Jacksonville Jazz Festival 2018 Event Program

Dianne Reeves Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

Welcome Dear Guests: Welcome to the 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival! Each year, our city is proud to host this anticipated tradition, which celebrates great music, incredible performances and exciting festivities. Throughout the four-day festival, attendees can experience world-class and diverse talent on each of the three outdoor stages, delicious food options, unique shopping, and a fun-filled time in our downtown.

With its deep cultural significance and a history stretching back nearly four decades, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival is one of our city’s signature events. This musical showcase attracts gifted artists and musicians from across the globe, drawing increasingly bigger crowds while elevating Jacksonville and our downtown as a prime destination for premier entertainment events.

Thank you for your support and participation in the weekend’s festivities! I am confident this year’s event will provide great memories and experiences for all.

“Jazz music is America’s past and its potential, summed up and sanctified and accessible to anybody who learns to listen to, feel, and understand it.

The music can connect us to our earlier selves and to our better selves-to-come.

It can remind us of where we fit on the time line of human achievement, an ultimate value of art.”

— Wynton Marsalis

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Sincerely,

Lenny Curry Mayor

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Performer Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Jazz Marketplace & Jazz Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival Poster. . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Festival Happenings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11

Hall of Fame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Jazz Clinic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

PHOTO-ABOVE AND ON COVER: JERRIS MADISON

Festival Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33

Second Line Jazz Parade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Jazz Jam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48-49

PHOTO: CHRISTIAN NORDSTRÖM

Piano Competition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

HEADLINERS Friday, May 25 Dianne Reeves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Grace Kelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Charles Lloyd Quartet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Lohai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Saturday, May 26 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Sheila E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Vijay Iyer Sextet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 The Bad Plus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Euge Groove. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Pete Escovedo Orchestra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Sunday, May 27 Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Maysa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Arturo Sandoval. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Jane Bunnett & Maqueque. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Josh Vietti. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

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2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

PHOTO: MATHIEU BITTON

Ulysses Owens, Jr.’s THREE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

2018

Schedule presented by

FRIDAY, May 25 Swingin’ Stage

presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority

Pearl and Adams streets

Grace Kelly 7:30-9 p.m.

Dianne Reeves with

Peter Martin, Romero Lubambo, Reginald Veal, and Terreon Gully

9:30-11 p.m.

Festival open 5 – 11 p.m. Music starts at 5:30 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

Groovin’ Stage

Main St. and Adams St.

presented by Jacksonville Acura Dealers

The Chris Thomas Band 6-7 p.m.

The Raisin Cake Orchestra 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Charles Lloyd Quartet

Hemming Park

with Aaron Parks, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland

Champian Fulton Quartet 7-8:30 p.m.

Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio 9:30-11 p.m.

Lohai 9-10:30 p.m.

7:30-9 p.m.

SATURDAY, May 26

Festival open 2 – 11 p.m. Music starts at 3 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

Breezin’ Stage

Groovin’ Stage

Pearl and Adams streets

Main St. and Adams St.

Hemming Park

Mica Bethea Big Band 3-4 p.m.

Jonathan Baptiste & The Urban Intellectuals 3-4 p.m.

presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority

Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition Winner 4:30-5 p.m.

The Pete Escovedo Orchestra with special guests Jimmy Bosch and Chembo Corniel

4:30-6 p.m.

presented by Jacksonville Acura Dealers

Zach Bartholomew Quartet 3-4 p.m.

The 4 Korners 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Vijay Iyer Sextet 5:30-7 p.m.

Euge Groove 6:30-8 p.m.

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra 6-7:30 p.m.

Sheila E. 7:30-9 p.m.

The Bad Plus 8:30-10 p.m.

The Russell Malone Quartet 8-9:30 p.m.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 9:30-11 p.m.

Video Stream Mainstage 9:30-11 p.m.

SUNDAY, May 27

Festival open 2-10 p.m. Music starts at 2 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

Breezin’ Stage

Groovin’ Stage

Pearl and Adams streets

Main St. and Adams St.

Hemming Park

presented by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority

presented by Jacksonville Acura Dealers

Douglas Anderson School Jeffery Broussard & of the Arts Jazz Ensemble I The Creole Cowboys 2:30-3:30 p.m.

2-3 p.m.

UNF Jazz Ensemble 1 3-4 p.m.

Naughty Professor 4-5 p.m.

Linda Cole & The Joshua Bowlus Quartet 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Ulysses Owens, Jr. THREE 4:30-6 p.m.

Jane Bunnett & Maqueque 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Josh Vietti 5-6:30 p.m.

Maysa 6:30-8 p.m.

Arturo Sandoval 7-8:30 p.m.

Jeff Lorber Fusion 7-8:30 p.m.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue 8:30-10 p.m.

