance
With its deep cultural significance and a history stretching back
more than three decades the Jacksonville Jazz Festival is one
of our cityrsquos signature events Every year this musical showcase
attracts gifted artists and musicians from across the globe In turn
the quality and diversity of the world-class talent featured each year
draws bigger and bigger audiences This growing legacy continues
to elevate Jacksonville and Downtown Jacksonville in particular
as a prime destination for premier entertainment events
Again thank you for attending Like you I look forward to great
performances and a memorable experience
Enjoy
Sincerely
Lenny Curry
Mayor
4 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
TABLE OF CONTENTSWelcome 3Performer Schedule 5Jazz Marketplace 7Jazz Store amp 2017 Poster 9Festival Happenings 10Hall of Fame 13Piano Competition 14Jazz Jam 29Jazz Clinic 30Festival Map 36Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch 49
HEADLINERSFriday May 26Lucky Chops 16Damien Escobar 17Blind Boys of Alabama 21Jane Monheit 23Freddy Cole Quartet 24
Saturday May 27Kamasi Washington 31Gregory Porter 33Hypnotic Brass Ensemble 39The Rippingtons 41Airmen of Note 43
Sunday May 28The Commodores 51Chick Corea Trio 53Joey Alexander Trio 54 Lalah Hathaway 57Bria Skonberg 58Pacific Mambo Orchestra 59
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 5
FRIDAY May 26 Festival open 4 pm ndash midnight Music starts at 5 pm
Swinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
Schedule presented by
More Pe r fo rmances
Jazz Jam with KellyScott
QuintetHyatt Regency
Jacksonville Riverfront Presented by Hot 995
See page 29225 East Coastline Drive
10 pm - Midnight
DJ Nick Fresh 5-530 pm
Catch the Groove 5-6 pm
Jax Jazz Collective 530-630 pm
Jazzmeia Horn 530-630 pm
Freddy Cole Quartet 630 -730 pm
Blake Aaron 7-8 pm
ELEW 7-830 pm
Jane Monheit 8-9 pm
Parker Urban Band 830-930 pm
Damien Escobar 9-10 pm
Blind Boys of Alabama 930-11 pm
Marcus Anderson 10-11 pm
Lucky Chops 1030-Midnight
SATURDAY May 27 Festival open 1 pm ndash midnight Music starts at 2 pm
Swinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
More Pe r fo rmances
Jazz Fest Clinic with Eric Carter
Jazzmeia Horn and Elio Piedra See page 30
Ritz Theatre and Museum 829 N Davis St
Jacksonville FL 32202 10 am - noon
Jazz Fest After Dark
See page 6JazzFestAfterDarkcom
Friday ndash Sunday 10 pm - 2 am
Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition Winner 230-3 pm
Leon Foster Thomas 2-3 pm
Ben Adkins 2-3 pm
Akia Uwanda 3-4 pm
Taylor Roberts 330-430 pm
Eliorsquos Quartet 330-430 pm
Roman Street 430-6 pm
Morgan James 5-630 pm
Stank Sauce 5-6 pm
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble 630-8 pm
Airmen of Note Band 7-830 pm
Party in a Box feat Allana Southerland 630-730 pm
Gregory Porter 830-10 pm
The Rippingtons 9-1030 pm
Clay Benjamin 8-930 pm
Kamasi Washington 1030 pm - Midnight
Video Stream Mainstage 1030 pm - Midnight
Eric Carter 10-1130 pm
SUNDAY May 28 Festival open 1-11 pm Music starts at 2 pmSwinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
More Pe r fo rmances Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
The Noel Freidline Quintet featuring Maria Howell
See page 49
Omni Hotels amp Resorts OmniJazzBrunchEventbritecom
Two Seatings 10 am 1230 pm
Jazz ParadePresented by V1015
See page 59 Starts at the corner of
Monroe and Laura Streets 5 pm
UNF Jazz Ensemble I 230-330 pm
Gregory Agid Quintet 2-3 pm
Brandon Robertson 2-3 pm
Sorin Zlat Trio 4-5 pm
Pacific Mambo Orchestra 330-5 pm
Brian Tarquin 330-4 30 pm
Joey Alexander Trio 530-7 pm
Bria Skonberg 6-730 pm
Doug Carn 5-630 pm
Chick Corea Trio 730-9 pm
Lalah Hathaway 8-930 pm
The Katz Downstairz 7-830 pm
The Commodores 930-11 pm
Video Stream Mainstage 930 - 11 pm
MAY 26amp27
2017DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE
VENUES
1904 Music Hall
5 amp Dime A Theatre Co
Bold City Brewery
Candy Apple Cafe amp Cocktails
De Real Ting Cafe
Downtown Cigar Lounge
Element Bistro amp Bar
Hourglass PubIntuition Ale Works
Jacksonville Landing
Myth NightclubSpliffrsquos Gastropub
The Volstead
SPONSORS
City of Jacksonville
StrongbowMoon River Pizza
Pajic amp Pajic 904 Happy Hour
Folio WeeklyDowntown Vision
The ElbowVisit Jacksonville
PERFORMANCES BY
Groove Coalition
Stank SauceDr ScienceMaster RadicalTough JunkieLeisure ChiefBilly amp BellaLPTLimitlessRaisin Cake Orchestra
Bonnie BlueKnight KrawlerArvid SmithOuija BrosHigher LearningUniversal GreenLe OrchidSnacks Blues Band
Taylor RobertsSPQJamison Williams
Nan Nkama Pan-African Drum
amp Dance Ensemble
Tropic of Cancer
DJ GURUFjord ExplorerGeexellaDrew Tucker amp The New Standard
Dancing Bear Folk is PeopleGhost TropicBlue MuseJohn Parkerurban amp Friends
Clay BenjaminTriPowBrent Byrd amp The Suitcase Gypsies
Swing Bone Dixie
The Good Wood Band
Marcus Anderson
Brandon LucasJazz Jam with Eric Carter
Flag on FireChad JasmineUncle BroJax Comedy Collective
Noteworthy
JAZZFESTAFTERDARKCOMFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT
FOLLOWING THE
JACKSONVILLE JAZZ FEST
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 7
Amazing amp Beautiful Butterflies La Soucique Studio
TK Beauty EssentialsMbellish by CharMegaAboriginal Bling Bam
African Art MarketplaceBonnie Jayne Art
Gladnomad Clothingbeyou
Aloha DesignWanawake
Caricature ArtistDampS Outfitters
Mo Jazz CollectionMojo Jerky
Eye of Joy ArtLifenblackandwhite
Ricky Steele DesignsBoutique 316
Glass Flower GlassesKelvin Henderson Art
Jazz Marketplace offers an exciting shopping experience in the heart of the festival Wind your way through prize-winning artists master craftspeople specialty vendors and existing downtown establishments The marketplace will feature unique wares
such as hand-made clothing jewelry original art and other handcrafted items
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 9
Commemorate your experience at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival with some official gear This yearrsquos merchandise includes t-shirts cups hats posters and other items to keep you cool
The Official Jazz Festival Store is conveniently located in the heart of the festival in Visit Jacksonville Visitor Center on Laura Street Be sure to check out the other exciting activities and attractions Jacksonville has to offer while you are here
The Poster Since its inception in 1981
the Jacksonville Jazz Festival has presented itself with striking visual imagery in the form of the official poster Over the years talented local artists have contributed their unique touch to this much anticipated and collectible piece of marketing and memorabilia The festival is proud to present this yearrsquos poster design by local artist and designer Corey Kolb
This year the print will be silkscreened on French paper Prints can be purchased at the Official Jacksonville Jazz Festival Merchandise Store with limited editions signed and numbered by the artist
About the DesignThe idea that jazz is a
collective sound that allows individual musicians to improvise within the framework of the form reminds the artist of collage style design Collage often uses montage textures and objects to form a cohesive visual conceptndashndashmuch like jazzrsquos constantly evolving structurendashndashand this is the feeling he wanted to evoke in the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Fest poster
About the ArtistCorey Kolb is a user
interface and user experience designer for randrr He was born in Sarasota Florida and came to Jacksonville by way of Ashland Massachusetts in 1998 He attended the University of North Florida and obtained a BFA with a concentration in graphic design and digital media Corey has placed twice in the AIGA Itrsquos Always Summer Poster Show and collaborated with Eric Hinote on the ldquoRise From The Ashesrdquo mural located in downtown Jacksonville in 2013 He has a passion for music of all genres record collecting and gardening
Jazz StoreHyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
1
2
3
4
s
CHURCH
NEW
NAN
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
ST JOHNS RIVER
The FloridaTheatre
VisitJacksonville
Main LibraryHemming Park
FederalCourthouse
Ed BallBuilding
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel Jacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
SwinginrsquoStage
Presented by JacksonvilleAviation Authority
Groovinrsquo StagePresented by Aetna
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EAN
Dance Party
Find the AARP Dance Party at the intersection of W Adams
and N Laura Streets Meet us at the corner of Adams
and Laura streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live
DJ and having daily drawings for a hands-free digital assistant
This is your chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the
people here in Jacksonville
Stop by the V1015 tent and get all the details about Sista Strut ndash our
2nd Annual 3K Breast Cancer Strut ndash plus register to win four Disney Florida Resident Annual Passes
Second Line Jazz Parade Presented by V1015
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the
Second Line Jazz Parade winding through the streets on Sunday
May 28 at 5 pm
Guest Services Presented By UF Health
Visit one of the Guest Services booths presented by UF Health and let our helpful volunteers answer any questions about the festival Also be sure to
pick up your UF Health sunscreen and glow stick
See the map inside the guide for locations
Love all the jams you are hearing this weekend
Wish you could have more every day Switch to HOT995 FM
and you can Visit the HOT995 tent and download our free app
for your chance to win great prizes
Jazz Fest After Dark returns for another year Following
the last act of the festival lineup each night enjoy even more live music from 10 pm until 2 am Participating bars and clubs are located within a couple of blocks
from the Jazz Festival stages
You donrsquot join us we join you
Stop by the Aetna tent and cool off under our misting tent located near
Hemming Park track your steps and register to win an Apple Watch
Check out our pop-up Jazz
Garden piano fountains for the perfect photo opportunity
Saturday May 27 Only
Bring a friend and ShareaCoke Visit the Ice Cold Coca-Cola Summer Tour display on Saturday and get your very
own personalized mini Coke can and samples of the worldrsquos most
refreshing drink
Visit the SunPass Mobile Service Center and find out how you can save time and money on Floridarsquos toll roads and bridges Purchase a SunPass and open up a pre-
paid toll account to start saving SunPass is also accepted in
Georgia and North Carolina with more states to follow
Festival Happenings
10 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Join AARP at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 26-28th Meet us at the corner of Adams and Laura Streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live DJ and having daily drawings for a digital assistant Itrsquos open to the public and free to attend so therersquos no reason not to be there
At the event yoursquoll get a chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville Whether yoursquore looking to advance or change careers seeking caretaking advice or wanting to get involved in the community we provide helpful support and resources so that you can you achieve your goals and live your best life
Stop by the AARP Pavilion anytime during the festival We look forward to meeting you For more details visit aarporgJacksonville
AARP ISJAZZED ABOUTJACKSONVILLE
MO-arpstl_td282121_jacksonville-jazz-festival_8d5x11_170501_cp-nh_v12[2]pdf 1 5217 1231 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13
The Hon Jake Godbold 1999
Dan Kossoff 1999
Mike Tolbert 1999
Ira Koger2000
Rich Matteson 2000
The Hon Elaine Brown 2003
Marcus Roberts2003
Dick Brown 2004
JB Scott 2017Now in his 20th year as an educator JB Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series He has instructed thousands of students over the decades including many who have gone on to great jazz careers As a performer he has appeared with jazz greats including Al Hirt Pauito DrsquoRivera John Pizzarelli Kurt Elling and with the Jax Symphony and Equinox Big Band among others His JB Scott Swinginrsquo All Stars has recorded numerous CDs and is well known As a promoter and supporter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival JB has mentored young jazz artists performed at the event frequently been a panel judge for the Piano Competition arranged for venues and continues to support the festival in many other aspects Vic DiGenti
2004
Cecil Cole 2005
Teddy Washington2006
Longineu Parsons2006
Von Barlow 2007
Dr Bill Prince 2008
Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009
Bob Bednar2010
Narsquoim Rashid 2010
The Hon Bill Chappell 2011
Bunky Green 2011
Bernard ldquoWomackrdquoHoward 2012
Gary Starling 2012
Lisa Kelly 2013
Theresa OrsquoDonnell Price 2013
Ace Martin 2014
Noel Freidline 2015
Jack Melvin 2016
JACKSONVILLE
JAZZ FESTIVAL
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
4 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
TABLE OF CONTENTSWelcome 3Performer Schedule 5Jazz Marketplace 7Jazz Store amp 2017 Poster 9Festival Happenings 10Hall of Fame 13Piano Competition 14Jazz Jam 29Jazz Clinic 30Festival Map 36Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch 49
HEADLINERSFriday May 26Lucky Chops 16Damien Escobar 17Blind Boys of Alabama 21Jane Monheit 23Freddy Cole Quartet 24
Saturday May 27Kamasi Washington 31Gregory Porter 33Hypnotic Brass Ensemble 39The Rippingtons 41Airmen of Note 43
Sunday May 28The Commodores 51Chick Corea Trio 53Joey Alexander Trio 54 Lalah Hathaway 57Bria Skonberg 58Pacific Mambo Orchestra 59
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 5
FRIDAY May 26 Festival open 4 pm ndash midnight Music starts at 5 pm
Swinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
Schedule presented by
More Pe r fo rmances
Jazz Jam with KellyScott
QuintetHyatt Regency
Jacksonville Riverfront Presented by Hot 995
See page 29225 East Coastline Drive
10 pm - Midnight
DJ Nick Fresh 5-530 pm
Catch the Groove 5-6 pm
Jax Jazz Collective 530-630 pm
Jazzmeia Horn 530-630 pm
Freddy Cole Quartet 630 -730 pm
Blake Aaron 7-8 pm
ELEW 7-830 pm
Jane Monheit 8-9 pm
Parker Urban Band 830-930 pm
Damien Escobar 9-10 pm
Blind Boys of Alabama 930-11 pm
Marcus Anderson 10-11 pm
Lucky Chops 1030-Midnight
SATURDAY May 27 Festival open 1 pm ndash midnight Music starts at 2 pm
Swinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
More Pe r fo rmances
Jazz Fest Clinic with Eric Carter
Jazzmeia Horn and Elio Piedra See page 30
Ritz Theatre and Museum 829 N Davis St
Jacksonville FL 32202 10 am - noon
Jazz Fest After Dark
See page 6JazzFestAfterDarkcom
Friday ndash Sunday 10 pm - 2 am
Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition Winner 230-3 pm
Leon Foster Thomas 2-3 pm
Ben Adkins 2-3 pm
Akia Uwanda 3-4 pm
Taylor Roberts 330-430 pm
Eliorsquos Quartet 330-430 pm
Roman Street 430-6 pm
Morgan James 5-630 pm
Stank Sauce 5-6 pm
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble 630-8 pm
Airmen of Note Band 7-830 pm
Party in a Box feat Allana Southerland 630-730 pm
Gregory Porter 830-10 pm
The Rippingtons 9-1030 pm
Clay Benjamin 8-930 pm
Kamasi Washington 1030 pm - Midnight
Video Stream Mainstage 1030 pm - Midnight
Eric Carter 10-1130 pm
SUNDAY May 28 Festival open 1-11 pm Music starts at 2 pmSwinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
More Pe r fo rmances Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
The Noel Freidline Quintet featuring Maria Howell
See page 49
Omni Hotels amp Resorts OmniJazzBrunchEventbritecom
Two Seatings 10 am 1230 pm
Jazz ParadePresented by V1015
See page 59 Starts at the corner of
Monroe and Laura Streets 5 pm
UNF Jazz Ensemble I 230-330 pm
Gregory Agid Quintet 2-3 pm
Brandon Robertson 2-3 pm
Sorin Zlat Trio 4-5 pm
Pacific Mambo Orchestra 330-5 pm
Brian Tarquin 330-4 30 pm
Joey Alexander Trio 530-7 pm
Bria Skonberg 6-730 pm
Doug Carn 5-630 pm
Chick Corea Trio 730-9 pm
Lalah Hathaway 8-930 pm
The Katz Downstairz 7-830 pm
The Commodores 930-11 pm
Video Stream Mainstage 930 - 11 pm
MAY 26amp27
2017DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE
VENUES
1904 Music Hall
5 amp Dime A Theatre Co
Bold City Brewery
Candy Apple Cafe amp Cocktails
De Real Ting Cafe
Downtown Cigar Lounge
Element Bistro amp Bar
Hourglass PubIntuition Ale Works
Jacksonville Landing
Myth NightclubSpliffrsquos Gastropub
The Volstead
SPONSORS
City of Jacksonville
StrongbowMoon River Pizza
Pajic amp Pajic 904 Happy Hour
Folio WeeklyDowntown Vision
The ElbowVisit Jacksonville
PERFORMANCES BY
Groove Coalition
Stank SauceDr ScienceMaster RadicalTough JunkieLeisure ChiefBilly amp BellaLPTLimitlessRaisin Cake Orchestra
