HOLIDAY JAZZ VESPERS

Come celebrate the holiday season with the timeless sounds of jazz at the 2025 Holiday Jazz Vespers at historic First Congregational Church in downtown Atlanta. The Holiday Jazz Vespers has become a highly anticipated treat and an annual favorite among jazz enthusiasts.

All Proceeds benefit the Education and Outreach Programs of the First Church CDC.

Featured Guest Artists:
Kathleen Bertrand ~ Vocal
Doc Powell ~ Guitar
Will Scruggs ~ Bariton Saxophone
Phil Davis ~ Piano
Dwight Andrews ~ Flute
Atlanta Jazz Chamber Chorus

Tickets: $28.52

 

 

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KASAN BELGRAVE

Saxophonist Kasan Belgrave is a ascending talent newly emerging in the role of a compositional leader. His energetic playing style and improvisational finesse derives from influences of early bebop and jazz, as well flares of fusion and gospel. His musical prowess has more recently been shown through new innovative compositions.

The record “Dual Citizen” is an introductory reflection of Kasan’s own consciousness through experience of musical nurturing & professional practice from the Detroit jazz mentorship empire, led by his father, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. It provides a glimpse of Kasan’s endless curiousness of sonic ingenuity.

Belgrave is just one of many who was nurtured in the realm. The lineup for “Dual Citizen” might be the most outright product of that very circle of mentorship. Bassist Jonathan Muir-Cotton, finishing his degree at MSU, is currently rotating in Christian Sands Trio; Louis Jones aka “WavyLou”, a gun-slinging drummer who has the likes of the Haynes’ and Roach’s, recently hit with ELEW and Johnny O’Neal in Detroit; Brendon Davis, a virtuosic voice on piano shortly studying with the great Chick Corea.

Cover: $25.00

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HUBERT LAWS

Grammy Nominated NEA Jazz Master Hubert Laws is the premier musician on the flute in jazz. With a career spanning over 50 years, he has also mastered pop, rhythm-and-blues, and classical genres; moving effortlessly from one repertory to another.

Session work also remains a staple of Hubert Laws’ schedule, and includes collaborations and recordings with such artists as Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Freddie Hubbard, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Lena Horne, Sergio Mendes, Bob James, Carly Simon, James Moody, Clark Terry, Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.

He was selected as the #1 Flutist for 24 years: Down Beat readers’ polls ten years in a row and was the critic’s choice seven consecutive years.

Cover: Streaming ~ $15.00 | Tickets: $55.00 ~ $65.00 +fee

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ALTHEA RENE

Detroit soul jazz flutist & Billboard chart-topping sensation brings her red hot band back to the Rubber City in a sizzlin’ return to BLU!

Althea was born December 25th in Detroit, Michigan and began her musical journey at the tender age four. She studied classical music while attending Howard University in Washington D.C. and later gained further musical inspiration from the accomplishments of Yusef Lateef, Ian Anderson, and her father, one of Motown’s original Funk Brothers, Dezie McCullers.She has since developed her own creative style.

For more than 10 years she was employed as a Wayne County Deputy Sheriff (Detroit, Michigan). Today, she is a full-time performing/recording artist and some regard her as a “master of her craft” and one of the world’s most exciting solo improvisational flutists.

In May 2013, she released her fifth project “In The Flow”. Collaborating with Grammy award winning producer Michael Broening, (producer for legendary icons George Benson and Paul McCartney) she cowrote the title track. That single became her biggest hit and reached number one ranking on both the Billboard Chart and the Smooth Jazz Chart. Althea Rene made history by becoming the first flute player in the history of Billboard Chart to reach the number one spot.

In April 2015, Althea Rene recorded her first live project. She and her rhythm section annihilated the stage of the beautiful Detroit Public Library with a free concert. Music fans from all over Michigan enjoyed a scorching hot performance. A compilation of some of her greatest hits, “Live in Detroit” is arguably her strongest work to date.

Cover: $48.25

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DANNY JANKLOW & ELEVATION BAND

Danny Janklow continues to be an exciting musical voice, and one of the most in-demand saxophonists and composers, of his generation. He not only has a deep connection to the music and its legacy, he has something profound to contribute to its future. Danny performs with uncompromising courage, experimental innovation, and provocative imagination while lending the language of Jazz to the grooves of R&B, Funk, and Indie Soul. Danny’s music is searingly personal, and grounded in calls for equal rights, justice, and love.
Recognized at age 20, he was the youngest 1st place winner of the North American Saxophone Alliance Competition. Janklow began regularly subbing at the Village Vanguard for his mentor Dick Oatts in Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. In 2012, Janklow was awarded 1st place at the Detroit Jazz Festival Saxophone Competition and headlined the festival. As an accomplished composer, he was selected to participate in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program in 2013. Later that year, Danny was selected as a semi-finalist in the 2013 International Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition.