Video Stream Mainstage 8:30-10 p.m.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY Jazz Fest After Dark

presented by Downtown Investment Authority See page 46 Visit JazzFestAfterDark.com for Venues and Line-up 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

SATURDAY:

Jazz Fest Clinic with Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Grace Kelly See page 25 Ritz Theatre and Museum 829 N Davis St. FREE 10 a.m. - noon

2nd Line Jazz Parade

Featuring The Terry Parker High School Jazz Band Presented by V101.5 See page 36 Starts at the corner of Broad and Adams streets 4 p.m.

Jazz Jam Session

Hosted by Breezy Jazz Club Presented by Hot 99.5 See page 47 Breezy Jazz Club 119 W. Adams St. FREE 9 p.m. – midnight

SUNDAY:

Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch Featuring The Noel Freidline Quintet with Maria Howell See page 48 Omni Jacksonville Hotel Two Seatings 10 a.m. / 12:30 p.m.

JacksonvilleJazzFest.com/brunch

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 5

Jazz Marketplace offers an exciting shopping experience in the heart of the festival.

Wind your way through prize-winning artists, master craftspeople, specialty vendors, and existing downtown establishments. The marketplace will feature unique wares such as hand-made clothing, jewelry, original art and other handcrafted items.

Aboriginal Bling Blam African Art Marketplace AkuaCo All 4 You/Sistah Soldier Gift Shop Amazing & Beautiful Butterflies Amethyst Prince B.L.A.C.K.

Bee Friends Farms Body & Soul EL Dorado Gold & Silver Guanajuato Gardens If Eye Ever International Flair JSL Fine Arts and Gifts Lularoe Season

DUVAL

2 Groovin’ Stage Presented by Jacksonville Acura Dealers

Main Street Park

Main Library

Hemming Park

NEWNAN

Federal Courthouse

MOCA Jacksonville

MONROE Breezin’ Stage Visit Jacksonville

3

Burrito Gallery

OCEAN

ADAMS

MAIN

LAURA

Ed Ball Building

Du Ta

FORSYTH

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4

JULIA

TNTWORLDWIDE Tropic Pots & More Unity Flagz

City Hall at St. James

JULIA

The Official Jazz Festival Store is conveniently located in the heart of the festival in Visit Jacksonville Visitor Center on Laura Street. Be sure to check out the other exciting activities and attractions Jacksonville has to offer while you are here!

Map is not drawn to scale. Locations subject to change.

Commemorate your experience at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival with some official gear! This year’s merchandise includes t-shirts, cups, hats, and posters, other items to keep you cool.

Marvelous Creations

by Madonna MBellish by CharMega Melanin Too Rich Pure Shea Store Respected Roots Sherika Originals SoulSeed Tees TK Beauty Essentials

The Florida Theatre

BAY

JAX Chamber Omni Hotel Jacksonville

INDEPENDENT

Hy Ja R

WATER

COASTLINE

Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts Northbank Riverwalk Main Street Bridge

ST. JOHNS R

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 7

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Fest Poster

The Posters Since its inception in 1981, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival has presented itself with striking visual imagery in the form of the official poster. Over the years, talented local artists have contributed their unique touch to this much anticipated and collectible piece. This year is no different. The festival is proud to present this year’s poster designs by Jacksonville artist Jeff Whipple.

Rarely done in the history of the festival, this year will feature two designs that pay homage to the jazz fan and the performer. Each piece of art incorporates Whipples’s distinctive and highly recognized three-line motif. According to Whipple, “I use three lines because three repetitions of an element are a pattern and that implies a definite design. Think of it like a bass player repeating three notes to hold a jazz song together. Or, as

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Lou Reed said, ‘One chord is fine.

Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.’ I also use the three lines as a life symbol because the basic perception of something living is a pattern of movement. If viewers understand that the three lines represent something about life, they will create their own ideas about what it means in this poster.”

From the Artist

In creating this image, I wanted to pay homage to the audiences who enjoy the jazz performances. The musicians are of course essential to jazz but no art is complete without someone experiencing it.

There are 36 years of Jax Jazz Fest posters featuring musicians so this time the recipients of their great talents are the subject.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

I wanted to manifest the joy of the audience with a single figure.

But who would be the model?

Liz Gibson is an acclaimed artist widely recognized for challenging our perceptions of human limitations. I’ve seen dozens of her performances and exhibits that brought audiences from tears to laughter and ultimately to selfempowerment. One of her themes is society’s notion of perfection as beauty. She’s told stories about how she couldn’t be a perfect beauty because of the birth defect that caused severe deformities in her right arm. But her audiences and I realized the total opposite was the truth. Liz thought she’d never be a poster model because she wasn’t perfect. And I believe no one but her could be a more perfect model for this poster.

I chose Ulysses Owens, Jr. to be the performer because he’s nationally renowned as a jazz drummer and has strong local roots.

When Ulysses posed in my studio he asked about the repeating three lines in my paintings. It was very easy to explain that to a drummer.

Ulysses understood that he would be sending music to the jazz fan by clicking the beat with drum sticks.

Liz stood near him acting like the jazz fan and that helped Ulysses make the communication that connects the two paintings.

The original paintings are oil on canvas at the same size as the poster.