Bonnie BlueKnight KrawlerArvid SmithOuija BrosHigher LearningUniversal GreenLe OrchidSnacks Blues Band
Taylor RobertsSPQJamison Williams
Nan Nkama Pan-African Drum
amp Dance Ensemble
Tropic of Cancer
DJ GURUFjord ExplorerGeexellaDrew Tucker amp The New Standard
Dancing Bear Folk is PeopleGhost TropicBlue MuseJohn Parkerurban amp Friends
Clay BenjaminTriPowBrent Byrd amp The Suitcase Gypsies
Swing Bone Dixie
The Good Wood Band
Marcus Anderson
Brandon LucasJazz Jam with Eric Carter
Flag on FireChad JasmineUncle BroJax Comedy Collective
Noteworthy
JAZZFESTAFTERDARKCOMFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT
FOLLOWING THE
JACKSONVILLE JAZZ FEST
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 7
Amazing amp Beautiful Butterflies La Soucique Studio
TK Beauty EssentialsMbellish by CharMegaAboriginal Bling Bam
African Art MarketplaceBonnie Jayne Art
Gladnomad Clothingbeyou
Aloha DesignWanawake
Caricature ArtistDampS Outfitters
Mo Jazz CollectionMojo Jerky
Eye of Joy ArtLifenblackandwhite
Ricky Steele DesignsBoutique 316
Glass Flower GlassesKelvin Henderson Art
Jazz Marketplace offers an exciting shopping experience in the heart of the festival Wind your way through prize-winning artists master craftspeople specialty vendors and existing downtown establishments The marketplace will feature unique wares
such as hand-made clothing jewelry original art and other handcrafted items
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 9
Commemorate your experience at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival with some official gear This yearrsquos merchandise includes t-shirts cups hats posters and other items to keep you cool
The Official Jazz Festival Store is conveniently located in the heart of the festival in Visit Jacksonville Visitor Center on Laura Street Be sure to check out the other exciting activities and attractions Jacksonville has to offer while you are here
The Poster Since its inception in 1981
the Jacksonville Jazz Festival has presented itself with striking visual imagery in the form of the official poster Over the years talented local artists have contributed their unique touch to this much anticipated and collectible piece of marketing and memorabilia The festival is proud to present this yearrsquos poster design by local artist and designer Corey Kolb
This year the print will be silkscreened on French paper Prints can be purchased at the Official Jacksonville Jazz Festival Merchandise Store with limited editions signed and numbered by the artist
About the DesignThe idea that jazz is a
collective sound that allows individual musicians to improvise within the framework of the form reminds the artist of collage style design Collage often uses montage textures and objects to form a cohesive visual conceptndashndashmuch like jazzrsquos constantly evolving structurendashndashand this is the feeling he wanted to evoke in the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Fest poster
About the ArtistCorey Kolb is a user
interface and user experience designer for randrr He was born in Sarasota Florida and came to Jacksonville by way of Ashland Massachusetts in 1998 He attended the University of North Florida and obtained a BFA with a concentration in graphic design and digital media Corey has placed twice in the AIGA Itrsquos Always Summer Poster Show and collaborated with Eric Hinote on the ldquoRise From The Ashesrdquo mural located in downtown Jacksonville in 2013 He has a passion for music of all genres record collecting and gardening
Jazz StoreHyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
1
2
3
4
s
CHURCH
NEW
NAN
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
ST JOHNS RIVER
The FloridaTheatre
VisitJacksonville
Main LibraryHemming Park
FederalCourthouse
Ed BallBuilding
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel Jacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
SwinginrsquoStage
Presented by JacksonvilleAviation Authority
Groovinrsquo StagePresented by Aetna
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EAN
Dance Party
Find the AARP Dance Party at the intersection of W Adams
and N Laura Streets Meet us at the corner of Adams
and Laura streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live
DJ and having daily drawings for a hands-free digital assistant
This is your chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the
people here in Jacksonville
Stop by the V1015 tent and get all the details about Sista Strut ndash our
2nd Annual 3K Breast Cancer Strut ndash plus register to win four Disney Florida Resident Annual Passes
Second Line Jazz Parade Presented by V1015
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the
Second Line Jazz Parade winding through the streets on Sunday
May 28 at 5 pm
Guest Services Presented By UF Health
Visit one of the Guest Services booths presented by UF Health and let our helpful volunteers answer any questions about the festival Also be sure to
pick up your UF Health sunscreen and glow stick
See the map inside the guide for locations
Love all the jams you are hearing this weekend
Wish you could have more every day Switch to HOT995 FM
and you can Visit the HOT995 tent and download our free app
for your chance to win great prizes
Jazz Fest After Dark returns for another year Following
the last act of the festival lineup each night enjoy even more live music from 10 pm until 2 am Participating bars and clubs are located within a couple of blocks
from the Jazz Festival stages
You donrsquot join us we join you
Stop by the Aetna tent and cool off under our misting tent located near
Hemming Park track your steps and register to win an Apple Watch
Check out our pop-up Jazz
Garden piano fountains for the perfect photo opportunity
Saturday May 27 Only
Bring a friend and ShareaCoke Visit the Ice Cold Coca-Cola Summer Tour display on Saturday and get your very
own personalized mini Coke can and samples of the worldrsquos most
refreshing drink
Visit the SunPass Mobile Service Center and find out how you can save time and money on Floridarsquos toll roads and bridges Purchase a SunPass and open up a pre-
paid toll account to start saving SunPass is also accepted in
Georgia and North Carolina with more states to follow
Festival Happenings
10 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Join AARP at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 26-28th Meet us at the corner of Adams and Laura Streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live DJ and having daily drawings for a digital assistant Itrsquos open to the public and free to attend so therersquos no reason not to be there
At the event yoursquoll get a chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville Whether yoursquore looking to advance or change careers seeking caretaking advice or wanting to get involved in the community we provide helpful support and resources so that you can you achieve your goals and live your best life
Stop by the AARP Pavilion anytime during the festival We look forward to meeting you For more details visit aarporgJacksonville
AARP ISJAZZED ABOUTJACKSONVILLE
MO-arpstl_td282121_jacksonville-jazz-festival_8d5x11_170501_cp-nh_v12[2]pdf 1 5217 1231 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13
The Hon Jake Godbold 1999
Dan Kossoff 1999
Mike Tolbert 1999
Ira Koger2000
Rich Matteson 2000
The Hon Elaine Brown 2003
Marcus Roberts2003
Dick Brown 2004
JB Scott 2017Now in his 20th year as an educator JB Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series He has instructed thousands of students over the decades including many who have gone on to great jazz careers As a performer he has appeared with jazz greats including Al Hirt Pauito DrsquoRivera John Pizzarelli Kurt Elling and with the Jax Symphony and Equinox Big Band among others His JB Scott Swinginrsquo All Stars has recorded numerous CDs and is well known As a promoter and supporter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival JB has mentored young jazz artists performed at the event frequently been a panel judge for the Piano Competition arranged for venues and continues to support the festival in many other aspects Vic DiGenti
2004
Cecil Cole 2005
Teddy Washington2006
Longineu Parsons2006
Von Barlow 2007
Dr Bill Prince 2008
Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009
Bob Bednar2010
Narsquoim Rashid 2010
The Hon Bill Chappell 2011
Bunky Green 2011
Bernard ldquoWomackrdquoHoward 2012
Gary Starling 2012
Lisa Kelly 2013
Theresa OrsquoDonnell Price 2013
Ace Martin 2014
Noel Freidline 2015
Jack Melvin 2016
JACKSONVILLE
JAZZ FESTIVAL
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 5
FRIDAY May 26 Festival open 4 pm ndash midnight Music starts at 5 pm
Swinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
Schedule presented by
More Pe r fo rmances
Jazz Jam with KellyScott
QuintetHyatt Regency
Jacksonville Riverfront Presented by Hot 995
See page 29225 East Coastline Drive
10 pm - Midnight
DJ Nick Fresh 5-530 pm
Catch the Groove 5-6 pm
Jax Jazz Collective 530-630 pm
Jazzmeia Horn 530-630 pm
Freddy Cole Quartet 630 -730 pm
Blake Aaron 7-8 pm
ELEW 7-830 pm
Jane Monheit 8-9 pm
Parker Urban Band 830-930 pm
Damien Escobar 9-10 pm
Blind Boys of Alabama 930-11 pm
Marcus Anderson 10-11 pm
Lucky Chops 1030-Midnight
SATURDAY May 27 Festival open 1 pm ndash midnight Music starts at 2 pm
Swinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
More Pe r fo rmances
Jazz Fest Clinic with Eric Carter
Jazzmeia Horn and Elio Piedra See page 30
Ritz Theatre and Museum 829 N Davis St
Jacksonville FL 32202 10 am - noon
Jazz Fest After Dark
See page 6JazzFestAfterDarkcom
Friday ndash Sunday 10 pm - 2 am
Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition Winner 230-3 pm
Leon Foster Thomas 2-3 pm
Ben Adkins 2-3 pm
Akia Uwanda 3-4 pm
Taylor Roberts 330-430 pm
Eliorsquos Quartet 330-430 pm
Roman Street 430-6 pm
Morgan James 5-630 pm
Stank Sauce 5-6 pm
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble 630-8 pm
Airmen of Note Band 7-830 pm
Party in a Box feat Allana Southerland 630-730 pm
Gregory Porter 830-10 pm
The Rippingtons 9-1030 pm
Clay Benjamin 8-930 pm
Kamasi Washington 1030 pm - Midnight
Video Stream Mainstage 1030 pm - Midnight
Eric Carter 10-1130 pm
SUNDAY May 28 Festival open 1-11 pm Music starts at 2 pmSwinginrsquo Stagepresented by the Jacksonville Aviation AuthorityMain St and Adams St
Groovinrsquo Stagepresented by AetnaHemming Park
Breezinrsquo StageThe Jacksonville Landing
More Pe r fo rmances Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
The Noel Freidline Quintet featuring Maria Howell
See page 49
Omni Hotels amp Resorts OmniJazzBrunchEventbritecom
Two Seatings 10 am 1230 pm
Jazz ParadePresented by V1015
See page 59 Starts at the corner of
Monroe and Laura Streets 5 pm
UNF Jazz Ensemble I 230-330 pm
Gregory Agid Quintet 2-3 pm
Brandon Robertson 2-3 pm
Sorin Zlat Trio 4-5 pm
Pacific Mambo Orchestra 330-5 pm
Brian Tarquin 330-4 30 pm
Joey Alexander Trio 530-7 pm
Bria Skonberg 6-730 pm
Doug Carn 5-630 pm
Chick Corea Trio 730-9 pm
Lalah Hathaway 8-930 pm
The Katz Downstairz 7-830 pm
The Commodores 930-11 pm
Video Stream Mainstage 930 - 11 pm
MAY 26amp27
2017DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE
VENUES
1904 Music Hall
5 amp Dime A Theatre Co
Bold City Brewery
Candy Apple Cafe amp Cocktails
De Real Ting Cafe
Downtown Cigar Lounge
Element Bistro amp Bar
Hourglass PubIntuition Ale Works
Jacksonville Landing
Myth NightclubSpliffrsquos Gastropub
The Volstead
SPONSORS
City of Jacksonville
StrongbowMoon River Pizza
Pajic amp Pajic 904 Happy Hour
Folio WeeklyDowntown Vision
The ElbowVisit Jacksonville
PERFORMANCES BY
Groove Coalition
Stank SauceDr ScienceMaster RadicalTough JunkieLeisure ChiefBilly amp BellaLPTLimitlessRaisin Cake Orchestra
Bonnie BlueKnight KrawlerArvid SmithOuija BrosHigher LearningUniversal GreenLe OrchidSnacks Blues Band
Taylor RobertsSPQJamison Williams
Nan Nkama Pan-African Drum
amp Dance Ensemble
Tropic of Cancer
DJ GURUFjord ExplorerGeexellaDrew Tucker amp The New Standard
Dancing Bear Folk is PeopleGhost TropicBlue MuseJohn Parkerurban amp Friends
Clay BenjaminTriPowBrent Byrd amp The Suitcase Gypsies
Swing Bone Dixie
The Good Wood Band
Marcus Anderson
Brandon LucasJazz Jam with Eric Carter
Flag on FireChad JasmineUncle BroJax Comedy Collective
Noteworthy
JAZZFESTAFTERDARKCOMFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT
FOLLOWING THE
JACKSONVILLE JAZZ FEST
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 7
Amazing amp Beautiful Butterflies La Soucique Studio
TK Beauty EssentialsMbellish by CharMegaAboriginal Bling Bam
African Art MarketplaceBonnie Jayne Art
Gladnomad Clothingbeyou
Aloha DesignWanawake
Caricature ArtistDampS Outfitters
Mo Jazz CollectionMojo Jerky
Eye of Joy ArtLifenblackandwhite
Ricky Steele DesignsBoutique 316
Glass Flower GlassesKelvin Henderson Art
Jazz Marketplace offers an exciting shopping experience in the heart of the festival Wind your way through prize-winning artists master craftspeople specialty vendors and existing downtown establishments The marketplace will feature unique wares
such as hand-made clothing jewelry original art and other handcrafted items
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 9
Commemorate your experience at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival with some official gear This yearrsquos merchandise includes t-shirts cups hats posters and other items to keep you cool
The Official Jazz Festival Store is conveniently located in the heart of the festival in Visit Jacksonville Visitor Center on Laura Street Be sure to check out the other exciting activities and attractions Jacksonville has to offer while you are here
The Poster Since its inception in 1981
the Jacksonville Jazz Festival has presented itself with striking visual imagery in the form of the official poster Over the years talented local artists have contributed their unique touch to this much anticipated and collectible piece of marketing and memorabilia The festival is proud to present this yearrsquos poster design by local artist and designer Corey Kolb
This year the print will be silkscreened on French paper Prints can be purchased at the Official Jacksonville Jazz Festival Merchandise Store with limited editions signed and numbered by the artist
About the DesignThe idea that jazz is a
collective sound that allows individual musicians to improvise within the framework of the form reminds the artist of collage style design Collage often uses montage textures and objects to form a cohesive visual conceptndashndashmuch like jazzrsquos constantly evolving structurendashndashand this is the feeling he wanted to evoke in the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Fest poster
About the ArtistCorey Kolb is a user
interface and user experience designer for randrr He was born in Sarasota Florida and came to Jacksonville by way of Ashland Massachusetts in 1998 He attended the University of North Florida and obtained a BFA with a concentration in graphic design and digital media Corey has placed twice in the AIGA Itrsquos Always Summer Poster Show and collaborated with Eric Hinote on the ldquoRise From The Ashesrdquo mural located in downtown Jacksonville in 2013 He has a passion for music of all genres record collecting and gardening
Jazz StoreHyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
1
2
3
4
s
CHURCH
NEW
NAN
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
ST JOHNS RIVER
The FloridaTheatre
VisitJacksonville
Main LibraryHemming Park
FederalCourthouse
Ed BallBuilding
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel Jacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
SwinginrsquoStage
Presented by JacksonvilleAviation Authority
Groovinrsquo StagePresented by Aetna
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EAN
Dance Party
Find the AARP Dance Party at the intersection of W Adams
and N Laura Streets Meet us at the corner of Adams
and Laura streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live
DJ and having daily drawings for a hands-free digital assistant
This is your chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the
people here in Jacksonville
Stop by the V1015 tent and get all the details about Sista Strut ndash our
2nd Annual 3K Breast Cancer Strut ndash plus register to win four Disney Florida Resident Annual Passes
Second Line Jazz Parade Presented by V1015
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the
Second Line Jazz Parade winding through the streets on Sunday
May 28 at 5 pm
Guest Services Presented By UF Health
Visit one of the Guest Services booths presented by UF Health and let our helpful volunteers answer any questions about the festival Also be sure to
