BRIAN BLADE & THE FELLOWSHIP BAND

A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Brian Blade established himself as a versatile, accomplished drummer early in his career, appearing on albums by Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett, and Bob Dylan. Blade released his first album, Brian Blade Fellowship, at the age of 27 in 1998 and followed two years later with Perceptual, both on Blue Note Records.

The Fellowship Band has been called “one of the most distinctive and long-running bands in Jazz in the 21st century.” Originating from the meeting of Blade and Jon Cowherd in 1988, while they were studying at Loyola University in New Orleans, the group has released seven albums from 1998 – 2023. Ten years after releasing the Brian Blade Fellowship, Blade returned with Season of Changes in 2008. A year later he released the solo Americana, singer/songwriter effort, Mama Rosa with songs dedicated to his grandmother and family.

From the beginning, The Fellowship Band created a sound of its own genre, encompassing jazz, gospel and folk music that continues to uplift and inspire listeners worldwide. NPR called The Fellowship Band “an all-star lineup that functions more like a harmonious congregation, ebbing and flowing as one … jazz-inflected, gospel-rooted music suffused with a glowing consonance.”

Always an in-demand sideman, composer, and collaborator, Blade continued to  work with a varied bevy of artists, including Joni Mitchell, Bill Frisell, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Christian McBride and Norah Jones.

The Band:

Jon Cowherd – piano
Myron Walden – alto saxophone and bass clarinet
Melvin Butler – soprano and tenor saxophone
Kurt Rosenwinkel – guitar
Roland Guerin – bass
Brian Blade – drums

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PAQUITO D’RIVERA & CHUCHO VALDÉS

D’Rivera and Valdés: Together Again!

These rare benefit concerts features Cuban jazz legends, clarinetist, saxophonist, author, composer and arranger Paquito D’Rivera and pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés first met in 1962. Both child prodigies and sons of musical families, the two worked together in Havana’s Musical Theatre Orchestra and in the Cuban Orchestra of Modern Music.

 

 

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IDIT SHNER

An active performer of both jazz and classical music, Idit Shner has played in various distinguished venues in the United States and abroad, such as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Lincoln Center in New York.
Her latest project, Mhondoro, blends Zimbabwean folk music and American jazz. Mhondoro released their first album, Heatwave, in 2022 and are about to release their second album soon. Additional jazz releases include Live at The Jazz Station, 9 Short Stories (which garnered a 4-start review in Downbeat magazine) and Tuesday’s Blues. Jazz festival performances include the Diet Coke Woman in Jazz Festival (NY), Bellayre Festival (NY), and New-Trier Jazz Festival.
As a classical saxophonist Idit has commissioned and recorded new music and performed solo recitals in the US and Israel. Idit holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University, a Masters degree in Music Education from University of Central Oklahoma, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of North Texas.
Idit now teaches at the University of Oregon, as professor of saxophone and jazz studies. She was awarded three prestigious teaching awards: The 2015 Thomas F. Herman Award for Excellence in Pedagogy in areas of saxophone technique and chamber music coaching; the 2016 University of Oregon Faculty Excellence Award; and a Philip H. Knight Endowed Chair in 2019.
The Band:
Idit Shner ~ saxophone
TBD ~ piano
Garrett Baxter ~ bass
Dae Bryant ~ drums

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ERIC KENNEDY

Eric Kennedy & Friends: Tribute to Lisa

A Baltimore, Maryland native, Eric Kennedy is a drummer, vocalist, percussionist, educator, arranger and composer. He started performing at the age of three with a family band and encouraged by visiting local and national musicians.

Eric was the 2004 runner-up in the Billie Holiday Vocal Competition and first-place band member in the Chick Webb Jazz Combo Competitions 2008 and 2009. Eric also won the Jazz Journalists Association of America 2023 award for Baltimore Jazz Hero.

Eric has performed, toured, and recorded with Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz, Phil Woods, Billy Harper, Curtis Lundy, Bobby Watson, Gary Thomas, Fred Wesley, Wallace Roney, Cyrus Chestnut, Ethel Ennis, Larry Willis, Cecil McBee, Donald Harrison, Joe Locke, TK Blue, John Hicks, Richard Wyands, Yusef Salim, Eddie Henderson, Joe Bonner, Carl Grubbs, David Murray, Oliver Lake, Pansori master Ahn Sook Sun and many others.

The Band:

Eric Kennedy ~ drums
Marc Cary ~ piano
John Lee ~ guitar
Kelly Shepherd ~ alto saxophone

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LORI WILLIAMS

Acclaimed international jazz vocalist Lori Williams has a most impressive resume as a performing artist, veteran music educator and choral director, songwriter, producer, musical theater actress, jazz radio host on JazzRadioWETF.org, a business owner at PositiveMusicPM.org, and artist-in-residence with over 30 years of experience.

It is her work as a vocalist and clinician that most satisfies her and has brought the widest amount of recognition. With each performance in a new country comes fresh admirers. Her annual vocal jazz tour and performances at music festivals have taken her all over the world. Her vocal jazz artist residencies have allowed her to work with and mentor students on college campuses in the United States and abroad.

For over three decades, Lori Williams has worked with many notable artists including Oleta Adams, The Blackbyrds, Tom Browne, Jonathan Butler, Terri Lyne Carrington, Will Downing, Nathan East, James Genus, Marcus Johnson, Stanley Jordan, Maysa, Najee, Phil Perry, and more.

The Band:

Lori Williams ~ vocals
Tracey Cutler ~ saxophone
Benjie Porecki ~ piano
Michael Bowie ~ bass
Mark Prince ~ drums

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