About the Artist

in the infinity of time. A nationally recognized artist and playwright, Whipple has won dozens of awards in professional art competitions and six state-sponsored artist

Jeff Whipple creates art that engages viewers in imaginative contemplations about the weirdness and beauty of our brief appearance

fellowships. This spring he won a $25,000 artist grant from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation.

He has had 84 solo exhibitions in galleries, colleges and museums including the Tampa Museum of Art, the Gulf Coast Museum of Art, the Museum of Art, DeLand, and the Boca Raton Museum of Art. His art has been in dozens of group exhibitions across the U.S. and is included in corporate, municipal, college and museum collections. Whipple has had many large-scale public art commissions and is currently working on five sculptures for a park in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Jeff Whipple earned a MFA in visual art and has taught at several colleges. For more information and thousands of visuals: www.jeffwhipple.com

Tradition. Rivalry. Excellence.

October 27, 2018

FLGA.org

FloridaGeorgia

@FLvsGA #UFvsUGA

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 9

Festival Happenings Guest Services Presented By Walmart

Visit one of the Guest Services booths presented by Walmart and let our helpful volunteers answer any questions about the festival. See the map inside the guide for locations.

AARP Dance Party & Members Only Lounge Find us at the intersection of Adams & Hogan streets, where we’ll be hosting a Dance Party with a live DJ, daily drawings and an exclusive AARP Members Only Lounge.

This is your chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville!

= Make sure to stop by the AT&T booth and register to win a pair of Beats Solo Headphones. Also, ask us how you can get 50% off our most popular smartphones! #ATTFLVip #ATT #Directv #DirectvNow #CCGmEvents

What could be just as much fun as three days of world class jazz? A visit to Dave & Buster’s in Jacksonville! Great food, amazing drinks, sports on large screens everywhere, and a Million Dollar Midway loaded with the latest video simulators and redemption games! Stop by our booth for a chance to win on our Big Wheel!

Everyone’s a winner at Dave & Buster’s! Looking for that one of a kind venue to have your next meeting, team building event, wedding rehearsal, or birthday party? Yep, we do those too!

Our professional in-house event planners can make your event more enjoyable and stress free!

Let us do the work, so you can concentrate on your guests! Dave & Buster’s 7025 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville, Florida Eat, drink, play, watch sports

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2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

With more than 1.1 million LASIK eye surgery procedures performed, The LASIK Vision Institute provides the best quality laser vision correction for the best value. Discover why we’re a trusted leader when it comes to expertise, affordability, and convenience. Stop by our booth a sign up for your chance to Win a FREE LASIK Procedure!

Visit the SunPass Mobile Service Center and take advantage of the “Freeish” Promotion. Purchase a SunPass Mini for $4.99 and receive $4.99 in toll credits when you activate your SunPass Mini with $10 in prepaid tolls. SunPass customers always pay the lowest toll rates available. SunPass is accepted on all toll roads and most bridges throughout the state of Florida and is also accepted in Georgia and North Carolina.

Start saving time and money with SunPass now!

Festival Happenings Jacksonville Acura Dealers is bringing precision crafted excitement to the Jacksonville Jazz Fest with the NSX Fast Lane. The NSX Fast Lane features the newest and most innovative vehicles in the Acura lineup, for your viewing pleasure. Visitors will get an inside look at the all-new redesigned 2019 RDX as well as the all-new NSX supercar. Feel free to take a photo of yourself behind the wheel. The NSX Fast Lane will offer our guests the chance to walk away with Acura swag and a Jazz Fest VIP upgrade. But it wouldn’t be called “Fast Lane” without a little healthy competition. Visitors will compete in a series of fun challenges, which will test their quickness. Play fast games, win fast prizes. Don’t miss the action at the Jacksonville Acura Dealer’s NSX Fast Lane – located near the Groovin’ Stage.

Check out our pop-up Jazz Garden piano fountains for the perfect photo opportunity.

Pollo Tropical has perfected the flavor of 24-hour citrus marinated chicken, and now takes it to crispy-ness with its new Crispy Pollo Bites!

Stop by the V101.5 tent and get all the details about the Sista Strut – our 3rd annual 3K Breast Cancer Strut— plus register to win some cool prizes!

Pollo Tropical has Five Jacksonville locations, and a sampling booth here on site at the festival, so try it while supplies last!

For the nearest location to you visit PolloTropical.com

Come visit the Rubenstein Law 1-800-FL-LEGAL tent for FREE giveaways like photo booth pictures, towels & glow sticks! Use our fun props, snap a picture, and take home a memory of your time at the 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival.

Wanna cool off? Grab one of our hand towels. And when the sun sets, don’t forget to snatch up one of our glow sticks to light up the crowd! Rubenstein Law 1-800-FL-LEGAL is a proud sponsor of this exciting event and we look forward to seeing you all enjoy the festival.

Presented By Downtown Investment Authority Jazz Fest After Dark returns for another year! Following the last act of the festival lineup on Friday, May 25 and Saturday, May 26, enjoy even more live music from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.