pick up your UF Health sunscreen and glow stick
See the map inside the guide for locations
Love all the jams you are hearing this weekend
Wish you could have more every day Switch to HOT995 FM
and you can Visit the HOT995 tent and download our free app
for your chance to win great prizes
Jazz Fest After Dark returns for another year Following
the last act of the festival lineup each night enjoy even more live music from 10 pm until 2 am Participating bars and clubs are located within a couple of blocks
from the Jazz Festival stages
You donrsquot join us we join you
Stop by the Aetna tent and cool off under our misting tent located near
Hemming Park track your steps and register to win an Apple Watch
Check out our pop-up Jazz
Garden piano fountains for the perfect photo opportunity
Saturday May 27 Only
Bring a friend and ShareaCoke Visit the Ice Cold Coca-Cola Summer Tour display on Saturday and get your very
own personalized mini Coke can and samples of the worldrsquos most
refreshing drink
Visit the SunPass Mobile Service Center and find out how you can save time and money on Floridarsquos toll roads and bridges Purchase a SunPass and open up a pre-
paid toll account to start saving SunPass is also accepted in
Georgia and North Carolina with more states to follow
Festival Happenings
10 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Join AARP at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 26-28th Meet us at the corner of Adams and Laura Streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live DJ and having daily drawings for a digital assistant Itrsquos open to the public and free to attend so therersquos no reason not to be there
At the event yoursquoll get a chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville Whether yoursquore looking to advance or change careers seeking caretaking advice or wanting to get involved in the community we provide helpful support and resources so that you can you achieve your goals and live your best life
Stop by the AARP Pavilion anytime during the festival We look forward to meeting you For more details visit aarporgJacksonville
AARP ISJAZZED ABOUTJACKSONVILLE
MO-arpstl_td282121_jacksonville-jazz-festival_8d5x11_170501_cp-nh_v12[2]pdf 1 5217 1231 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13
The Hon Jake Godbold 1999
Dan Kossoff 1999
Mike Tolbert 1999
Ira Koger2000
Rich Matteson 2000
The Hon Elaine Brown 2003
Marcus Roberts2003
Dick Brown 2004
JB Scott 2017Now in his 20th year as an educator JB Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series He has instructed thousands of students over the decades including many who have gone on to great jazz careers As a performer he has appeared with jazz greats including Al Hirt Pauito DrsquoRivera John Pizzarelli Kurt Elling and with the Jax Symphony and Equinox Big Band among others His JB Scott Swinginrsquo All Stars has recorded numerous CDs and is well known As a promoter and supporter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival JB has mentored young jazz artists performed at the event frequently been a panel judge for the Piano Competition arranged for venues and continues to support the festival in many other aspects Vic DiGenti
2004
Cecil Cole 2005
Teddy Washington2006
Longineu Parsons2006
Von Barlow 2007
Dr Bill Prince 2008
Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009
Bob Bednar2010
Narsquoim Rashid 2010
The Hon Bill Chappell 2011
Bunky Green 2011
Bernard ldquoWomackrdquoHoward 2012
Gary Starling 2012
Lisa Kelly 2013
Theresa OrsquoDonnell Price 2013
Ace Martin 2014
Noel Freidline 2015
Jack Melvin 2016
JACKSONVILLE
JAZZ FESTIVAL
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
RV SALES bull SERVICE bull ACCESSORIES
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
MAY 26amp27
2017DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE
VENUES
1904 Music Hall
5 amp Dime A Theatre Co
Bold City Brewery
Candy Apple Cafe amp Cocktails
De Real Ting Cafe
Downtown Cigar Lounge
Element Bistro amp Bar
Hourglass PubIntuition Ale Works
Jacksonville Landing
Myth NightclubSpliffrsquos Gastropub
The Volstead
SPONSORS
City of Jacksonville
StrongbowMoon River Pizza
Pajic amp Pajic 904 Happy Hour
Folio WeeklyDowntown Vision
The ElbowVisit Jacksonville
PERFORMANCES BY
Groove Coalition
Stank SauceDr ScienceMaster RadicalTough JunkieLeisure ChiefBilly amp BellaLPTLimitlessRaisin Cake Orchestra
Bonnie BlueKnight KrawlerArvid SmithOuija BrosHigher LearningUniversal GreenLe OrchidSnacks Blues Band
Taylor RobertsSPQJamison Williams
Nan Nkama Pan-African Drum
amp Dance Ensemble
Tropic of Cancer
DJ GURUFjord ExplorerGeexellaDrew Tucker amp The New Standard
Dancing Bear Folk is PeopleGhost TropicBlue MuseJohn Parkerurban amp Friends
Clay BenjaminTriPowBrent Byrd amp The Suitcase Gypsies
Swing Bone Dixie
The Good Wood Band
Marcus Anderson
Brandon LucasJazz Jam with Eric Carter
Flag on FireChad JasmineUncle BroJax Comedy Collective
Noteworthy
JAZZFESTAFTERDARKCOMFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT
FOLLOWING THE
JACKSONVILLE JAZZ FEST
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 7
Amazing amp Beautiful Butterflies La Soucique Studio
TK Beauty EssentialsMbellish by CharMegaAboriginal Bling Bam
African Art MarketplaceBonnie Jayne Art
Gladnomad Clothingbeyou
Aloha DesignWanawake
Caricature ArtistDampS Outfitters
Mo Jazz CollectionMojo Jerky
Eye of Joy ArtLifenblackandwhite
Ricky Steele DesignsBoutique 316
Glass Flower GlassesKelvin Henderson Art
Jazz Marketplace offers an exciting shopping experience in the heart of the festival Wind your way through prize-winning artists master craftspeople specialty vendors and existing downtown establishments The marketplace will feature unique wares
such as hand-made clothing jewelry original art and other handcrafted items
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 9
Commemorate your experience at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival with some official gear This yearrsquos merchandise includes t-shirts cups hats posters and other items to keep you cool
The Official Jazz Festival Store is conveniently located in the heart of the festival in Visit Jacksonville Visitor Center on Laura Street Be sure to check out the other exciting activities and attractions Jacksonville has to offer while you are here
The Poster Since its inception in 1981
the Jacksonville Jazz Festival has presented itself with striking visual imagery in the form of the official poster Over the years talented local artists have contributed their unique touch to this much anticipated and collectible piece of marketing and memorabilia The festival is proud to present this yearrsquos poster design by local artist and designer Corey Kolb
This year the print will be silkscreened on French paper Prints can be purchased at the Official Jacksonville Jazz Festival Merchandise Store with limited editions signed and numbered by the artist
About the DesignThe idea that jazz is a
collective sound that allows individual musicians to improvise within the framework of the form reminds the artist of collage style design Collage often uses montage textures and objects to form a cohesive visual conceptndashndashmuch like jazzrsquos constantly evolving structurendashndashand this is the feeling he wanted to evoke in the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Fest poster
About the ArtistCorey Kolb is a user
interface and user experience designer for randrr He was born in Sarasota Florida and came to Jacksonville by way of Ashland Massachusetts in 1998 He attended the University of North Florida and obtained a BFA with a concentration in graphic design and digital media Corey has placed twice in the AIGA Itrsquos Always Summer Poster Show and collaborated with Eric Hinote on the ldquoRise From The Ashesrdquo mural located in downtown Jacksonville in 2013 He has a passion for music of all genres record collecting and gardening
Jazz StoreHyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
1
2
3
4
s
CHURCH
NEW
NAN
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
ST JOHNS RIVER
The FloridaTheatre
VisitJacksonville
Main LibraryHemming Park
FederalCourthouse
Ed BallBuilding
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel Jacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
SwinginrsquoStage
Presented by JacksonvilleAviation Authority
Groovinrsquo StagePresented by Aetna
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EAN
Dance Party
Find the AARP Dance Party at the intersection of W Adams
and N Laura Streets Meet us at the corner of Adams
and Laura streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live
DJ and having daily drawings for a hands-free digital assistant
This is your chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the
people here in Jacksonville
Stop by the V1015 tent and get all the details about Sista Strut ndash our
2nd Annual 3K Breast Cancer Strut ndash plus register to win four Disney Florida Resident Annual Passes
Second Line Jazz Parade Presented by V1015
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the
Second Line Jazz Parade winding through the streets on Sunday
May 28 at 5 pm
Guest Services Presented By UF Health
Visit one of the Guest Services booths presented by UF Health and let our helpful volunteers answer any questions about the festival Also be sure to
pick up your UF Health sunscreen and glow stick
See the map inside the guide for locations
Love all the jams you are hearing this weekend
Wish you could have more every day Switch to HOT995 FM
and you can Visit the HOT995 tent and download our free app
for your chance to win great prizes
Jazz Fest After Dark returns for another year Following
the last act of the festival lineup each night enjoy even more live music from 10 pm until 2 am Participating bars and clubs are located within a couple of blocks
from the Jazz Festival stages
You donrsquot join us we join you
Stop by the Aetna tent and cool off under our misting tent located near
Hemming Park track your steps and register to win an Apple Watch
Check out our pop-up Jazz
Garden piano fountains for the perfect photo opportunity
Saturday May 27 Only
Bring a friend and ShareaCoke Visit the Ice Cold Coca-Cola Summer Tour display on Saturday and get your very
own personalized mini Coke can and samples of the worldrsquos most
refreshing drink
Visit the SunPass Mobile Service Center and find out how you can save time and money on Floridarsquos toll roads and bridges Purchase a SunPass and open up a pre-
paid toll account to start saving SunPass is also accepted in
Georgia and North Carolina with more states to follow
Festival Happenings
10 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Join AARP at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 26-28th Meet us at the corner of Adams and Laura Streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live DJ and having daily drawings for a digital assistant Itrsquos open to the public and free to attend so therersquos no reason not to be there
At the event yoursquoll get a chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville Whether yoursquore looking to advance or change careers seeking caretaking advice or wanting to get involved in the community we provide helpful support and resources so that you can you achieve your goals and live your best life
Stop by the AARP Pavilion anytime during the festival We look forward to meeting you For more details visit aarporgJacksonville
AARP ISJAZZED ABOUTJACKSONVILLE
MO-arpstl_td282121_jacksonville-jazz-festival_8d5x11_170501_cp-nh_v12[2]pdf 1 5217 1231 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13
The Hon Jake Godbold 1999
Dan Kossoff 1999
Mike Tolbert 1999
Ira Koger2000
Rich Matteson 2000
The Hon Elaine Brown 2003
Marcus Roberts2003
Dick Brown 2004
JB Scott 2017Now in his 20th year as an educator JB Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series He has instructed thousands of students over the decades including many who have gone on to great jazz careers As a performer he has appeared with jazz greats including Al Hirt Pauito DrsquoRivera John Pizzarelli Kurt Elling and with the Jax Symphony and Equinox Big Band among others His JB Scott Swinginrsquo All Stars has recorded numerous CDs and is well known As a promoter and supporter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival JB has mentored young jazz artists performed at the event frequently been a panel judge for the Piano Competition arranged for venues and continues to support the festival in many other aspects Vic DiGenti
2004
Cecil Cole 2005
Teddy Washington2006
Longineu Parsons2006
Von Barlow 2007
Dr Bill Prince 2008
Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009
Bob Bednar2010
Narsquoim Rashid 2010
The Hon Bill Chappell 2011
Bunky Green 2011
Bernard ldquoWomackrdquoHoward 2012
Gary Starling 2012
Lisa Kelly 2013
Theresa OrsquoDonnell Price 2013
Ace Martin 2014
Noel Freidline 2015
Jack Melvin 2016
JACKSONVILLE
JAZZ FESTIVAL
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 7
Amazing amp Beautiful Butterflies La Soucique Studio
TK Beauty EssentialsMbellish by CharMegaAboriginal Bling Bam
African Art MarketplaceBonnie Jayne Art
Gladnomad Clothingbeyou
Aloha DesignWanawake
Caricature ArtistDampS Outfitters
Mo Jazz CollectionMojo Jerky
Eye of Joy ArtLifenblackandwhite
Ricky Steele DesignsBoutique 316
Glass Flower GlassesKelvin Henderson Art
Jazz Marketplace offers an exciting shopping experience in the heart of the festival Wind your way through prize-winning artists master craftspeople specialty vendors and existing downtown establishments The marketplace will feature unique wares
such as hand-made clothing jewelry original art and other handcrafted items
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 9
Commemorate your experience at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival with some official gear This yearrsquos merchandise includes t-shirts cups hats posters and other items to keep you cool
The Official Jazz Festival Store is conveniently located in the heart of the festival in Visit Jacksonville Visitor Center on Laura Street Be sure to check out the other exciting activities and attractions Jacksonville has to offer while you are here
The Poster Since its inception in 1981
the Jacksonville Jazz Festival has presented itself with striking visual imagery in the form of the official poster Over the years talented local artists have contributed their unique touch to this much anticipated and collectible piece of marketing and memorabilia The festival is proud to present this yearrsquos poster design by local artist and designer Corey Kolb
This year the print will be silkscreened on French paper Prints can be purchased at the Official Jacksonville Jazz Festival Merchandise Store with limited editions signed and numbered by the artist
About the DesignThe idea that jazz is a
collective sound that allows individual musicians to improvise within the framework of the form reminds the artist of collage style design Collage often uses montage textures and objects to form a cohesive visual conceptndashndashmuch like jazzrsquos constantly evolving structurendashndashand this is the feeling he wanted to evoke in the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Fest poster
About the ArtistCorey Kolb is a user
interface and user experience designer for randrr He was born in Sarasota Florida and came to Jacksonville by way of Ashland Massachusetts in 1998 He attended the University of North Florida and obtained a BFA with a concentration in graphic design and digital media Corey has placed twice in the AIGA Itrsquos Always Summer Poster Show and collaborated with Eric Hinote on the ldquoRise From The Ashesrdquo mural located in downtown Jacksonville in 2013 He has a passion for music of all genres record collecting and gardening
Jazz StoreHyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
1
2
3
4
s
CHURCH
NEW
NAN
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
ST JOHNS RIVER
The FloridaTheatre
VisitJacksonville
Main LibraryHemming Park
FederalCourthouse
Ed BallBuilding
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel Jacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
SwinginrsquoStage
Presented by JacksonvilleAviation Authority
Groovinrsquo StagePresented by Aetna
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EAN
Dance Party
Find the AARP Dance Party at the intersection of W Adams
and N Laura Streets Meet us at the corner of Adams
and Laura streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live
DJ and having daily drawings for a hands-free digital assistant
This is your chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the