Dennis Hamm ~ Keys
Luca Alemann0 ~ Bass
Anthony Fung ~ Drums
Danny Janklow ~ Saxophone, Flute

$25.00 1st Set | $20.00 2nd Set ~ Inside Seating
$15.00 Patio Seating  is a live video concert, not inside the club

 

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ALTHEA RENÉ

Born on December 25th in Detroit, Michigan Althea René began her musical journey at the tender age of four. She studied classical music while attending Howard University. She gained musical inspiration from her father Dezie McCullers (one of Motown’s original Funk Brothers). She has since developed her own creative style. Some regard her as a “master of her craft” and one of the world’s most exciting solo improvisational flutists. The multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated saxophonist Najee playfully refers to her as the “Maceo of the flute”.

With a passionate mission to mentor women in the entertainment industry, Althea René authored an autobiography entitled “Becoming Chocolate Barbie – a guide for professional women in the music business” in June 2018. The book was written in an interview format so that readers may easily use it as a reference resource. Women who aspire for a life in business can appreciate the insights she shares.

Althea René gained musical inspiration from her father Dezie McCullers (one of Motown’s original Funk Brothers). She has since developed her own creative style. Some regard her as a “master of her craft” and one of the world’s most exciting solo improvisational flautists. The multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated saxophonist Najee playfully refers to her as the “Maceo of the flute”.

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ALI RYERSON

Performing for nearly five decades, jazz flutist Ali Ryerson consistently ranks among the top flutists in the Downbeat poll. An international touring/recording artist, she’s released 15 albums including Brasil: Quiet Devotion.

The Hartford Currant wrote, “She is all about the music, she serves it, molds it, makes it her own. She is at the mercy of her instruments, which she plays with such amazing proficiency that you forget that she is not glued to them.”

Ali Ryerson Quartet featuring Ricardo Peixoto, Leco Reis & Nanny Assis

Two shows: 4:00pm & 6:00pm | Fees Apply

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THE JAZZ SYMBIOSIS QUINTET

The music of Steve Swallow, Clare Fischer, Benny Golson, A.C.Jobim, McCoy Tyner, Kenny Garrett, Roland Kirk, Dizzy Gillespie, Mingus & Coltrane.
Scott FitzGibbon | flute, saxophone
Ken Johnston | trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn
Gus Russell | piano
Robert Lassila | bass
Joe Kelner | drums

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ANDREA BRACHFELD QUARTET

Andrea Brachfeld is an American jazz and Latin jazz flutist. She attended The High School of Music and Art and the Manhattan School of Music. She had her first professional performance at the age of 16. In 1974, she received the Louis Armstrong Award for outstanding Jazz student. She studied with Hubert Laws, Jimmy Heath, George Coleman, and Eddie Daniels. Her breakthrough came when she became flutist for the Latin band Charanga ’76.

Joining her on the bandstand are Mamiko Watanabe, Obasi Akoto & Alvester Garnett.

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JOE ADERIES QUINTET

The Joe Anderies Quintet was formed from summer and fall yard concerts during 2020/21. From these sessions Joe pulled together a full on album project featuring the group and original compositions (influenced by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Hubert Laws and Lyle Mays). From hard driving swing to Latin and contemporary sounds, the Joe Anderies Quintet will deliver a joyful and revitalizing experience! Don’t miss out on this special night.

Joe Anderies is a longtime Denver flutist, saxophonist and music educator. Over the years Joe has developed cutting edge jazz education programs for elementary through high school students. His vision to connect tradition with the young and upcoming players continues to grow as he enters his 5th year as a board member of the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts and his 23rd year in the organization as a teacher and advisor. Joe did his formal study at Colorado Mesa Univ, University of North Texas, Metro State Univ, and CU Boulder masters of music program. Joe has recorded and performed with artists such as Larry Coryell, Ron Miles, Chuck Lamb, Bennie Maupin and Rob Mullins.

Gonzalo Teppa – bass, Alex Heffron – guitar, Eric Gunnison – piano, Joe Anderies – alto flute, saxophone.