Participating bars and clubs are located within a couple of blocks from the Jazz Festival stages.

Love all the jams you are hearing this weekend?

Wish you could have more every day? Switch to HOT99.5 FM and you can! Visit the HOT99.5 tent and download our free app for your chance to win great prizes!

©2018 The Coca-Cola Company

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Saul Lucio 2018

Saul Lucio, Technical Director of the Florida Theatre, Saul Lucio began working for the Theatre shortly after its original renovation in 1983, and became Technical Director in 1988. He directs the stage crew and all lighting, sound, rigging and other stage activities at the theatre. He is a proud member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), and has served as Local 115’s President. He is currently their Business Agent.

He also serves as a Delegate to the North Florida Central Labor Council of the Florida AFL/CIO. He is on the advisory committee to the Theatre and Entertainment Technology Program at Florida State College Jacksonville.

The Hon. Jake Godbold 1999

Dan Kossoff 1999

Mike Tolbert 1999

Ira Koger 2000

Rich Matteson 2000

The Hon. Elaine Brown 2003

Marcus Roberts 2003

Dick Brown 2004

Vic DiGenti 2004

Cecil Cole 2005

Teddy Washington 2006

Longineu Parsons 2006

Von Barlow 2007

Dr. Bill Prince 2008

Joyce Hellman Bizot 2009

Bob Bednar 2010

Na’im Rashid 2010

The Hon. Bill Chappell 2011

Bunky Green 2011

Bernard “Womack” Howard 2012

Gary Starling 2012

Lisa Kelly 2013

Theresa O’Donnell Price 2013

Ace Martin 2014

Noel Freidline 2015

Jack Melvin 2016

J. B. Scott 2017

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 13

The Master of Ceremony

For more than 30 years, the Jacksonville Piano Competition has been a jazz fest tradition. Presented by Keyboard Connection Pianos & Organs, it continues to be one of the most exciting musical spectacles to be seen anywhere!

Five finalists representing the very best jazz pianists are chosen by a blind panel of judges to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform on the Main Stage at this year’s festival. This fierce competition has become an integral part of the festival and a favorite among many eager to witness some of the most incredible rising talent.

Noel Freidline returns to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival as the Master of Ceremonies for the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition.

The Rhythm Dennis Marks - Bass An accomplished musician and composer, Dennis has toured the world many times over. He has also performed with other jazz luminaries including Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Liebman, Arturo Sandoval, Bob Mintzer, and many more.

The Finalists Matt DeChamplain graduated with his masters from the University of Toledo in 2012. Matt’s performed at the Berks Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, The Kennedy Center, the Regatta Bar and Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. He participated in Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead led by Dr. Billy Taylor and played in Europe with bassist Nat Reeves. Matt has shared the stage with Jimmy Cobb, Steve Davis, Javon Jackson, Dave Brubeck, Paul Keller, Avery Sharpe and Jon Hendricks.

Deemed a “musical genius” by Global Good News, Keelan Dimick, is a multi-talented musician. After appearing in several national tours, Keelan was announced a finalist in both the American Pianists Association Competition and the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition this past year. Additionally, Keelan has shared the stage with jazz luminaries, including Kobie Watkins, David Liebman, Walter Smith III, Brian Lynch, and multi-platinum recording artist Michael Feinstein.

Former U.S. Navy Commodores drummer, Clyde Conner is a renowned drummer and educator.

Clyde has performed with Jeff Andrews, Louie Bellson, Randy Brecker, Dave Brubeck, Pete Christlieb, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schurr, and so many more!

The Judges

Nicholas Olynciw is a Michigan based pianist, vocalist and composer. Nicholas attended the University of North Texas and was a member of the One O’Clock Lab Band. Currently, Nicholas is pursuing a masters degree at the Western Michigan University. Nicholas has performed with artists Peter Bernstein, James Morrison, Dennis Mackrel, Tim Hagans, Rudy Royston, Kurt Elling, the New York Voices and MOSS.

Internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton is recognized by peers and critics as distinctive and sophisticated. She has performed with musical royalty such as Lou Donaldson, Frank Wess, Eric Alexander, Buster Williams, and Louis Hayes.

Matthew Villinger is 28 and born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. From there he received his Undergraduate and Masters in Jazz Performace from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. He has got to work with greats, such as Reggie Thomas, Peter Martin, Glenn Zaleski, Peter Schlamb and others. Villinger currently resides in Kansas City leading his own groups as well as playing in Electric Tinks and other sideman projects.

While piano is his first love, Tom LeGrand learned to play many instruments at an early age. He has played shows with such jazz greats as Dave Brubeck, Maynard Ferguson, Andy Williams and Benny Goodman.

Spencer Zweifel began playing piano at a young age, and started to really pursue it after being inspired by his musical family. While Spencer works extensively as a jazz pianist, he also performs with funk and salsa bands, contemporary classical music ensembles, pit orchestras, and as a collaborative pianist. Spencer is currently pursuing a degree in jazz studies at the University of Northern Colorado.

