KATHLEEN BERTRAND
Multifaceted recording artist and writer Kathleen Bertrand is a native Atlantan and Spelman College graduate, whose performances have ranged from two Olympic Games to performances before two presidents, as well as appearances at jazz festivals world-wide. Bertrand toured and recorded as vocalist with jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers.
This three-octave vocal artist has been an invited performer at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on three occasions and has made multiple appearances at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, including that of headliner in 2012, as part of the Nina Simone Tribute Ensemble in 2015, and most recently as 2017 producer of “Celebrating Sarah, Honoring the Music of SarahVaughan” featuring Bertrand and 6 other vocalists. She has opened for many of America’s finest jazz artists, including Ray Charles, Will Downing, Rachelle Ferrell, Najee, Roy Ayers, and Kenny G. Her fan base includes radio and internet listeners across the USA as well as in England, Japan, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, and Brazil among others.
As a songwriter, she penned the national theme song for the 100 Black Men of America – “What They See is What They’ll Be” – as well as several songs on her CDs All of Me, No Regrets, Reasons for the Season, New Standards, and Katharsis,which was released in June 2011 and is still receiving nationwide and world-wide airplay, including 14 weeks on the UK Soul Chart top 30, 6 weeks in the UK Soul Charts Top 10, and 2 weeks at #1. In November, 2017, her most recent CD, It’s Time to Love, was released, and is already receiving international airplay.
Bertrand has received numerous honors for her jazzy vocal stylings and arts contributions including the Kuumba Award given by East Point/College Park, GA Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, the inaugural Impact Award from Black Women In Jazz, recognition by the United Negro College Fund as one of “Atlanta’s Legends,” the “Contribution to the Arts” Award by the Pi Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the 2016 Georgia Highlight Award given by the Georgia Entertainment Gala, the Civic Award for the Arts presented by the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated, and recognition by Spelman College with its distinguished “Alumnae Achievement Award for the Arts & Entertainment.” In 2015, she was voted Jazz Vocalist of the Year by Black Women in Jazz.
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QUIANA PARLER & THE LAVON STEVENS TRIO
As lead vocalist, lyricist, and composer for internationally and critically acclaimed two-time Grammy Award-winning roots music group, Ranky Tanky, Quiana Parler spent weeks at #1 on several Billboard Jazz charts. Quiana has spent over 20 years as the most sought-after vocalist in the Lowcountry. Known locally for years prior, she rose to national prominence after her success on the 2003 season of American Idol. Quiana has worked and collaborated with diverse artists and producers such as Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Bobby McFerrin, Miranda Lambert, David Foster, Walter Afanasieff and many more.
Her performances have been featured on national broadcasts like The View, NBC’s TODAY, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show, The Tyra Banks Show, and Saturday Night Live, as well as the Academy of Country Music Awards and the American Music Awards. Lavon Stevens has traveled and performed all over the country including Aspen, Colorado, Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida. The resort vacation destination of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has been his home since 1981. He is one of the premier entertainers on Hilton Head Island. He is producing a variety of shows and recording projects including other R&B, Jazz and Gospel artists.
Cover: $10.00 ~ $15.00
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RUSSELL MALONE & THE INDIANAPOLIS JAZZ COLLECTIVE
“Wes at 100”
In celebration of what would have been Wes Montgomery’s 100th birthday, the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation and Jazz Vivace are proud to present “Wes at 100” at Caffè Vivace.
This special program will feature renowned guitarist Russell Malone and the Indianapolis Jazz Collective performing new arrangements of timeless tunes from the Wes Montgomery Song Book.
As we tribute the legendary jazz guitarist, the Wes at 100 programs will be enriched with insightful commentary by Robert Montgomery, providing a deeper understanding of Wes’ musical genius. Additionally, the event will showcase excerpts from the captivating Wes Montgomery Documentary, “Wes Bound,” directed by Kevin Finch.
Join us on this momentous occasion as we celebrate the enduring legacy of Wes Montgomery and the remarkable influence he continues to exert over jazz music. Experience the “Wes at 100” magic unfolding at Caffè Vivace.
Russell Malone is an acclaimed jazz guitarist known for his impeccable technique, soulful playing, and versatility. He was born on November 8, 1963, in Albany, Georgia, USA. Malone began playing guitar early and quickly developed a passion for jazz.