people here in Jacksonville
Stop by the V1015 tent and get all the details about Sista Strut ndash our
2nd Annual 3K Breast Cancer Strut ndash plus register to win four Disney Florida Resident Annual Passes
Second Line Jazz Parade Presented by V1015
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the
Second Line Jazz Parade winding through the streets on Sunday
May 28 at 5 pm
Guest Services Presented By UF Health
Visit one of the Guest Services booths presented by UF Health and let our helpful volunteers answer any questions about the festival Also be sure to
pick up your UF Health sunscreen and glow stick
See the map inside the guide for locations
Love all the jams you are hearing this weekend
Wish you could have more every day Switch to HOT995 FM
and you can Visit the HOT995 tent and download our free app
for your chance to win great prizes
Jazz Fest After Dark returns for another year Following
the last act of the festival lineup each night enjoy even more live music from 10 pm until 2 am Participating bars and clubs are located within a couple of blocks
from the Jazz Festival stages
You donrsquot join us we join you
Stop by the Aetna tent and cool off under our misting tent located near
Hemming Park track your steps and register to win an Apple Watch
Check out our pop-up Jazz
Garden piano fountains for the perfect photo opportunity
Saturday May 27 Only
Bring a friend and ShareaCoke Visit the Ice Cold Coca-Cola Summer Tour display on Saturday and get your very
own personalized mini Coke can and samples of the worldrsquos most
refreshing drink
Visit the SunPass Mobile Service Center and find out how you can save time and money on Floridarsquos toll roads and bridges Purchase a SunPass and open up a pre-
paid toll account to start saving SunPass is also accepted in
Georgia and North Carolina with more states to follow
Festival Happenings
10 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Join AARP at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 26-28th Meet us at the corner of Adams and Laura Streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live DJ and having daily drawings for a digital assistant Itrsquos open to the public and free to attend so therersquos no reason not to be there
At the event yoursquoll get a chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville Whether yoursquore looking to advance or change careers seeking caretaking advice or wanting to get involved in the community we provide helpful support and resources so that you can you achieve your goals and live your best life
Stop by the AARP Pavilion anytime during the festival We look forward to meeting you For more details visit aarporgJacksonville
AARP ISJAZZED ABOUTJACKSONVILLE
MO-arpstl_td282121_jacksonville-jazz-festival_8d5x11_170501_cp-nh_v12[2]pdf 1 5217 1231 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13
The Hon Jake Godbold 1999
Dan Kossoff 1999
Mike Tolbert 1999
Ira Koger2000
Rich Matteson 2000
The Hon Elaine Brown 2003
Marcus Roberts2003
Dick Brown 2004
JB Scott 2017Now in his 20th year as an educator JB Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series He has instructed thousands of students over the decades including many who have gone on to great jazz careers As a performer he has appeared with jazz greats including Al Hirt Pauito DrsquoRivera John Pizzarelli Kurt Elling and with the Jax Symphony and Equinox Big Band among others His JB Scott Swinginrsquo All Stars has recorded numerous CDs and is well known As a promoter and supporter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival JB has mentored young jazz artists performed at the event frequently been a panel judge for the Piano Competition arranged for venues and continues to support the festival in many other aspects Vic DiGenti
2004
Cecil Cole 2005
Teddy Washington2006
Longineu Parsons2006
Von Barlow 2007
Dr Bill Prince 2008
Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009
Bob Bednar2010
Narsquoim Rashid 2010
The Hon Bill Chappell 2011
Bunky Green 2011
Bernard ldquoWomackrdquoHoward 2012
Gary Starling 2012
Lisa Kelly 2013
Theresa OrsquoDonnell Price 2013
Ace Martin 2014
Noel Freidline 2015
Jack Melvin 2016
JACKSONVILLE
JAZZ FESTIVAL
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 9
Commemorate your experience at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival with some official gear This yearrsquos merchandise includes t-shirts cups hats posters and other items to keep you cool
The Official Jazz Festival Store is conveniently located in the heart of the festival in Visit Jacksonville Visitor Center on Laura Street Be sure to check out the other exciting activities and attractions Jacksonville has to offer while you are here
The Poster Since its inception in 1981
the Jacksonville Jazz Festival has presented itself with striking visual imagery in the form of the official poster Over the years talented local artists have contributed their unique touch to this much anticipated and collectible piece of marketing and memorabilia The festival is proud to present this yearrsquos poster design by local artist and designer Corey Kolb
This year the print will be silkscreened on French paper Prints can be purchased at the Official Jacksonville Jazz Festival Merchandise Store with limited editions signed and numbered by the artist
About the DesignThe idea that jazz is a
collective sound that allows individual musicians to improvise within the framework of the form reminds the artist of collage style design Collage often uses montage textures and objects to form a cohesive visual conceptndashndashmuch like jazzrsquos constantly evolving structurendashndashand this is the feeling he wanted to evoke in the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Fest poster
About the ArtistCorey Kolb is a user
interface and user experience designer for randrr He was born in Sarasota Florida and came to Jacksonville by way of Ashland Massachusetts in 1998 He attended the University of North Florida and obtained a BFA with a concentration in graphic design and digital media Corey has placed twice in the AIGA Itrsquos Always Summer Poster Show and collaborated with Eric Hinote on the ldquoRise From The Ashesrdquo mural located in downtown Jacksonville in 2013 He has a passion for music of all genres record collecting and gardening
Jazz StoreHyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
1
2
3
4
s
CHURCH
NEW
NAN
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
ST JOHNS RIVER
The FloridaTheatre
VisitJacksonville
Main LibraryHemming Park
FederalCourthouse
Ed BallBuilding
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel Jacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
SwinginrsquoStage
Presented by JacksonvilleAviation Authority
Groovinrsquo StagePresented by Aetna
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EAN
Dance Party
Find the AARP Dance Party at the intersection of W Adams
and N Laura Streets Meet us at the corner of Adams
and Laura streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live
DJ and having daily drawings for a hands-free digital assistant
This is your chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the
people here in Jacksonville
Stop by the V1015 tent and get all the details about Sista Strut ndash our
2nd Annual 3K Breast Cancer Strut ndash plus register to win four Disney Florida Resident Annual Passes
Second Line Jazz Parade Presented by V1015
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the
Second Line Jazz Parade winding through the streets on Sunday
May 28 at 5 pm
Guest Services Presented By UF Health
Visit one of the Guest Services booths presented by UF Health and let our helpful volunteers answer any questions about the festival Also be sure to
pick up your UF Health sunscreen and glow stick
See the map inside the guide for locations
Love all the jams you are hearing this weekend
Wish you could have more every day Switch to HOT995 FM
and you can Visit the HOT995 tent and download our free app
for your chance to win great prizes
Jazz Fest After Dark returns for another year Following
the last act of the festival lineup each night enjoy even more live music from 10 pm until 2 am Participating bars and clubs are located within a couple of blocks
from the Jazz Festival stages
You donrsquot join us we join you
Stop by the Aetna tent and cool off under our misting tent located near
Hemming Park track your steps and register to win an Apple Watch
Check out our pop-up Jazz
Garden piano fountains for the perfect photo opportunity
Saturday May 27 Only
Bring a friend and ShareaCoke Visit the Ice Cold Coca-Cola Summer Tour display on Saturday and get your very
own personalized mini Coke can and samples of the worldrsquos most
refreshing drink
Visit the SunPass Mobile Service Center and find out how you can save time and money on Floridarsquos toll roads and bridges Purchase a SunPass and open up a pre-
paid toll account to start saving SunPass is also accepted in
Georgia and North Carolina with more states to follow
Festival Happenings
10 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Join AARP at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 26-28th Meet us at the corner of Adams and Laura Streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live DJ and having daily drawings for a digital assistant Itrsquos open to the public and free to attend so therersquos no reason not to be there
At the event yoursquoll get a chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville Whether yoursquore looking to advance or change careers seeking caretaking advice or wanting to get involved in the community we provide helpful support and resources so that you can you achieve your goals and live your best life
Stop by the AARP Pavilion anytime during the festival We look forward to meeting you For more details visit aarporgJacksonville
AARP ISJAZZED ABOUTJACKSONVILLE
MO-arpstl_td282121_jacksonville-jazz-festival_8d5x11_170501_cp-nh_v12[2]pdf 1 5217 1231 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13
The Hon Jake Godbold 1999
Dan Kossoff 1999
Mike Tolbert 1999
Ira Koger2000
Rich Matteson 2000
The Hon Elaine Brown 2003
Marcus Roberts2003
Dick Brown 2004
JB Scott 2017Now in his 20th year as an educator JB Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series He has instructed thousands of students over the decades including many who have gone on to great jazz careers As a performer he has appeared with jazz greats including Al Hirt Pauito DrsquoRivera John Pizzarelli Kurt Elling and with the Jax Symphony and Equinox Big Band among others His JB Scott Swinginrsquo All Stars has recorded numerous CDs and is well known As a promoter and supporter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival JB has mentored young jazz artists performed at the event frequently been a panel judge for the Piano Competition arranged for venues and continues to support the festival in many other aspects Vic DiGenti
2004
Cecil Cole 2005
Teddy Washington2006
Longineu Parsons2006
Von Barlow 2007
Dr Bill Prince 2008
Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009
Bob Bednar2010
Narsquoim Rashid 2010
The Hon Bill Chappell 2011
Bunky Green 2011
Bernard ldquoWomackrdquoHoward 2012
Gary Starling 2012
Lisa Kelly 2013
Theresa OrsquoDonnell Price 2013
Ace Martin 2014
Noel Freidline 2015
Jack Melvin 2016
JACKSONVILLE
JAZZ FESTIVAL
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
Dance Party
Find the AARP Dance Party at the intersection of W Adams
and N Laura Streets Meet us at the corner of Adams
and Laura streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live
DJ and having daily drawings for a hands-free digital assistant
This is your chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the
people here in Jacksonville
Stop by the V1015 tent and get all the details about Sista Strut ndash our
2nd Annual 3K Breast Cancer Strut ndash plus register to win four Disney Florida Resident Annual Passes
Second Line Jazz Parade Presented by V1015
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the
Second Line Jazz Parade winding through the streets on Sunday
May 28 at 5 pm
Guest Services Presented By UF Health
Visit one of the Guest Services booths presented by UF Health and let our helpful volunteers answer any questions about the festival Also be sure to
pick up your UF Health sunscreen and glow stick
See the map inside the guide for locations
Love all the jams you are hearing this weekend
Wish you could have more every day Switch to HOT995 FM
and you can Visit the HOT995 tent and download our free app
for your chance to win great prizes
Jazz Fest After Dark returns for another year Following
the last act of the festival lineup each night enjoy even more live music from 10 pm until 2 am Participating bars and clubs are located within a couple of blocks
from the Jazz Festival stages
You donrsquot join us we join you
Stop by the Aetna tent and cool off under our misting tent located near
Hemming Park track your steps and register to win an Apple Watch
Check out our pop-up Jazz
Garden piano fountains for the perfect photo opportunity
Saturday May 27 Only
Bring a friend and ShareaCoke Visit the Ice Cold Coca-Cola Summer Tour display on Saturday and get your very
own personalized mini Coke can and samples of the worldrsquos most
refreshing drink
Visit the SunPass Mobile Service Center and find out how you can save time and money on Floridarsquos toll roads and bridges Purchase a SunPass and open up a pre-
paid toll account to start saving SunPass is also accepted in
Georgia and North Carolina with more states to follow
Festival Happenings
10 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Join AARP at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 26-28th Meet us at the corner of Adams and Laura Streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live DJ and having daily drawings for a digital assistant Itrsquos open to the public and free to attend so therersquos no reason not to be there
At the event yoursquoll get a chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville Whether yoursquore looking to advance or change careers seeking caretaking advice or wanting to get involved in the community we provide helpful support and resources so that you can you achieve your goals and live your best life
Stop by the AARP Pavilion anytime during the festival We look forward to meeting you For more details visit aarporgJacksonville
AARP ISJAZZED ABOUTJACKSONVILLE
MO-arpstl_td282121_jacksonville-jazz-festival_8d5x11_170501_cp-nh_v12[2]pdf 1 5217 1231 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13
The Hon Jake Godbold 1999
Dan Kossoff 1999
Mike Tolbert 1999
Ira Koger2000
Rich Matteson 2000
The Hon Elaine Brown 2003
Marcus Roberts2003
Dick Brown 2004
JB Scott 2017Now in his 20th year as an educator JB Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series He has instructed thousands of students over the decades including many who have gone on to great jazz careers As a performer he has appeared with jazz greats including Al Hirt Pauito DrsquoRivera John Pizzarelli Kurt Elling and with the Jax Symphony and Equinox Big Band among others His JB Scott Swinginrsquo All Stars has recorded numerous CDs and is well known As a promoter and supporter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival JB has mentored young jazz artists performed at the event frequently been a panel judge for the Piano Competition arranged for venues and continues to support the festival in many other aspects Vic DiGenti
2004
Cecil Cole 2005
Teddy Washington2006
Longineu Parsons2006
Von Barlow 2007
Dr Bill Prince 2008
Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009
Bob Bednar2010
Narsquoim Rashid 2010
The Hon Bill Chappell 2011
Bunky Green 2011
Bernard ldquoWomackrdquoHoward 2012
Gary Starling 2012
Lisa Kelly 2013
Theresa OrsquoDonnell Price 2013
Ace Martin 2014
Noel Freidline 2015
Jack Melvin 2016
JACKSONVILLE
JAZZ FESTIVAL
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
Join AARP at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 26-28th Meet us at the corner of Adams and Laura Streets where wersquoll be hosting a dance party with a live DJ and having daily drawings for a digital assistant Itrsquos open to the public and free to attend so therersquos no reason not to be there
At the event yoursquoll get a chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville Whether yoursquore looking to advance or change careers seeking caretaking advice or wanting to get involved in the community we provide helpful support and resources so that you can you achieve your goals and live your best life