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2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Pianist Aaron Parks is a forward-thinking jazz musician who came to the public’s attention during his time with trumpeter Terence Blanchard. Parks has performed with a variety of artists including Christian Scott, Kendrick Scott, Gretchen Parlato, and others.

Whether you are a professional or a beginner.

All roads lead to Keyboard Connection your official Yamaha Piano Dealer!

To purchase the piano of your dreams visit Keyboard Connection today!

9912 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL Pianosjax.com • 880-0002

Dianne Reeves with Peter Martin, Romero Lubambo, Reginald Veal, and Terreon Gully

Dianne Reeves is the pre-eminent jazz vocalist in the world today—her arsenal of talents is richly on display in each and every song of her limitless repertoire. As a result of her virtuosity, improvisational prowess and unique jazz and R&B stylings, Dianne has received five GRAMMY® Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album, an honorary doctorate of music from Julliard and was recently named a 2018 National Endowment of the Arts ‘Jazz Master.’ Dianne’s magical, timeless voice, exceptional personality and the sheer force of her performance mark her as a captivating world-class artist.

Dianne’s recent GRAMMY Award winning album, Beautiful Life, which features Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway and Esperanza Spalding, epitomizes the spirit of her storied and extraordinary career, traversing many genres and collaborating with a diverse collection of artists. Adored by audiences and critics alike throughout the world, Dianne Reeves is a natural wonder not to be missed.

PHOTO: JERRIS MADISON

“She has one of the most powerful, purposeful, and accurate voices of this or any time.”

—Wynton Marsalis

Friday • 9:30 - 11 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

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2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

“Grace Kelly has an electric charisma on-stage that instantly ignites the room.”

—Jon Batiste

PHOTO: MEHDI HASSINE

Grace Kelly Saxophonist, singer, and composer Grace Kelly plays with the heart and passion of an old soul yet with the genrebending zest and energy of a 25 year old. Having been a regular on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s band, Jon Batiste and Stay Human, Kelly’s tenth album, Trying To Figure It Out, was voted #2 Jazz Album of The Year in 2016 Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll.

As a band leader, Kelly has performed over 800 concerts in over 30 countries in notable venues as the Hollywood Bowl, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall and festivals such as Montreal, Newport, and Montreux; and performed and/or recorded with Harry Connick Jr, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Martin Short, Maya Rudolph, Emma Stone, Lin Manuel, Questlove,

Friday • 7:30-9 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

and Esperanza Spalding, just to name a few.

With the recording of a new live-in-the-studio set, the rulebreaking jazz musician has crossed yet another line. A portion of the album previewed with the streaming of a Facebook Live session to a worldwide audience.

Kelly hopes to include everyone from her own contemporaries— millennials—to open-minded veteran music lovers.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 17

Friday • 9:30 - 11 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio “It’s so hard to capture what I’m feeling at the moment in the studio. Hearing me live is catching me playing in the moment. It’s a good vibe. It’s a loving situation.”

PHOTO: MATHIEUBITTON

—Dr. Lonnie Smith regarding his new live album, All in My Mind.

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2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Born in 1942, Smith was introduced to the Hammond organ in the late-1950s by Art Kubera, who owned a local music store that Smith would visit daily. He began immersing himself in the records of Wild Bill Davis, Bill Doggett and Jimmy Smith as well as paying rapt attention to the church organ.

Smith’s first gigs were at the Pine Grill, a Buffalo club where he came to the attention of Lou Donaldson, Jack McDuff and George Benson, eventually joining Benson’s quartet and moving to New York City.

After the stint with Benson, Smith released his debut album Finger Lickin’ Good for Columbia in 1967 before joining Donaldson’s band and making his first Blue Note appearance on the alto saxophonist’s hit 1967 album Alligator Boogaloo. Two more Donaldson dates followed (Mr. Shing-A-Ling and Midnight Creeper) before Smith was offered his own Blue Note deal, making his label debut with Think! in 1968.

Smith went on to record another four Blue Note albums over the next two years including Turning Point, Move Your Hand, and Drives.

The marvelous Dr. Lonnie Smith stands tall as the foremost maestro of the Hammond B-3 organ and at the age of 75 still reigns as a master of innovation and experimentation. The 2017 NEA Jazz Master may say that all he does is simply old school, but Smith paints new hues across the canvas of tradition with aplomb, as evidenced on his spirited new, live album All in My Mind.

Charles Lloyd Quartet with Aaron Parks, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland

“Charles Lloyd is an international treasure.”

—Carlos Santana Friday • 7:30 - 9 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

The critical consensus is that Charles Lloyd has never sounded better. The depth of his expression reflects a lifetime of experience. Lloyd has a legendary history in the music world, and could certainly be in a position to slow down and rest on his laurels. But looking back has never been of great interest to this tender warrior; “Go forward,” is his motto, as he keeps shifting to a higher, well calibrated gear. In 2015 he

became a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.

His concerts and recordings are events of pristine beauty and elegance, full of intensely felt emotion and passion that touches deep inside the heart.