Throughout his career, Russell Malone has collaborated with numerous jazz legends, including Jimmy Smith, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, and Ron Carter, among others. He has also released several albums as a bandleader, showcasing his virtuosity and musicality.
Malone’s playing style is deeply rooted in jazz guitar tradition, drawing influences from greats like Wes Montgomery and George Benson. His improvisational skills and melodic sensibility have earned him widespread recognition and critical acclaim.
With a discography over several decades, Russell Malone has consistently impressed audiences with his technical prowess and ability to create captivating musical moments. His performances display a blend of swing, blues, bebop, and modern jazz elements, demonstrating his ability to adapt to various styles while maintaining a distinctive voice on the guitar.
Russell Malone continues to be an influential figure in the jazz guitar world, captivating listeners with his expressive playing and lasting impact on the genre.
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KATHY KOSINS QUARTET
A singular sound in the vocal world, Kosins exemplifies the intersection of jazz and soul. In 2022, Kosins earned several top nominations for her duet with Frank McComb, “I Gotta Pinch Myself”, featuring Najee. The song was nominated in the Song of the Year category at the SoulTracks Readers Choice Awards. She also played to sold-out audiences in Istanbul and the UK. Her latest single with renowned pianist, composer, and producer Bob Baldwin, “Let’s Rewind”, earned her another Number One Spot on the Smooth Jazz charts, the UK Soul Chart Top 30 and the Indie Soul Chart Top 30.
2023 has exciting news for all discerning soul jazz fans: new material with Paul Randolph and the legendary Al Hudson will end up on an EP, due in the first quarter of the new year. And Kosins will also release several tracks she wrote during the making of her now-classic “Uncovered Soul” and its aftermath. Lookout also for more tour dates at home and abroad. Steeped in the jazz tradition as well as all of the energy and intensity of soul, Kosins’s most recent album release, Uncovered Soul, was the natural next step in her prolific career.
After successful engagements at the 2019 Blue Note at Sea Cruise and Blue Note Beijing, the Exit Zero Jazz Festival, a supporting performance for Gregory Porter in Atlanta, an appearance at The Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society’s famed winter jazz series, Detroit Vocalist and ASCAP Award Winning composer Kathy Kosins is thrilled to celebrate the two year-long success that her sixth studio album, Uncovered Soul has gained across commercial radio. The driving, funk-tinged track “Put the Voodoo on Me,” is Kosins’s 4th consecutive Top 20 Smooth Jazz Single and topped the Indie Soul Chart at #1.
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CHARLIE PARKER JAZZ FESTIVAL
Featuring: The Cookers | Ndudzo Makhathini Trio | Endea Owens & The Cookout | Akua Allrich & The Tribe | DJ Sets by Uptown Vinyl Supreme
As part of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, the Cookers headline a group of innovative artists that embody a sense of community. Most of this super septet—comprising Billy Harper, Cecil McBee, George Cables, Eddie Henderson, Billy Hart, David Weiss, and Donald Harrison—are veterans of the heady mid-’60s when hard bops gave way to the next wave of jazz, and have been pushing the limits of the sound ever since. Endea Owens and the Cookout is led by the titular house bassist for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Hailing from Detroit, Juilliard graduate Owens has found a home in Harlem, where she hosted community cookouts during the COVID-19 pandemic, playing music with her band of fellow virtuosos and handing out hundreds of free meals. Nduduzo Makhathini has become a rising star of South African jazz in both art and academia; the award-winning pianist, improviser, healer, and scholar brings his latest trio to perform selections from The Spirit Of Ntu, his 2022 album for Blue Note Africa. Rounding out the bill is Akua Allrich and The Tribe, led by the jazz and pan-African vocalist with deep musical roots in the blues, soul, and R&B. Allrich and her group the Tribe have drawn accolades for their annual events honoring the defining female voices of Black music, but are also known to craft soul-stirring originals.
Plus, see “We’re Outside”, an exhibition of 10 local artists, curated by Fable Jones Studio, August, 26th, 3-7pm on the west lawn of Marcus Garvey Park (123rd & Mt Morris Park West side) hosted by Heath Gallery and MMPCIA.
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