KARLA HARRIS WITH JOE GRANSDEN BIG BAND
Atlanta-based jazz vocalist Karla Harris and celebrated big band leader Joe Gransden return with their beloved Valentine’s Day show—a swinging, soulful celebration for couples, families, and music lovers alike.
From romantic standards to heartwarming ballads, this performance is packed with charm, laughter, and unforgettable music. Karla captivates with vocals that can move seamlessly from tender to powerful, while Joe brings his signature trumpet style and smooth vocals—often compared to Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra. Together, they create a dynamic energy that makes this concert one of the season’s most anticipated traditions.
Tickets: $30.00 ~ $65.00
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SAMARA JOY
With a style that harkens back to the ‘50s and ’60s eras of jazz music, the twenty-six year old Samara Joy McLendon is an emerging singer from the Bronx, New York. Her childhood was filled with soul and Motown classics, but gospel music was the most dominant due to many of her elder relatives having been involved with the genre.
Though she performed in the jazz band and won Best Vocalist at the Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival while in high school, her true introduction to jazz came when she enrolled at Purchase College as a voice major in their jazz program. During her studies, a video she made with the head of Purchase’s jazz program performing Ella Fitzgerald’s “Take Love Easy” went viral, and that exciting experience was enough for Samara to create a GoFundMe campaign to cover the expenses in putting together her debut album.
The end result, Samara Joy, was released two months after her college graduation in 2021. Her second album Linger Awhile arrived on September 16, 2022, and has allowed Samara to receive her first of many Grammy Awards thus far: one for Best New Artist and another for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Tickets: $179.00 ~ $651.00
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VANESSA RUBIN
Vanessa Rubin is a revered jazz vocalist and storyteller celebrated for her crystalline clarity, soulful warmth, and bold improvisational style. Born in Cleveland to Trinidadian and Louisiana parents, her sound bridges Caribbean rhythm, classic jazz elegance, and Motown soul. Since launching her career in 1980 in Cleveland’s legendary clubs, Rubin has built an international performance and education legacy.
Signed to Novus/RCA in 1992, she released five albums, including chart-topping Soul Eyes (1992) and Pastiche (1993). Her acclaimed one-woman musical, Yesterdays: An Evening with Billie Holiday, earned a 2011 Kevin Klein Award nomination. Rubin continues touring globally, producing, teaching, and championing lyrical storytelling in jazz.
Performers:
Vanessa Rubin ~ Vocalist
Brandon McCune ~ Piano
Richie Goods ~ Bas
Alvin Atkinson ~ Drums
Cover: $40.00 | Friday, 7:30 Show ~ Sold Out
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VANESSA RUBIN
Vanessa Rubin is a revered jazz vocalist and storyteller celebrated for her crystalline clarity, soulful warmth, and bold improvisational style. Born in Cleveland to Trinidadian and Louisiana parents, her sound bridges Caribbean rhythm, classic jazz elegance, and Motown soul. Since launching her career in 1980 in Cleveland’s legendary clubs, Rubin has built an international performance and education legacy.
Signed to Novus/RCA in 1992, she released five albums, including chart-topping Soul Eyes (1992) and Pastiche (1993). Her acclaimed one-woman musical, Yesterdays: An Evening with Billie Holiday, earned a 2011 Kevin Klein Award nomination. Rubin continues touring globally, producing, teaching, and championing lyrical storytelling in jazz.
The Band: Miki Hayama ! Piano | Richie Goods ~ Bass | Alvin Atkinson ~ Drums | Patience Higgins ~ Tenor Saxophone
Cover: Free
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TOMI BERRY & OMAR ASKEW
Tomi Berry is a beautiful performer, inside and out, brings natural grace, a rich soulful voice, and spiritual essence to her performances throughout the Atlanta area and beyond. Wherever she sings, she spreads joy, whether singing smooth R&B, swinging jazz, or sultry ballads, she holds an audience in rapt attention. A spiritual song-stylist, she engages her listeners in musical conversation.
The 2016 42nd Annual Lawrence Award Winner for “Best Seasoned Performer” and the runner up for the 2016’s inaugural Atlanta’s Top Vocalist competition, she has an extensive background in performing and public speaking. An accomplished, classically trained singer, Tomi has performed most of her life in multiple music genres, starting formally in gospel and spiritual church choirs in her hometown of Montclair, NJ.
Omar Askew, a 19-year-old student at Kennesaw State University, is dedicated to studying Jazz Performance on the piano. Constantly striving for self-improvement, he aims to excel every time he touches his instrument. In lessons, Omar pushes his students to become the best pianists they can be, helping them achieve their personal goals.
Cover & Parking: Free
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