Stop by the AARP Pavilion anytime during the festival We look forward to meeting you For more details visit aarporgJacksonville
AARP ISJAZZED ABOUTJACKSONVILLE
MO-arpstl_td282121_jacksonville-jazz-festival_8d5x11_170501_cp-nh_v12[2]pdf 1 5217 1231 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13
The Hon Jake Godbold 1999
Dan Kossoff 1999
Mike Tolbert 1999
Ira Koger2000
Rich Matteson 2000
The Hon Elaine Brown 2003
Marcus Roberts2003
Dick Brown 2004
JB Scott 2017Now in his 20th year as an educator JB Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series He has instructed thousands of students over the decades including many who have gone on to great jazz careers As a performer he has appeared with jazz greats including Al Hirt Pauito DrsquoRivera John Pizzarelli Kurt Elling and with the Jax Symphony and Equinox Big Band among others His JB Scott Swinginrsquo All Stars has recorded numerous CDs and is well known As a promoter and supporter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival JB has mentored young jazz artists performed at the event frequently been a panel judge for the Piano Competition arranged for venues and continues to support the festival in many other aspects Vic DiGenti
2004
Cecil Cole 2005
Teddy Washington2006
Longineu Parsons2006
Von Barlow 2007
Dr Bill Prince 2008
Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009
Bob Bednar2010
Narsquoim Rashid 2010
The Hon Bill Chappell 2011
Bunky Green 2011
Bernard ldquoWomackrdquoHoward 2012
Gary Starling 2012
Lisa Kelly 2013
Theresa OrsquoDonnell Price 2013
Ace Martin 2014
Noel Freidline 2015
Jack Melvin 2016
JACKSONVILLE
JAZZ FESTIVAL
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
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copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13
The Hon Jake Godbold 1999
Dan Kossoff 1999
Mike Tolbert 1999
Ira Koger2000
Rich Matteson 2000
The Hon Elaine Brown 2003
Marcus Roberts2003
Dick Brown 2004
JB Scott 2017Now in his 20th year as an educator JB Scott is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies and Director of the acclaimed UNF Great American Jazz Series He has instructed thousands of students over the decades including many who have gone on to great jazz careers As a performer he has appeared with jazz greats including Al Hirt Pauito DrsquoRivera John Pizzarelli Kurt Elling and with the Jax Symphony and Equinox Big Band among others His JB Scott Swinginrsquo All Stars has recorded numerous CDs and is well known As a promoter and supporter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival JB has mentored young jazz artists performed at the event frequently been a panel judge for the Piano Competition arranged for venues and continues to support the festival in many other aspects Vic DiGenti
2004
Cecil Cole 2005
Teddy Washington2006
Longineu Parsons2006
Von Barlow 2007
Dr Bill Prince 2008
Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009
Bob Bednar2010
Narsquoim Rashid 2010
The Hon Bill Chappell 2011
Bunky Green 2011
Bernard ldquoWomackrdquoHoward 2012
Gary Starling 2012
Lisa Kelly 2013
Theresa OrsquoDonnell Price 2013
Ace Martin 2014
Noel Freidline 2015
Jack Melvin 2016
JACKSONVILLE
JAZZ FESTIVAL
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
For more than 30 years the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition Presented by Keyboard Connection it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere
Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this yearrsquos festival This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent
Currently attending the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on a Nanarsquos Way Scholarship Esteban Castro has already shared the stage with world-class jazz musicians such as Christian McBride Wynton Marsalis Joe Lovano Wayne Escoffery Willie Jones III and Sheila E among others At the age of 14 Castro has written more than 30 original compositions and has released two award-winning albums On the Edge and Parade
Hope Udobi Nwachukwu is a world class artist who has performed and traveled all over the world He has performed and traveled with a variety of world class musicians and singers in the business ranging from jazz RampB soul and gospel In 2016 he was selected by the Jazz at the Lincoln Center as an Artist in Residence to perform an eight week residency in Doha Qatar Hope is currently recording his debut album
Jacob Hart began playing both guitar and piano at the age of seven Along with his interests in classical music Hart continued playing jazz piano and began studying jazz at The University of Miami Frost School of Music where he is currently in his junior year as a performance major Hart has been mentored by and performed with Brian Lynch Martin Bejerano Mike Orta Gary Campbell John Hart Patience Higgins and Thurman Baker
Zach Bartholomew earned his doctorate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music His professional experience includes leading a jazz quartet on Princess Cruise Lines releasing an album with his trio and headlining at venues across the country such as Blues Alley Twins Jazz Club Andyrsquos Jazz Club the Jazz Showcase Nighttown the BOP STOP Cliff Bells the Jazz Kitchen the Jazz Estate the Velvet Note WhyNot Jazz Room and many others
Jazz pianist and composer Zoltan Balogh first started playing piano at the age of six He was born in Budapest Hungary and his father was one of his first piano teachers Zoltan began his early studies at the OSZK Hungarian Music Studio School In 2007 he mastered the professional level of jazz piano Zoltan creates his own musical sound and is inspired mostly by his native Hungarian music culture
Artist in Residence and Professor of Guitar at Jacksonville University Gary Starling is a paragon of Jacksonville jazz His accomplished resumeacute includes performances with Bob Hope Diahann Carroll Rita Moreno Skitch Henderson the Jacksonville Symphony Pops
Orchestra and many others Gary is a member of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame
Scott Giddens is an award-winning jazz pianist and a current faculty member of Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida His distinguished career includes performances with the Brecker Brothers Joe Lovano Russell Malone John Pizzarelli and Diane Schuur
and in festivals and venues world-wide including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Doug Carn is a highly acclaimed Jacksonville University alumni and past instructor of piano and improvisation Dougrsquos accomplishments span five decades including his own releases and work with artists such as Nat Adderley Earth Wind amp Fire Shirley Horn
Stanley Turrentine Irene Reid and Joey DeFrancesco
The Judges
Host BandThe Piano Competition will feature the talents of the UNF 30th Anniversary All-Stars featuring Lisa Kelly JB Scott Dr Bill Prince Todd DelGiudice Aaron Lehrian Barry Greene Dennis Marks and Danny Gottlieb
The Finalists
14 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Master of CeremonyCourtney Lewis serves as music director of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra With clear artistic vision subtle musicality and innovative programming
Lewis has established himself as one of his generationrsquos most talented conductors
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
Whether you are a professional or a beginnerAll roads lead to Keyboard Connectionyour official Yamaha Piano Dealer
To purchase the piano of your dreams visitKeyboard Connection today
9912 San Jose Boulevard Jacksonville FLPianosjaxcom bull 880-0002
ad-Keyboard Connection-JJF17pdf 1 4417 954 AM
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
16 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Redefining what it means to be a brass band Lucky Chops stormed onto the scene in 2015 with the help of millions of viewers around the globe Together this group of six talented individuals has created a unique sound and energy which has resonated worldwide with viral success launching a career that is now headed toward untold heights
With roots going back to New York Cityrsquos LaGuardia Arts High School the band started out
performing on the streets of New York and in small venues around the city After years of exploring a variety of musical directions and styles the band realized that they had created something so powerful that it needed to be pursued at all costs With a mission to capture the energy of a rock band and fuse it seamlessly with the dance-ability of an EDM DJ the group took their act to one of the most energetic evolving and continuously
pulsating venues in the world the New York City subway system
Heading into 2016 with a rabid fan base and more than 40 million views on all their videos in tow Lucky Chops is setting out to show the world city by city country by country and video by video the pure magic that happens each and every time they get together
Lucky ChopsFriday 1030 pm ndash Midnight
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17
Once a self-proclaimed retired artist Damien is now back to being one of the worldrsquos top violinists The people have taken note and so has the media ndash the gatekeepers of information with major features in People Magazine Huffington Post CNN The NY Daily News and Chicago Tribune to name a select few The star even found his way back on national television performing on WETVrsquos ldquoDavid Tuterarsquos Unveiledrdquo Since then invitations to appear on television havenrsquot ceased landing Escobar in the interviewee chair at every major network on both a local and national scale including Fox News The Hallmark Channel The Katie Couric Show Empire Live NBC CBS and ABC
Today Damienrsquos solo career is moving at lightning speed Damien is currently promoting his newest single ldquoGet Up And Dancerdquo which is the lead single from his second solo album entitled Boundless This album in particular is important to Damien as it marks Damienrsquos first solo album of all originally produced material The nationally executed Boundless Tour has brought Damien to a number of US cities for an unprecedented number of sold out shows in various major markets including Chicago Philadelphia Los Angeles and New York City His single ldquoFreedomrdquo premiered at no15 on the iTunes dance charts and subsequently broke the iTunes Hot 100 Top 10
Damien Escobar
Friday 9 - 10 pm
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
18 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
A decade into his career Eric Lewis had an epiphany The songs he was playing werenrsquot speaking to him the way he wanted them to while they were part of the traditional jazz repertoire they werenrsquot part of his own emotional repertoire On the other hand there were contemporary rock songs whose lyrics meant the world to him Lewis considered
Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself Hailing from Dallas Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a ldquoRising Starrdquo With the ambition to pursue a solo career Jazzmeia graced the New York scene in 2009 and earned her degree at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music It wasnrsquot much later when she began to perform as a sideman
the landscape drew the curtain and reemerged as ELEW a revolutionary artist who combines virtuosic skill on the grand piano with an unprecedented openness to modern pop and rock music
ELEW has fused the genres of rock and roll and jazz together and in the process created a new genre rockjazz Over the course of two albums ELEW has interpreted
with musicians Winard Harper Junior Mance Billy Harper Lincoln Center Alumni Vincent Gardner Delfeayo Marsalis Mike LeDonne Peter Bernstein Johnny OrsquoNeal Vincent Herring Kirk Lightsey Frank Wess and Ellis Marsalis Currently Jazzmeia is a teaching artist in The NJPAC Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens Program and Jazz in the Schools Program in Newark New Jersey She appears in various clubs on the jazz scene nationally and internationally leading her dynamic group ldquoThe Artistry of Jazz Hornrdquo
and re-energized songs by Coldplay Nirvana Radiohead the Foo Fighters The Bravery Michael Jackson and more And the choice of material is only part of rockjazz ELEW treats the grand piano the way a traditional rock front man treats the guitar with an explosively physical style that includes entering the instrument to pluck the strings directly On stage he is overtly theatrical standing to play and even wearing specially designed pieces of forearm armor called vambraces
Lately you can find ELEW being a highlight of the party anywhere from Sundancersquos Film Festival DJrsquoing at various exclusive nightclubs playing piano at ultra-exclusive private parties touring for his latest albuma And To The Republic around the world to even playing piano to a song written by IBMrsquos super computer Watson
Jazzmeia Horn
ELEW
a
Friday 7 ndash 830 pm
Friday 530 - 630 pm
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
From Jacksonville NICKFRESH is a classically trained musician commanding his living as a professional DJ producer and remixer He DJs frequently in various clubs around the area as well as across the country and has amassed a long list of entertaining audiencesmdashincluding the Jacksonville Jaguarsrsquo home games at The Clevelander several weddings roller discos charity events professional radio and various music festivals As Soul Train has been one of Nickrsquos greatest inspirations he created
SOULTRAINFANS a community of fans of the iconic American television dance show ldquoSoul Trainrdquo In its 16-year history the fan community has been responsible for reuniting former dancers and staff of the show As a result Nick had the privilege to induct the iconic ldquoSoul Trainrdquo brand into the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC in 2011
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19
DJ NickFresh
a
Friday 5 - 530 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21
The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st century Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939 the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world Few would have expected them to still be going strongmdashstronger than ever evenmdashso many years after they first joined voices but theyrsquove proved as productive and
as musically ambitious in recent years as they did in the beginning
Touring throughout the South during the Jim Crow era of the 1940s and 1950s the Blind Boys flourished thanks to their unique sound which blended the close harmonies of early jubilee gospel with the more fervent improvisations of hard gospel
Their most recent album Talkinrsquo Christmas a collaboration with Taj Mahal continues the bandrsquos streak of creating original and interesting work It includes new versions of Christmas standards covers of hidden gospel gems and seven brand-new holiday songsmdashsix of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by the Blind Boys themselves The new original songs include the title track ldquoTalkinrsquo Christmasrdquo a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring
Money Mark on keyboards and the compassionate ldquoWhat Can I Dordquo which features Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic ldquoDo You Hear What I Hearrdquo and a refreshingly intimate acoustic version of ldquoSilent Nightrdquo
The Blind Boysrsquo live shows are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent The Blind Boys of Alabama have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans more than 75 years and shows no signs of diminishing
Blind Boys of Alabama
Friday 930 - 11 pm
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
Brewed in Holland Imported by HEINEKEN USA Inc New York NY copy2016 HEINEKENreg Lager Beer HEINEKENreg Light Lager Beer
Jacksonville Jazz Fest Adindd 42616 401 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23
Blessed with ldquoa voice of phenomenal beautyrdquo (Stephen Holden New York Times) Jane Monheit has had plenty of milestone moments in establishing herself as one of todayrsquos best and most important vocalist-musicians With her new album
The Songbook Sessions Ella Fitzgeraldmdashthe first to be released on her own Emerald City Recordsmdashthe Long Island native has surprised even herself with her artistic leap Jane had thought about recording an Ella tribute for a long time Fitzgeraldrsquos beloved songbook albums held biblical importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her On this new offering Monheit pays joyous tribute to Ella while sharing a definitive portrait of herself