This is not entertainment, but the powerful uncorrupted expression of beauty through music. When music vibrates, the soul vibrates and touches the spirit within.

From the moment he first came to prominence as the young music director of the Chico Hamilton Quintet in 1960, Lloyd began to take audiences on journeys that traversed enormous distances. Over nearly five decades, his compositions have punctuated the post-bop period, embraced the traditional music of a host of world cultures and enlivened the psychedelic 1960s with avant-garde improvisation.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 19

The Chris Thomas Band A native of Chicago and longtime resident of Jacksonville, Florida, vocalist Chris Thomas has the style and swagger of Sinatra and the performance excitement of James Brown and Bruno Mars. A professionally trained and competitive dancer, he combines dance, singing, and the best musicians in north Florida to deliver an unforgettable performance.

In 2014, he formed The Chris Thomas Band in order to bring the highest level of quality and showmanship to his fans and audiences. The Chris Thomas

Friday • 6 - 7 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

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2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Band performs as small as a trio up through a full 19 piece big band. The band specializes in the performance of vintage Rat Pack era, Basie, Ellington, and many others as well as soul and current popular songs custom arranged for big band by its own band members.

Chris Thomas is an exciting entertainer fashioned in the way of the great performers of years gone by. The Chris Thomas Band is bringing collaborations like Basie & Sinatra back bigger and better than ever before to audiences all over the world.

Lohai Lohai is a magnetic collaboration between Alita Moses and Devon Yesberger that blends their jazz spirits with a love for thoughtful lyrics and infectious melodies.

Supported by a full band, Lohai performs a dynamic set that carries listeners of all persuasions through the canyons and clouds of contemporary music. Their sound has been compared to Emily King, Lianne La Havas and Michael Kiwanuka, and their casual character on stage makes every performance feel intimate and personal.

Friday • 9 - 10:30 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 21

Lowe’s is a Proud Sponsor of the Jazz Gardens at the 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival.

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©2018 Lowe's. LOWE'S, Gable Mansard Design, and Never Stop Improving are registered trademarks of LF, LLC.

Champian Fulton Quartet

Friday • 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

Born in Oklahoma, Champian Fulton has become a world class jazz pianist and vocalist with international acclaim. A mainstay on the vibrant New York jazz scene, she has performed with musical royalty such as Lou Donaldson, Frank Wess, Eric Alexander, Buster Williams, and Louis Hayes. From New York to Barcelona, Champian’s swinging style and charismatic performances have made her a guardian of the legacy of jazz.

Champian is ambitious about recording her music. As a leader, she has six recordings to her credit

while still in her twenties. Her debut album, Champian with David Berger & the Sultans of Swing was recorded following a two‐year residency at the famed New York jazz club Birdland. Her releases Sometimes I’m Happy and The Breeze And I featured her working trio. Champian’s new album, After Dark with jazz luminaries David Williams on bass, Lewis Nash on drums, and Stephen Fulton on flugelhorn, features the music of Dinah Washington.

Jazz education is a concern near and dear to Champian’s

heart, having been inspired by Clark Terry’s tireless advocacy for the perpetuation of the craft.

Clark coached her on rehearsal techniques, performance etiquette, private teaching, and the business of the jazz. Champian strives to impart this unique knowledge to students around the world, while being involved in educational programs such as Litchfield Jazz Camp and Rutgers Jazz Institute. Her skills as an educator in jazz come from the highest authorities as she works to perpetuate the jazz language.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 23

The Raisin Cake Orchestra The Raisin Cake Orchestra is a quartet bringing a new direction to jazz in this region of the Southeast. Members John Champman (bassist), Jim Snyder (clarinetist), Scott Giddens (pianist/organist), and Ben Adkins (percussionist/composer/ producer), draw on a wide range

Friday • 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

of music from the American Songbook, jazz standards, and original material, RCO combines the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms of jazz, blues, and New

Orleans funk to create a sound unique to this area, where deepfried grooves go hand in hand with musical virtuosity on every instrument.

How close you are really does matter.

Whether you are going to a concert or a sporting event, stay closest at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, located in the heart of Downtown’s music, entertainment, and sports district.

For a great rate use our special offer code ENTPRO and book your stay at jacksonville.regency.hyatt.com HYATT REGENCY JACKSONVILLE 225 East Coastline Drive Jacksonville, Florida 32202 The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation or its affiliates. ©2015 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

24

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Jazz Clinic

Saturday, May 26 • 10 a.m. – noon Ritz Theatre and Museum

FREE

Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Grace Kelly Further your jazz education and refine your chops at this FREE masters class clinic with Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Grace Kelly. Aspiring and accomplished jazz musicians of all ages are invited to learn and grow their skills in an intimate setting at none other than Jacksonville’s historic Ritz Theatre and Museum.

Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own instruments. Parents with children attending the clinic are welcome to enjoy the museum’s amenities while they wait.

