The Jazz Voyager

Austin, Texas is the next stop for the Jazz Voyager where I’ll be visiting a jazz spot called Parker Jazz Club. A world-class basement lounge designed by a musician, for musicians nestled in the heart of downtown Austin’s Warehouse district, where the best dining and entertainment venues reside. Within the walls every microphone, cable, speaker, wire, baffle, table, and chair was meticulously hand chosen for the purpose of serving the music.

This week taking the stage is vocalist Kenny Williams whose 25 year career has lit up stages with a tornado of talent and charisma. The Austin native studied voice at the University of Texas, and cut his teeth as an actor and an entertainer in clubs on the city’s famed 6th Street. Born to entertain, and his star shines brightly. He is a truly gifted vocalist, while his spirit, energy, and passion will bring you back for more.

The venue is located at 117 W 4th Street, #107b, 78701. For those requiring more information go to  https://notoriousjazz.com/event/kenny-williams.

CALIFORNIA JAZZ FOUNDATION

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THE COPA KINGS

A night of swingin’ Rat Pack music reminiscent of Las Vegas in its prime! The Copa Kings were formed out of a desire to breathe new life into some of the great jazz standards of the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s. With great reverence, the band brings a unique passion, artistry, and flair to the jazz music of this period. Led by frontman Billy Murphy, the Austin-based Copa Kings pay homage to some of our country’s greatest jazz songwriters and performers, including Frank, Billie, Ella, Louis (Armstrong and Jordan), Dean, and Ray.

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CHAMPIAN FULTON & CORY WEEDS

Champian Fulton is considered one of the most gifted pure jazz musicians of her generation. This young woman from Oklahoma captivates audiences in New York’s finest jazz rooms and in concert halls around the world, where her piano and voice skills have been recognized by peers and critics as distinctive and sophisticated.

A saxophonist with an expressive sound rooted in jazz tradition with over 20 records to his name, a label owner tirelessly documenting unsung jazz heroes, one of North America’s most important jazz impresarios, the hardest-working man in jazz business – Cory Weeds is all of these things, and much more.

Weeds and Fulton have been playing together for over 10 years and have recorded 3 times previously. Their latest recording Every Now and Then features just the two of them and was recorded at the beginning of a tour in 2023. They have a wonderful rapport on and off stage and a Weeds/Fulton duo concert is always a ton of fun.

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WOODY WITT & JIM ROTONDI

Renowned trumpeter Jim Rotondi has been a jazz powerhouse for over 30 years, leaving an indelible mark in New York and across the globe. Brace yourself for an electrifying performance as he joins forces with an all-star ensemble curated by Houston saxophonist Woody Witt. Get ready to groove to the sounds of Ross Margitza on piano, David Craig on bass, and Gerry Gibbs on drums.

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CAMILLE THURMAN | DARRELL GREEN QUARTET

As a composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and unique interpreter of the jazz tradition, she is quickly becoming one of the standard bearers for the form, making a considerable and dynamic contribution to the legacy of jazz while paying tribute to its heroes. Fluid and powerful on the tenor saxophone and highly inventive as a vocalist, she also plays bass clarinet, flute, and piccolo. Her rich sax sound has been compared to Joe Henderson and Dexter Gordon, while her vocal approach—including an impressive scatting ability—has been classified alongside those of Ella Fitzgerald and Betty Carter.

In a few short years, Thurman has shared stages with Janelle Monáe, Alicia Keys, Lalah Hathaway, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Roy Haynes, Dianne Reeves, Kenny Barron, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Batiste, Diana Krall, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Nicholas Payton, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JALCO) featuring Wynton Marsalis, and Buster Williams, among many others.

The New York City native has already amassed several distinctive honors for her musicianship: runner up in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition, two-time winner of the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award and a winner of the Fulbright Scholars Cultural Ambassador Grant, The Chamber Music of America Performance Plus Grant (Sponsored by the Dorris Duke Charitable Foundation) and the Jazz Coalition Composers Grant among others. Thurman also has four full-length recordings as a leader to her credit.

Her compositions were featured and performed by her quartet in the ASCAP/The Kennedy Center Songwriters: The Next Generation showcase as well as the Greenwich School of Music’s Uncharted Series. Camille has appeared on BET’s Black Girls Rock as the saxophonist and flutist in the All-Star Band. Equally adept as a player and a singer, and recognized for her compositional abilities as well, Thurman has also earned accolades from the media, from JazzTimes to Downbeat, All About Jazz to the New York Times, NPR to Sirius XM Satellite Radio, BET to Jazz Night In America.

Thurman was chosen by the State Department under the Fulbright Scholarship grant to perform in Paraguay and Nicaragua with her band. She and Darrell Green were selected by American Music Aboard to travel and perform in various African nations including Cameroon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mauritania.

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