guided by her producer arranger and trumpet great Nicholas Payton Once she decided to make the dream project a reality she had no trouble choosing titles She jotted down a list of 25 titles almost immediately She and Payton each narrowed the choices to a dozen and settled on the final list together
Jane Monheit
Friday 8 - 9 pm
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
24 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The youngest of the four Cole brothers Freddy Cole has no apologies for sounding like his brother Nat ldquoKingrdquo Cole There are certain unmistakable similarities in the vocal timbres of all four Cole brothers He plays piano sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass just like Nat Yet his voice is raspier smokier jazzier even In truth his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother Nat and his timing and phrasing swings a little more His vocals mdashsuave elegant formidable and articulatemdashare among the most respected in jazz Colersquos career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of Americarsquos homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own and is now often referred to as the greatest ldquostorytellerrdquo in jazz
Freddy Cole Quartet
Friday 630 - 730 pm
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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NEW MOTORHOMES$56999AS LOW AS
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NEW TRAVEL TRAILERS$12499AS LOW AS
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
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Camping World RV Sales price not inclusive of tax title license and dealer doc fees Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be com-bined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details ^Based on Statistical Surveys 2016 copy 2017 FreedomRoads LLC CAMPING WORLD and the CAMPING WORLD Mountain Logo are registered trademarks of CWI Inc and used with permission Unauthorized use of any of CWI Incrsquos trademarks is expressly prohibited All rights reserved See dealer for details Offers expire 63017 JAX31905-0417
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26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
26 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Catch The Groove offers the sounds of contemporary jazz with RampB blues amp Latin influences The group provides a music program for jazz venues jazz and arts festivals corporate functions weddings and other private and public events While primarily an instrumental group the band has the flexibility to include featured vocalists As Catch The Groove builds its reputation in their Jacksonville Florida home base region and beyond genre fans seeking fresh sounds are
gravitating towards the grouprsquos uniquely democratic structure mdashwhere each musician has an alternating lead voice and cleverly pairs two instruments at the same time (saxtrumpet guitarsax guitartrumpet saxkeyboard etc) to create richly textured lead melodies and harmony lines The band is currently in the studio working
on their eclectic infectious debut album Daydreaming which starts off strong with the guitar driven old school funksouljazz track ldquoShaken Not Stirredrdquo composed and produced by 1 smooth jazz hit maker artist Nils Jiptner Everybody needs to Catch The Groove
One of the premiere saxophonists in the world Marcus Anderson is a highly sought-after solo artist with eight albums to date He performs to audiences all over the world and accompanies other great artists such as CeeLo Green and Judith Hill He is also known as being a featured saxophonist with the late Prince and the New Power Generation In addition to playing sax and flute Marcus plays piano bass is a singer a writer a choreographer a producer and horn arranger His talent is undeniable to most audiences and to his peers His recent accomplishments include ranking no 1 on Billboard Smooth Jazz and SirusXM Radio Watercolors
Catch The Groove
Marcus Anderson
Friday 5 - 6 pm
Friday 10 - 11 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27
Parker Urban Band (PUB) is one of the regionrsquos most organic soulful and sought after bands in the uprising movement of fantastic talent that stays true to real music Each member has something to say without expectation to only
Once again drawing on a lifetime of diverse musical influences to create a masterful fusion of jazz RampB soul rock blues and Latin sounds the Southern California based Blake Aaron creates his most expansive fully expressive collection yet His highly anticipated fourth full length CD and his first completely self-produced solo projectmdashhas a lot of fresh and dynamic musical
let the music breath and to be absorbed The soulful grooves heartfelt lyrics foot stomping rhythms and spontaneous improv will be sure to draw you into their delicious vibes Fronted by John Parkerurban on guitar Juanita
Soul Stories to tell Aaron has already scored Top Five Billboard airplay hits with his first-ever Latin flavored single ldquoEncantadorardquo a high energy exotic funk tune featuring Najee on flute Soul Storiesrsquo latest single the cleverly titled ldquoWes Side Storyrdquo is a spirited 60s soul jazz excursion that takes Aaron back to one of his key guitar influences the great Wes Montgomery and also draws inspiration from Eddie Harris a premiere saxophonist from that era
Parkerurban and Myrna Lynn Perry Stallworth on vox with killer PUB family members Ricky Alessi formerly of Chroma John Mortensen of Mama Blue James Elam Holloway and Chris Poland of Fusebox Funk
Blake Aaron
Parker Urban Band
Friday 7 - 8 pm
Friday 830 - 930 pm
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its aliates copy2015 Hyatt Corporation All rights reserved
For a great rate use our special oer code ENTPRO andbook your stay at jacksonvilleregencyhyattcom
HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE225 East Coastline DriveJacksonville Florida 32202
Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront located in the heart of Downtownrsquos music entertainment and sports district
How close you are
really doesmatter
28 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jax Jazz Collective which consists of some of the finest jazz musicians based in Jacksonville Florida first came together in 2012 The Collective is influenced and inspired by such well-respected straight ahead jazz groups such as Art Blakeyrsquos Jazz Messengers the SF Jazz Collective and the Roy Hargrove Quintet as well as modern groove-based fusion groups such as Snarky Puppy and Kneebody
All of the members of the Jax Jazz Collective are young talented and have plenty of musical experience often stretching beyond jazz into
other genres They integrate all of their individual likenesses and differences into their
arrangements to create a cohesive group sound
Jax Jazz Collective
Friday 530 - 630 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29
2017 marks the landmark 20th year of the Jacksonville Jam Session Presented by Hot 995 the Jazz Jam will return to the Hyatt Regency and prove once again why itrsquos been one of the most popular specialty sets of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jazz lovers will enjoy the exciting mix of aspiring student jazz musicians getting the chance to sit-in and play with regional pros and Jazz Festival heavyweights Notable Jazz Jam participants in the past have included Horace Silver Diana Krall Russell Malone Dave
Valentine Roy Hargrove Rodney Whitaker Delfeayo Marsalis Barry Greene Todd DelGiudice the Poncho Sanchez Group The Airmen of Note band members Piano Competition winners and contestants and many others One never knows which jazz virtuosos will show up to play and sing
For those wishing to join in on the jam session every piece of gear at the jam is provided including an acoustic grand piano electric bass and amp drums guitar amp and full PA
Instrumentalists and vocalists just bring your horn or voice sign-up to perform a jazz standard or a blues and join in the fun Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat and beverages and food will be available for purchase
Jazz JamPresented by Hot 995 Hosted by KellyScott Quintet
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
30 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and
grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonvillersquos historic Ritz Theatre and Museum Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments Parents with children
attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museumrsquos amenities while they wait
Jazz Clinic Elio Piedra Jazzmeia Horn and Eric Carter
Saturday May 27 bull 10 am ndash 1 pm Ritz Theatre and Museum FREE
10-11 am Elio Piedra 11 am ndash noon Jazzmeia Horn Noon ndash 1 pm Eric Carter
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
At the age of 13 Kamasi Washington started a lifelong quest discovering the many wonders of music One night his father left his soprano saxophone laying on the piano Kamasi filled with curiosity for all the beauty he heard from the instrument picked up his fatherrsquos horn Even though he didnrsquot know anything about the saxophonemdashin fact never even touched onemdashhe played Wayne Shorterrsquos composition ldquoSleeping Dancer Sleep Onrdquo his favorite song at the time
Over the years Kamasi has performed and recorded with many of his musical heroes from
various genres including Gerald Wilson McCoy Tyner Freddie Hubbard Kenny Burrell George Duke Lauryn Hill Jeffrey Osborne Mos Def Quincy Jones Stanley Clark Harvey Mason and Chaka Khan Kamasirsquos own band The Next Step is a modern spin on a big band which includes two drummers two upright bass players keyboard players three horns players a pianist and a vocalist In addition Kamasi is part of a west coast musical collective called the ldquoWest Coast Get Downrdquo
Most recently Kamasi worked on Kendrick Lamarrsquos acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly
On May 5th Kamasi released his groundbreaking solo album The Epic on the trend-setting record label Brainfeeder The Epic is a 172-minute triple-disc masterpiece featuring Kamasirsquos 10-piece band ldquoThe Next Steprdquo along with a full string orchestra and full choir The Epic debuted no 1 on several iTunes Jazz charts including the US Canada Australia Russia and UK
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 31
Kamasi WashingtonSaturday
1030 pm - Midnight
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
B U T B A S I C
Anything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
B U T B A S I C
AnythingAnythingAnything
wwwlbdwinescom Accessorize Responsibly
copy20
17 E
xcels
ior W
ine Co
mpa
ny O
ld Br
ookv
ille N
Y
The O cial Wine Sponsorof the
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 33
An artist whose music is at once timeless yet utterly of its time Gregory Porter solidifies his standing as his generationrsquos most soulful jazz singer-songwriter with Take Me to the Alley winner of the 2017 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the much-anticipated follow-up to his sensational 2013 Blue Note debut Liquid Spirit Yet in his remarkable career Porter has time and again demonstrated an innate ability to transcend genre and connect with audiences from all walks of life and his new music reflects the singerrsquos continued and mindful
growth as an artist and as a person amidst the constant touring demands that have resulted from tremendous international success Recently Porter moved his family from Brooklyn back to his hometown of Bakersfield California where he can be closer to his brothers and sisters
In the fall of 2015 Porter finally found the time to return to the studio in New York City to record Take Me To The Alley As hersquos done on his previous three albums Porter teamed with producer Kamau Kenyatta to craft a collection of stirring originals that juxtapose the personal and
political His partnership with Kenyatta started in the mid-1990s when he was a student at San Diego State University It was through Kenyattarsquos mentorship that Porterrsquos professional musical career began
As Porter polishes his artistry as one of our most heartfelt singer-songwriters on Take Me to the Alley his burgeoning body of work will continue to give voice to its modern times while simultaneously echoing the legacy of jazz and soulrsquos yesteryear and informing generations of musicians to come
Gregory PorterSaturday
830 - 10 pm
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
CHURCHO
CEA
N
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
36
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
CHURCH
OC
EAN
LAU
RA
MA
IN
OC
EA
N
NEW
NA
N
HO
GA
N
JULIA
JULIA
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
COASTLINE
BAY
DUVAL
MONROE
ADAMS
FORSYTH
BAY
INDEPENDENT
WATER
ST JOHNS RIVER
Hyatt RegencyJacksonville
Riverfront
OldCourthouse
Duval CountyTax Collector
JAXChamber
The FloridaTheatre
Visit Jacksonville
Main LibraryHemming
ParkFederal
Courthouse
City Hall atSt James
Omni Hotel amp ResortJacksonville
Times-Union Center forthe Performing Arts
The Jacksonville Landing
Northbank Riverwalk
Main Street Bridge
MOCAJacksonville
Main Street Park
42 3
SWINGINrsquo STAGEMain St and Adams St
1
Presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
BREEZINrsquo STAGEJacksonville Landing
GROOVINrsquo STAGEPresented by Aetna
Hemming Park
Closed Streets
FLORIDA THEATREForsyth St
Sponsors
Parking
Skyway Station amp Route
Water Taxi Stop
Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch
Hotel
VIP
Jazz StoreBand Merchandise
ATM
Beverages
Food VendorsGuest Services Presented By UF Health
Restrooms
NORTH
s
LAU
RA
MA
IN
Map is not draw
n to scale Locations subject to change
JAZZAFTERDARK
1
2
3
4
45
6
12
3
Saturday Only
201
7
37
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
WEST JACKSONVILLE5155 LENOX AVENUE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32205(904) 486-1260
SOUTH CENTRAL8054 PHILIPS HIGHWAY
JACKSONVILLE FL 32256(904) 828-5170
ORANGE PARK2285 KINGSLEY AVENUEORANGE PARK FL 32073
(904) 682-7667
EAST JACKSONVILLE9525 REGENCY SQUARE BLVD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 855-8088
NORTH JACKSONVILLE13125 CITY SQUARE DRIVEJACKSONVILLE FL 32218
(904) 696-4063
SOUTH JACKSONVILLE4040 OLDFIELD CROSSING DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE FL 32223(904) 886-7112
NORTH EAST JACKSONVILLE12945 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
JACKSONVILLE FL 32225(904) 486-4701
MIDDLEBURG1700 BLANDING BLVD
MIDDLEBURG FL 32068(904) 589-3022
FERNANDINA BEACH474283 EAST SR 200
FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034(904) 277-5000
Lowersquos is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
copy2017 Lowes LOWES Gable Mansard Design and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF LLC
lowes_ad_JJF16pdf 1 42417 1223 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a family band consisting of seven brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of 4 and 5 by their father jazz trumpeterband leader Kelan Phil Cohran (Earth Wind amp Fire Chaka Khan Sun Ra) By 1999 the band of brothers found their distinctive sound growing into the band now known as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble or HBE In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin Using street performance as a way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound they found success at the grass roots level garnering over 50000 in sales nationwide The band
followed up their debut album with the release of a second LP Jupiter The grouprsquos sound was best put by Fader Magazinersquos Edwin Stats who called the bandrsquos music ldquoa huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Rarsquos Arkestra with the urgency of hip-hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opusrdquo By 2008 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110000 and premiered music at venues around the world
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Saturday 630 - 8 pm
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
40 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Roman Street is comprised of brothers and guitarists Noah and Josh Thompson They are internationally trained and specialize in an improvisational fusion of classical gypsy and contemporary jazz Latin and nuevo flamenco A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today they keep it simplemdashthe beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing With fans in every corner of the globe several Billboard Top 25 songs and a fifth studio album coming Roman Street continues their quest to redefine contemporary jazz fusion