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ANDERSON BROTHERS PLAY BENNY GOODMAN

Hailed as “virtuosos on clarinet and saxophone” by the New York Times, Peter & Will Anderson have performed concerts together since the age of 9. They’re Juilliard graduates, and have performed on Broadway, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, the New Orleans Jazz Festival, can be heard on the Grammy winning soundtrack to HBO’s Boardwalk Empire with Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, and received a Drama Desk Nomination for their Off-Broadway Production “Le Jazz Hot” in 2012. They can be seen and heard as saxophonists in the upcoming Martin Scorsese film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Aside from leading performances in over 45 U.S. States, Japan, Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom, they’ve lectured at over a dozen Universities across the country.

BAND MEMBERS:
Peter Anderson – Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet
Will Anderson – Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute

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NESTOR TORRES | NOT SO QUIET STORM SOUND

Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Nestor Torres moved to New York City, where he pursued Classical flute studies at Mannes School of Music, Jazz at Berklee College of Music, and Classical and Jazz at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. During that time he also learned to improvise in the ‘Charanga’ Cuban Dance Music genre, which helped shape and develop Torres’ unique melodic and danceable style. This rhythmic and mellifluous sound evolution remains apart in a class by itself with 4 Latin Grammy nominations, one Grammy nomination and one Latin Grammy Award. In addition to 18 solo recordings, Torres’ unique collaborations with diverse artists such as Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins, Dave Mathews, Paquito d’Rivera, Herbie Hancock, Arturo Sandoval, and Tito Puente; as well as performances with the Cleveland, Singapore, and New World Symphony Orchestras among many others, are testament to his remarkable versatility and artistry. 2017 brought two diverse album releases for Torres; the Latin Grammy Nominated – “Jazz Flute Traditions”, a spectacular tribute to his jazz flute mentors and influences, and “del Caribe, soy!”, a collection of classical compositions by Latin American composers, including the great Puerto Rican icon Rafael Hernandez, alongside contemporary works written for Torres by Tania Leon and Miguel del Aguila. This relentless exploration of musical possibilities without boundaries led to a recent concerto commission by Mariano Morales for a world premiere with Torres and The Lynn Philharmonic. In May 2021 Torres recorded his much-awaited second classical album. The album was produced under the direction of the highly recognized and multi-Grammy winning Russian/Polish (Uruguayan-born) classical composer and conductor Jose Serebrier. In January 2022 Torres released his most recent smooth jazz single, “Thank You Willie” with an album to follow in early fall of 2022. In addition to his achievements in the studio and on the stage, Torres is also the recipient of many awards, including two honorary doctorate degrees from Barry University and Carlos Albizu University, for his commitment to youth, education and cultural exchanges.

BAND MEMBERS
Jorge Sosa – Keyboards
Agustin Conti – Electric
Double Bass Rey Monroig – Drums
Edwin Bonilla – Percussion

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NÉSTOR TORRES

Néstor Torres, a Latin Grammy Award-winning flautist and Grammy nominee, returns to the Arsht Center for a very special Live on the Plaza. The show will feature music from Torres’ five Grammy-nominated albums as well as his latest release and first big-band recording, Dominican Suite, a groundbreaking collaboration with renowned producer and arranger Corey Allen. This will be an exciting, dynamic, soulful and romantic evening of Latin rhythms, rich harmonies and seductive melodies as only Torres can deliver.

Live on the Plaza is a series of outdoor concerts on our Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts.

Please note: Tables can be purchased for 1, 2, 3 or 4 guests. Ticket prices are per person. Locations are assigned in the order of purchase in parties of up to four guests based on reservation type.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with light bites and beverage service.
Happy hour pricing available until 7 p.m.
Performance starts at 7:30 p.m.

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NESTOR TORRES

n evening with world-class jazz flautist and Latin Grammy winner Nestor Torres and his ensemble, performing Latin jazz, pop and other genres. Nestor Torres is a Puerto Rican flautist. He studied at Berklee College of Music, Mannes School of Music in NYC and later at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. His career includes collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente and Gloria Estefan, to mention a few. He has released 18 CDs and has earned 4 Latin Grammy nominations, 1 Latin Grammy Award, and a Grammy nomination. His playing incorporates Latin jazz, pop, straight-ahead jazz and classical styles. One of his most notable albums, Dances, Prayers & Meditations for Peace, is based on his improvised performances in various houses of worship near Ground Zero in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was commissioned to compose the album’s title track, which he performed for the Dalai Lama during the spiritual leader’s visit to Miami.

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