10-11 a.m

Ulysses Owens, Jr. Two-time GRAMMY Award winner, Ulysses Owens, Jr. has established himself as a leader in his generation of jazz artists, admired for his sensitive, fiery and complex playing, vivid display of textural nuance, and gift for propelling a band with charisma and integrity.

Owens remains tightly connected to his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida where his family founded Don’t Miss a Beat, Inc., a non-profit organization empowering young people to dream big and give back to their communities through a blend of musical, artistic, academic, and civic engagement programming.

11 a.m. – noon

Grace Kelly

Singer, saxophonist, and composer Grace Kelly wrote her first song at seven years old, recorded her first album at 12, orchestrated and performed her original composition with the Boston Pops Orchestra at 14, and performed at President Obama’s Inauguration at age 16. Kelly, a multiple award winner as an alto sax player, has performed and/or recorded with Harry Connick Jr, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Esperanza Spalding, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Ron Carter, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Huey Lewis and Gloria Estefan to name a few.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 25

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s remarkable arrival onto the music scene. Since its formation in the early nineties in Ventura, California, the band has toured virtually nonstop, performing on average over 150 shows a year, and has produced a sizable catalog of recorded music, with sales of over two million albums to date. Early on, during their legendary residency at the Derby nightclub in Los Angeles, they

reminded the world, in the midst of the grunge era no less, that it was still cool to swing. The band, co-founded by singer Scotty Morris and drummer Kurt Sodergren, was at the forefront of the swing revival of that time, blending a vibrant fusion of the classic American sounds of jazz, swing, and Dixieland, with the energy and spirit of contemporary culture.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s efforts to promote and revitalize swing music have taken shape as

much more than a simple tribute.

Taking inspiration from the creators of this uniquely American art form, the band’s original horn-infused music and legendary high energy show introduces the genre to a new and younger generation while remaining cognizant and respectful of the music’s rich legacy.

After 25 years, 11 records, over 2,800 live shows, and countless appearances in film and television, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is showing no signs of slowing down, and is looking forward to celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018.

Saturday • 9:30 -11 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 27

NOW# 1 NEWS AT NOON 5PM, 6PM & 11PM

JOHN BACHMAN

TENIKKA HUGHES

MIKE BURESH

Based on March 2018 Nielsen ratings A 25-54 / A 18-49

Sheila E. Born into a musical family, Sheila Escovedo—Sheila E.— has been driven by an inner rhythm her entire life. As a young girl, she was immersed in the diverse music scenes of the Bay Area—influenced and inspired by her percussionist father Pete Escovedo; musical uncles Coke Escovedo, Alejandro Escovedo, Mario Escovedo, and Javier Escovedo; and godfather Tito Puente. Growing up in the Escovedo household, musical instruments were for everyone.

Starting out, Sheila E. owned the stage as a drummer and percussionist. But her career took an exciting turn when she met Prince backstage after a gig. The singer-songwriter revealed he had been following her career for some time, and the two quickly became friends. Their friendship eventually led to Sheila E. lending her vocals on Prince’s song “Erotic City”—a move that prompted her to launch her own solo singing career.

Having been influenced by so many different genres of music over the years, as a singer, Sheila E. nails a variety of styles. From latin, to jazz, to R&B, Sheila pours her heart and soul into every song.

Sheila has had an evolutionary music career. Her sound changes with the era and her life.

One of life’s constants for Sheila E. comes down to a simple phrase: follow the beat.

And her impeccable inner rhythm is the pulse behind a trailblazing career that still knows no bounds.

Saturday • 7:30 - 9 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

World-class drummer and percussionist whose credits read like chapters in a music history book: Ringo Starr, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Beyoncé, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan and George Duke.

GRAMMY Award-nominated singer/songwriter behind the seminal hits “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre,” Sheila E. is a fearless multi-instrumentalist, as well as an actress, mentor, and philanthropist.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 29

Map is not drawn to scale. Locations subject to change.

Map is not drawn to scale. Locations subject to change.

DUVAL

DUVAL Federal Courthouse

PEARL

Duval County Courthouse Annex

NORTH

MONROE

MONROE

JULIA

1 6

ADAMS

1 2 3

4

Ed Ball Building

ADAMS

5

CLAY

BROAD

JEFFERSON

FORSYTH YTH

JULIA

S FOR

s

BAY

Main & Adams streets

GROOVIN’ STAGE

2

Hemming Park

Presented by

Presented by

WATER

3

BREEZIN’ STAGE Pearl & Adams streets

4

PEARL

SWINGIN’ STAGE

CLAY

1

PIANO COMPETITION Florida Theatre Forsyth St.