Akia Uwanda wears several hats in the entertainment industry This Jacksonville Florida native entertains on multiple platforms as a singer actress model TVmusic producer and radio host Her vocal ability and experience has granted her the opportunity to sing for audiences locally regionally nationally and internationally Akia and her band Akia Uwanda amp Friends was recently invited to perform in Changwon City South Korea at the Cherry Blossom Festival From being featured with the gospel jazz group NOIZ at the
international launch of Davines Hair and Beauty Company in Parma Italy to opening for Earth Wind amp Fire along with C1 Jazz in 2009 and Avery Sunshine in 2010 she has humbly wowed crowds with her melodic sultry voice that ranges from first soprano to tenor She sings a variety of music genres such as jazz soul RampB gospel and classical
Roman Street
Akia Uwanda
Saturday 3 - 4 pm
Saturday 430 - 6 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41
The Rippingtons are a GRAMMY-nominated contemporary jazz group founded by guitarist and composer Russ Freeman in 1985 The group has passed the 30 year mark and continues to innovate Under Freemanrsquos production the group has released 22 albums all of which have attained top five Billboard status with five of them reaching no 1 Their debut album Moonlighting has been called by Jazziz magazine ldquothe number one most influential contemporary jazz album of all timerdquo
The grouprsquos influences are wide-ranging from instrumental pop to rock to world music to EDM to RampB Some artists having recorded with the Rippingtons include Arturo Sandoval Jeffrey Osbourne Kirk Whalum Kenny G Dave Grusin the late Joe Sample Dave Koz David Benoit Patti Austin Peter White Rick Braun Zak Wylde and many more
The Rippingtons were chosen Best Group 2000 by Billboard BET and Best Group two years in a row 2001 and 2002 by the Oasis Awards in addition to Achievement in Video 2001
The RippingtonsSaturday 9 - 1030 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43
The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington DC it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Millerrsquos Army Air Forces dance band the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist Through the years the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United
States deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington DC
Their commitment to musical excellence has earned the respect of the foremost jazz artists from around the globe leading to many collaborative performances and recordings with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie Joe Williams Sarah Vaughan and Doc Severinsen In 1990 the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series featuring the ldquoNoterdquo in concert with
legendary icons of jazz The Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast to millions over National Public Radio independent jazz radio stations satellite radio services and the internet In addition the ldquoNoterdquo produces and delivers recorded music to millions of fans worldwide through hundreds of media outlets One of the grouprsquos recent holiday recordings ldquoCool Yulerdquo reached no 2 on the JazzWeek jazz chart
The Airmen of NoteSaturday
7 - 830 pm
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
44 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
One voice is all it takes The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen elicit tears or bring you back to a different era altogether A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities That holds true for New York-based soul singer and songwriter Morgan James On her sophomore album Reckless Abandon James casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice and a soulful poise Freedom and expansion are the threads that bind the collection of 12 original co-penned tracks with writers from LA to NYC to Nashville and in between The
Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation as one of the Southeastrsquos top calls for jazz guitar Years of intensive study with world-renowned educators such as Barry Greene Keith Javors and Bunky Green have proven to continually pay off as his career expands Multiple appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival an international tour with the Christian Tamburr Quintet and collaborations with
result is a fusion of pop funk and RampB with a classic approach Reckless Abandon is the follow-up to Jamesrsquo debut album Hunter and Morgan James Live She can also be heard on countless theatre and concept soundtracks
some of the biggest names in jazz today have put him on the map as one of the great rising stars in the jazz guitar world Maintaining a full studio of students at the Morris Music Academy in Jacksonville Beach Taylor is regularly passing things on that hersquos picked up over the years to the next generation of guitar players While his playing style and heart are firmly steeped in tradition he feels itrsquos just as important to remain relevant with
Since Hunterrsquos release Morganrsquos music videos have accumulated more than 75 million views As a solo artist she continues to wow audiences the world over through electric live performances with her touring band
his repertoire always learning new material that will become the standards of today
Morgan James
Taylor Roberts
Saturday 5 - 630pm
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45
Leon Foster Thomas is a unique force in modern jazz All About Jazz has labeled him as ldquothe next big thing on his instrumentrdquo ldquoHis gift is an ability to bring forth any style with abandon and play his steel pan as if it belonged in jazz all alonghellipthere are times when Leon Foster Thomas plays his steel pan like Gary Burton on vibesrdquo (Examinercom) Winner of the World Steelband Music Festivalrsquos Soloist and Duet competitions in 2002 and 2004 Leon has worked with artists such as Hugh Masekela Melton Mustafa Vince Mendoza Richard Smallwood Kevin Mahogany Len ldquoBoogsierdquo Sharpe Dolly
Parton Slinger Francisco ldquoThe Mighty Sparrowrdquo Cyril Neville and many more His latest release Metamorphosis on Ropeadope Records (June 3 2016) exemplifies his growth and maturation as a musician Honing his in-depth talents as a musical storyteller Leon has produced an album which perfectly illustrates his transformative journey A native of Trinidad and Tobago Leon holds a Master of Music degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida Memorial University
Leon Foster Thomas
Eric was born into music He started playing the guitar at age two Eric performed his first concert at age 13 while most young boys at the age of 13 were playing their first little league
game From that point on the concerts and performing began more frequently He started his elementary education at the local schools then commencing from Dillard High School in Ft
Lauderdale Florida He continued his education at Bethune-Cookman University He studied religion and physiology He had several bands while pursuing his degree including Strictly Business While at Bethune-Cookman he also played in numerous other bands Since that time he has also had the opportunity to grace the stage with artists like Al Green George Benson Paul Jackson Jr and many others He expresses himself through his music Eric will take you back in the blues to your ancestorrsquos time then bring you into the twentieth century of jazz History speaks for itself He is the lead artist of Eric Carter and Company
Eric Carter
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
Saturday 10 - 1130 pm
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
46 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
cruise ships corporate events all over the world The band have opened for Dizzy Gillespie All Stars Three Dog Night Charlie Wilson MC Hammer Frankie Beverly and Maze Norman Brown and Fantasia
Party in a Boxfeaturing Allana SoutherlandParty In A Box featuring Allana Southerland is a RampB jazz and Top 100rsquos band with a unique sound Party in a Box is the new concept by The Fusion Band of blending sax drums background tracks and added instruments to create the sound of the future This band is unlike any other as they have so many genres of music they cover This party in a box is for all ages They have performed concerts festivals
Benjamin began playing guitar at age 13 in a musical family which brought him great support He joined his first band One Accord at age 16 the youngest in a key group of experienced musicians There he started doing live recording sessions while perfecting his onstage presence Then in 1997 Benjamin became the touring lead guitarist for smooth jazz artist Paul Howards as well as the fusion jazz group Segue He spent years opening up for legendary artists like
Chuck Loeb Four Play The Rippingtons James Brown Kool and The Gang Ray Charles The Commodores and even The Yellow Jackets the band from that fateful clear cassette tape Benjamin is currently embarking on his first solo jazz instrumental project wearing the hats of performer writer and producer with equal grace and deftness The projectrsquos first single ldquoI Need Yourdquo was met with resounding approval when it debuted at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival early 2014 ldquoI Need Yourdquo as well as his 2011 album Intervention is available on iTunes Amazon and most music web stores
Clay Benjamin
Saturday 630 - 730 pm
Saturday 8 - 930 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47
The Stank Sauce Band started in Jacksonville Florida in 2011 This group of musicians has grown and played around each other for many years some as early as elementary school But it wasnrsquot until they decided to come together with one goal mdash
make great music for the world Under the leadership of Jawren Walton Stank Sauce takes the elements of jazz blues funk reggae pop hip-hop as well as rock and fuses them together to bring a unique experience of the music listener After formation
it didnrsquot take Stank Sauce long to gain traction Their endeavors over the years have given them the opportunity to open for acts such as Jason Derulo as well as take their talents across the world to countries like the United Arab Emirates and China
The award-winning Eliorsquos Quartet consists of talented musicians such as Livan Mesa on piano and keyboard Yunior Arronte on saxophone and keyboard Cristobal Verdecia on bass and Elio Piedra on drums All of these musicians have enjoyed a successful career in the musicrsquos industry and have experienced music at the national and international level Founded in Fort Lauderdale Florida the Quartetrsquos purpose was to introduce an innovative mixture of styles and sounds ranging from smooth jazz gospel swing and funk to classical music The Quartetrsquos roots lies in Afro-Cuban Latin jazz from which they derive their unique rhythms
Stank Sauce
Eliorsquos Quartet
Saturday 330 - 430 pm
Saturday 5 - 6 pm
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
Experience unique Southern
dining and fine wine at Juliettersquos
Bistro before or after the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival This
modern bistro sources locally
grown and farmed products so
you can truly savor the experience
OmniHotelscomJacksonville
904-791-4995 For Reservations
YOU CANrsquoT REALLY
UNTIL YOU
KNOW A PLACE
ACTUALLYTASTE IT
JAXJAX-17005-01 Restaurant JazzFest 7-5x4-75 Ad Mindd 1 42717 424 PM
48 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
With a musical career starting early in a family blues band Benrsquos study of jazz began in high school at the St Johns County Center for the Arts Having earned a music scholarship from the St Augustine Jazz Society Ben completed his Bachelor of Music from the University of North Florida and Master of Music from Florida State University under the tutelage of Danny Gottlieb and Leon Anderson respectively More recently Ben has ventured into the realm of composition releasing his first
album with original material entitled ldquoSalmagundirdquo to critical acclaim in 2016 Ben has shared the stage and studied with artists such as Linda Cole Jiggs Whigham Gary Starling Marcus Roberts Ron McCurdy Wynton Marsalis John Ricci Dave Douglas Alphonso Horne Gary Burton Joshua Bowlus and the Jazz Conceptions Orchestra and was recently featured in JAZZIZ and DRUM magazines Benrsquos music is rooted in a passion for minimalism and subtlety while maintaining the integrity of the tradition and culture of Americarsquos greatest art form
Ben Adkins
Saturday 2 - 3 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 49
Do you hear that Can you smell that The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2017 more delicious than everLift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as renowned jazz artists the Noel Freidline Quartet (NFQ) featuring vocalist Maria Howell serenade you with their unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music For tickets visit JacksonvilleJazzFestcomBrunch
Noel FreidlineA pianist vocalist writer and arranger Noel Freidline has been the leader of his own group the Noel Freidline Quintet since 1991 and has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett saxophonist David Sanborn Kenny G Rosemary Clooney pianist Dave Brubeck vocalist Layla Hathaway jazz legend Roy Ayers and vocalist Jennifer Holliday In addition to his work with the NFQ Freidline performs regularly with the Charlotte
Symphony and tours Broadway shows such as ldquoJersey Boysrdquo ldquoBring It Onrdquo and ldquoDream Girls
Noel was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine in 2006 and in 2009 and was named ldquoBest Musical Directorrdquo by the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas A dilettante of pop culture Noel has become a popular lecturer for theatres and museums creating and presenting multi-media presentations on everything from Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
to Mel Brooks As a composer and arranger Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN ABC and the Walt Disney Company with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football the NBA All-Star Game and SportsCenter In March 2012 Noel completed an artist-in-residency program as a teaching artist with the education department of the Charlotte Symphony composing and conducting several pieces for the Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte NC) orchestra and band
Maria HowellAlthough acting was a natural artistic segue singing and entertaining are skills that emanated from Maria Howell as far back as she can remember She recollects glaring at her 6-year-old image in the mirror and knowing at that moment her destiny was clear The destiny became a reality as she wowed audiences as the opening act for the legendary Ray Charles and as she shared the stage with Earth Wind and Firersquos point man Phillip Bailey Performing in front of the likes of Nancy Wilson Marvin Hamlisch Will Downing and George Benson became her comfort zone Anyone who swings with the Cab Calloway Orchestra croons with Baby Face and rearranges the scale with Jeffrey Osborne can not ldquoought notrdquo be boxed into one musical art form Like Howell her music is a collective of sultry soulful smooth tones She not only combines sounds such as RampB with jazzy punctuations she evokes an international flavor into her flambeacute of recordings
The Omni
Sacred Jazz Brunch Sunday May 28 2017
10 am and 1230 pm
$3995 person
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
bluenoteatseacom
JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 3 2018 Ft Lauderdale bull Labadee (Haiti)
St Thomas bull San Juan Cococay (private island)
ms Celebrity Summit
THE JAZZ EVENT OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
AND
US amp CANADA 8447685157 bull INTERNATIONAL +80085299872
CHICK COREA bull MARCUS MILLER host bull ROBERT GLASPER Vicente Archer Damion Reid bull DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERLALAH HATHAWAY bull LESLIE ODOM JR bull DAVID SANBORN Wycliffe Gordon Geoffrey Keezer Ben Williams Billy Kilson
CHARLES LLOYD amp THE MARVELS Bill Frisell Greg Leisz Reuben Rogers Eric Harland bull DR LONNIE SMITHBLUE NOTE ALL STAR BAND bull Robert Glasper Lionel Loueke Ambrose Akinmusire Marcus Strickland Kendrick Scott Derrick Hodge
lsquoSO COOLJAZZ FANS WILL DIG IT COMPLETELYrsquo
mdashDon Was President Blue Note Records
BNS18fullpagead85x11indd 1 42417 246 PM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 51
For three decades the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry ldquoThe Legends of Motownrdquo ldquoHit After Hit After Hitrdquo ldquoGRAMMY Award Winnersrdquo ldquoAll The Emotion All the Excitementrdquo ldquoIf You Havenrsquot Seen Them Live You Havenrsquot Heard The CommodoresrdquoThe Commodores arenrsquot just any group They have staying power Just like their hit song ldquoBrick Houserdquo the Commodores have
created a foundation that just wonrsquot budge After churning out hit after hit in the Motown days the Commodores still hadnrsquot achieved Grammy recognition This wasnrsquot to be until 1986 without Lionel Richie when the Commodores released ldquoNight Shiftrdquo
With the new albums new tour and a new label the Commodores have maintained their place among the most successful entertainers in the world Their new careers as entrepreneurs as well as
performers bring the boys from Tuskegee full circle Bringing the talent and experience of three decades of writing producing and performing hit music to a whole new generation of fans the Commodores are proving once again that their future is as bright as their past
The Commodores
Sunday 930 - 11 pm
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀伀䘀䘀䤀䌀䤀䄀䰀 倀刀伀䐀唀䌀吀䤀伀一 倀䄀刀吀一䔀刀
伀䘀 吀䠀䔀 䨀䄀䌀䬀匀伀一嘀䤀䰀䰀䔀 䨀䄀娀娀 䘀䔀匀吀䤀嘀䄀䰀
䌀伀一䌀䔀刀吀匀 吀伀 䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀刀䤀瀀爀漀搀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀挀漀洀 簀 倀刀䤀䰀䤀䘀䔀
倀伀圀䔀刀䘀唀䰀 匀伀唀一䐀 ang 匀吀唀一一䤀一䜀 䤀䰀䰀唀䴀䤀一䄀吀䤀伀一 ang 䌀䄀倀吀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀䐀 䌀刀伀圀䐀匀
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 53
A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master 22-time GRAMMY winner and keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in
the history of the GRAMMYs with 63 nominations Hersquos also earned three Latin GRAMMY Awards the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album categoryFrom straight ahead to avant-garde bebop to fusion childrenrsquos songs to chamber music along with some far-reaching forays
into symphonic works Chick has touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his illustrious career while maintaining a standard of excellence that is awe-inspiring A tirelessly creative spirit Chick continues to forge ahead continually reinventing himself in the process
Chick Corea
Sunday 730 - 9 pm
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
54 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Joey Alexander TrioBorn on June 25 2003 on the island of Bali pianist Joey Alexander originally learned about jazz from his dad who exposed his son to a variety of classic albums from his extensive collection At the age of 6 Joey began teaching himself to play piano using a mini electronic keyboard given to him by his father Joeyrsquos musicianship and grasp of jazz fundamentals developed at a remarkable pace In high demand since the age of 6 Joey has continued to hone his craft and pay his duesmdashlearning what it means to be a band
leader keeping material fresh after repeated performances and seeking out sidemen who are also collaborators
Joey says that his growth as a composer is due to the hours he spends practicing piano in between his school media and touring commitmentsmdashand his rare moments of free time in which he enjoys doing ldquoregular
kid thingsrdquo like watching movies playing games swimming and tennis Building upon the swing and improvisational style that made his first project a critical and popular success Countdown is a reflection of the growth and maturity of Joey Alexander as an artist and a confident next step toward a limitless future
Sunday 530 - 7 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 55
The University of North Florida (UNF) Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986 UNFrsquos JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the US and in Europe Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 DownBeat award winning undergraduate jazz ensemble The ensemble also has been
Sorin Georgian Zlat is an international award-winning jazz pianist classical clarinetist composer and arranger He started his performing career at the young age of 13 when he was featured as a soloist with the Romanian Philharmonic Orchestra ldquoMihail Jorardquo Inspired by his father and grandfather two accomplished European musicians Sorin went on to pursue a masterrsquos degree in piano jazz from which he graduated summa cum laude As a young graduate he created a repertoire comprising pieces of standard
invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta Boston Miami and New Orleans the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa the Savannah Jazz Festival the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival
jazz and personal compositions ranging through Latin and jazz pop and classical music and which is orchestrated to reflect a unique interpretative style With musical influences from Dizzy Gillespie Miles Davis Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane his imaginative approach gained him instant recognition on the European and North American jazz scene A believer in continuously stretching his creative capabilities and expanding his knowledge he is currently involved in numerous projects from being commissioned for a jazz
A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents This series along with other opportunities has enabled Jazz Ensemble 1 to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists
symphony to composing music for the film industrySpecial thanks to the Romanian Cultural Institute New York
UNF Jazz Ensemble 1
Sorin Zlat Trio
Sunday 230 - 330 pm
Sunday 4 - 5 pm
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 57
Both the making of mystery and legend the gentle force of Lalah Hathaway cannot be ignored With five GRAMMY wins in the last four consecutive years taking home the 2017 GRAMMY for Best RampB Album this artistsongwriterproducerrsquos voice is ringing loud and clear with mastery and message
An artist in high demand Hathawayrsquos unmistakable vocals have been sought after by the most powerful names in music Fresh from collaborating with Pharrell Williams on their track ldquoSurrenderrdquo a heavyweight contribution to the remarkable Hidden Figures soundtrack as well as featuring on Kendrick Lamarrsquos revolutionary To Pimp A Butterfly Lalah Hathawayrsquos unforgettable tones are a signpost for both quality and consciousness
Hathawayrsquos collaborations serve as a whorsquos who of music legends Her talents like her father before her are the favor of music greats Hathaway has shared the bill with the likes of Prince Snoop Dogg Stevie Wonder Anita Baker Mary J Blige Frank Ocean and many more a testament to her musicianship skill and thriving 26-year career
With a new project coming soon Lalah Hathaway is excited for what lies ahead An advocate for her music community and a co-founder of lsquorealmusicrebels where quality musicianship meets social consciousnessrsquo Hathawayrsquos creative alignment with friends and collaborators like Robert Glasper Tiffany Goucheacute The Internet Hiatus Kaiyote Terrace Martin KING Thundercat and Kamasi Washington amongst others speaks to her mission to continue pushing the needle forward
TICKETS AT WWWTICKETMASTERCOM THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 829 N DAVIS STREET JACKSONVILLE FL
9048072010 OR VISIT WWWRITZJACKSONVILLECOM
EVENTS RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM
RITZJAX
RITZJAX
ritzjax2017
-201
8SE
ASO
N
SEPTEMBER 17 2017RAUL MIDON
SEPTEMBER 22 2017 BROADWAY BOYS
MARCH 4 2018TIERNEY SUTTON
THE STING VARIATIONS
OCTOBER12 2017DAVINA amp THE VAGABONDS
OCTOBER 25 2017BROADWAYrsquoS NEXT HIT MUSICAL
NOVEMBER 7 2017NOBUTU
DECEMBER 2 2017THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
JANUARY 13 2018THE TEMPTATIONS REVIEW
JANUARY 30 2018 ZUMA ZUMA
FEBRUARY 3 2018MARY WILSON OF THE SUPREMES
FEBRUARY 27 2018THE MOUNTAINTOP
FEBRUARY 10 2018THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PROJECT
JAZZFEST_fullPg_2017-18Seasonindd 1 42717 900 AM
Lalah Hathaway
Sunday 8 - 930 pm
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
Bria SkonbergCanadian singer trumpeter and songwriter Bria Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ldquomost versatile and imposing musicians of her generationrdquo Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility and sizzling musicianship Skonberg aims for a sense of allure on the new collection Elite jazz chops artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and contemporary songwriting result in a sophisticated pop sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubleacute Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr
When not traveling for her own gigs she was building up her stage-show chops with Dal Richards Vancouverrsquos King of Swing In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day her first album on a US-based label The collection showcased a developing flair for original songs with just the right amount of standards mixed in and also featured a duet with the legendary John Pizzarelli So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics drawing comparisons to Norah Jones in The New York Daily News In 2015 a year after her second album Into Your Own was released Skonberg received the Jazz at Lincoln Center Swing award
To date Bria has performed at some 100 festivals worldwide She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival Further accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Outstanding Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards a DownBeat Rising Star and a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association Up and Coming Artist
58 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Sunday 6 - 730 pm
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 59
Clarinetist Gregory Agid has called New Orleans his home for several years and is now breaking out as a member of the new generation of New Orleans jazz musicians brandishing his clarinet in the air as he performs onstage before audiencesmdashwielding it further into the modern mainstream of jazz While remembering the advice
GRAMMYreg winner the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (the PMO) is a 20-piece San Francisco based musical group leading the rebirth of the Latin big band sound The PMO uses the traditions of the classic mambo‐craze orchestras of the 1950s to deliver their original music and clever modern arrangements
and insights mentors gave him about the legacy of New Orleans jazz Agid is eager to move the music forwardmdashinfusing his own personality and experiences into a generational kaleidoscope of local sound He knows like other musicians that music is constantly evolvingmdashas required for its purpose of communication
of hit songs Currently the only fully active Latin big band on the West Coast of the United States this elite group of the Bay arearsquos finest musicians performs in both English and Spanish PMOrsquos sizzling self‐titled 2014 Best Tropical Latin Album GRAMMYreg award winning debut record honors the sounds of the great Latin big bands of the 1940s through
1960s including Machito Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez while infusing them with an intoxicating new energy Richly textured arrangements flow through the entire production with exquisite playing by ace musicians With a repertoire of mostly original scores the selections move in a frenetic pace pulsing with the sounds rhythms and beats that only a true big band is capable of producing
Gregory Agid Quartet
Pacific Mambo Orchestra
Sunday 330 - 5 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
60 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
In true New Orleans jazz fashion you wonrsquot want to miss the Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V1015 winding through the streets on Sunday May 28 at 5 pm
The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo Band and feature your favorite jazz brass dancing and more Donrsquot be shy join in We will supply the crowd and participants with
colorful beads umbrellas boas and more The parade will begin at the corner of Monroe and Laura streets winding down Main Street to Forsyth Street and back up Laura Street ending in Hemming Park
Second Line Jazz Paradepresented by V10155 pm bull Corner of Monroe amp Laura streets
FREE
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 61
In the short six years since The Katz Downstairz has been together theyrsquove become a household name
Doug Carn destined from birth to become a part of the music world was born in New York City and raised in St Augustine Florida where his mother taught music in the St Johns County public school system Her unique and special teaching abilities provided a fertile ground for his future development Carn started piano lessons at the age of 5 but switched to the alto sax at the age of 8 His uncle Bill Seniors a jazz aficionado and DJ turned
in their native Jacksonville Florida Providing an unprecedented and unique sound that is an
Carn onto all of the jazz of the late 40s and early 50s He was also a key figure in Carnrsquos musical development
Around the time Carn graduated from high school his creative writing abilities and spiritual ideology began to bear fruit when word started to spread about his multi-faceted talents He was soon discovered by Gene Russell who had heard about Carnrsquos innovative lyric adaptation of contemporary jazz classics During the same
amalgamation of hip hop jazz and neo soul with an unmistakable urban undertone they are unrivaled on the cityrsquos current music scene Their bi-weekly ldquoLive Basement Partyrdquo and ldquoHaus of Katzrdquo are two of the most highly anticipated and well attended ongoing events in Downtown Jacksonville Reminiscent of a ldquoback in the dayrdquo type house party the throwback style is both an appealing and refreshing breath of fresh air in a music scene long gone stale Since emerging on the scene in the summer of 2011 The ldquoKatzrdquo have set themselves apart from the typical run of the mill Jacksonville bands providing a ldquogrown and sexyrdquo yet fun reprieve for Jacksonvillersquos professional career-minded family oriented crowd
period Carn also gained critical acclaim as a ldquojazz spatialistrdquo for his ldquodeft orchestrationsrdquo and horn arrangements which were inspired by a natural ability to speak the be-bop language as a solid foundation in the classical tradition
The Katz Downstairz
Doug Carn West Coast Organ Band
Sunday 5 - 630pm
Sunday 7 - 830 pm
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
62 2017 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Multi-Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composerguitarist He has won three Emmyrsquos for ldquoOutstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Seriesrdquo and has been nominated for an Emmy six times Tarquinrsquos 2016 release Guitars For Wounded Warriors was nominated for Best Album by the Independent Music Awards which showcases Tarquinrsquos guitar prowess alongside such world-class shredders as Steve
Brandon L Robertson is a rising uprightelectric bassist originally from Tampa Florida Aside from being an active musician Brandon is an advocate in jazz education In the last five years Brandon has presented jazz clinics workshops and guest performances in schools throughout Florida and taught at the Florida State University summer jazz camps for middle school and high school Brandon has performed with notable acts such as Marcus Roberts Teddy Adams Longineau Parsons Jason Marsalis Marcus Printup Nick Finzer Bill Peterson Dan Miller Lew Del Gatto Patricia Dean Thomas Heflin Leon Anderson vocalist Carmen Bradford and the famous Count
Morse Billy Sheehan Gary Hoey Bumblefoot Reb Beach Hal Lindes Chris Poland and Chuck Loeb In addition Tarquin opened his own boutique record label called BHP MUSICGUITAR TRAX specializing in instrumental guitar music The label released the Guitar Master Series featuring guitar legends Jeff Beck BB King Santana Jimmy Page Joe Satriani Zakk Wylde Stanley Clarke Billy Sheehan to name a few
Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart Brandon continues to perform regularly throughout the northern and
southeastern part of the United States with various jazz blues and pop acts
Brian Tarquin
Brandon Robertson
Sunday 330 - 430 pm
Sunday 2 - 3 pm
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
We devote a lifetime to our work too
Moving Medicine Forward with Every Patient We Serve
UFHealthJaxorg
JAZZ AD pressindd 1 42817 1214 PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
Thanks to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and JEA A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriffrsquos Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly
JAXJAZZFESTCOMJaxJazzFest Jacksonville Jazz Festival JaxJazzFest