7

WATER

1

4

2

5

9

12

3

6

10

13

8

Omni Hotel & Resort Jacksonville

11

Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts

CHURCH

City Hall at St. James

DUVAL

2 Hemming Park

8

DUVAL

MOCA Jacksonville Main Street Park

Main Library

7

MONROE

3 ADAMS

NEWNAN

MAIN MAIN

LAURA

13

11 12

OCEAN

Visit Jacksonville

MAIN

9 10

Duval County Tax Collector

FORSYTH The Florida Theatre

BAY

BAY

4

JAZZ AFTER DARK

OCEAN

MAIN

LAURA

HOGAN

Old Courthouse

JAX Chamber

INDEPENDENT

Hyatt Regency

Jacksonville Riverfront

#

The Jacksonville Landing

Sponsors

Skyway Station & Route Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch

rwalk k Rive n a b h t Nor Hotel ST. JOHNS RIVER

Beverages

VIP Jazz Store ATM Restrooms

Main Street Bridge

Food Vendors

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront

Guest Services Presented By Walmart COASTLINE Poster Artist Jeff Whipple

7075 Collins Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32244 (904) 365-2555

8808 Beach Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32216 (904) 642-4999

4250 Phillips Hwy. Jacksonville, FL 32207 (904) 737-7007

10991 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 1 Jacksonville, FL 32223 (904) 260-4402

13227 City Square Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32218 (904) 751-5552

6830 Normandy Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32205 (904) 786-0390

6767 103rd St. Jacksonville, FL 32210 (904) 772-0011

12100 Lem Turner Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32218 (904) 764-2855

899 Blanding Blvd.

Orange Park, FL 32065 (904) 272-0036

1505 County Road 220 Orange Park, FL 32003 (904) 278-1836

PHOTO: LYNNE HARTY

“Iyer...brings together a dream team of cutting-edge improvisers and turns them loose on a set of new pieces that combine proggy intricacy, elegant drama and breakneck rhythmic thrust.”

—Rolling Stone Top 50 Albums of 2017

Saturday • 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

Vijay Iyer Sextet GRAMMY-nominated composerpianist Vijay Iyer was described

by Pitchfork as “one of the most interesting and vital young pianists in jazz today,” by the Los Angeles Weekly as “a boundless and deeply important young star,” and by Minnesota Public Radio as “an American treasure.”

He has been voted DownBeat Magazine’s Artist of the Year three times - in 2016, 2015 and 2012 - and Artist of the Year in Jazz Times’ Critics’ Poll and Readers’ Poll for 2017. Iyer was named Downbeat’s 2014 Pianist

of the Year, a 2013 MacArthur Fellow, and a 2012 Doris Duke Performing Artist. In 2014 he began a permanent appointment as the Franklin D. and Florence Rosenblatt Professor of the Arts in the Department of Music at Harvard University.

Iyer’s trio (Iyer, piano; Marcus Gilmore, drums; Stephan Crump, bass) made its name with two tremendously acclaimed and influential albums, Accelerando (2012) and Historicity (2009).

Accelerando was voted #1 Jazz Album of the Year for 2012

in three separate critics polls and was chosen as jazz album of the year by NPR, the Los Angeles Times, PopMatters, and Amazon.com. Historicity was a 2010 GRAMMY Nominee for Best Instrumental Jazz Album, and was named #1 Jazz Album of 2009 in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Detroit Metro Times, National Public Radio, PopMatters.com, the Village Voice Jazz Critics Poll, and the Downbeat International Critics Poll.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 35

Mica Bethea Big Band Based out of Jacksonville, Florida, Mica is a composer, arranger, and band leader in the jazz vein.

He received his graduate and undergraduate degrees, both in music, from the University of North Florida. In 2012, he received the Undergraduate Arranger Award by Downbeat Magazine and was featured on an article on their November 2017 issue. He is co-owner of the Cue Note, a billiard room and jazz venue, as well as a board member of the Jazz Discovery Series.

Though he writes for many mediums of ensembles, most of his music is set to the big band

format and is primarily written for his own amusement. He has released three albums with his own group that show his fervor for this instrumentation: the self-titled Mica Bethea Big Band, Stage n’ Studio, and Suite Theory.

His big band incorporates some of the highest level of performers in the North Florida region, and the occasional special guest. Chris Potter, Rene Marie, Michael Dease, Dennis Marks, Todd DelGiudice, Linda Cole, and Charles Turner are just some of the many elite musicians that he has worked with and have played his music.

Second Line Jazz Parade presented by V101.5

Saturday • 3 - 4 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

FREE

May 26 • 4 p.m.

Starts at the corner of Broad & Adams streets

Duval County Courthouse Annex

City Hall at St. James

DUVAL DUVAL

2 Federal Courthouse

Hemming Park

PEARL

END

Main Street Park

Main Library

MONROE MONROE

Visit Jacksonville

OCEAN

JULIA

Ed Ball Building

DUVAL

MOCA Jacksonville

MAIN

3

ADAMS

LAURA

HOGAN

JULIA

PEARL

CLAY

BROAD

JEFFERSON

MAIN

In true New Orleans fashion, you participants with colorful beads, won’t want to miss the Second Line umbrellas, boas and more!

Jazz Parade presented by V101.5!

Don’t be shy, join in!

The parade will dance through the streets on Saturday, May 26 at DUVAL 4 p.m. beginning at the Swingin’ Stage presented by JAA and culminating at the Breezin’ Stage.

MONROE The parade will be led by the Terry Parker High School Combo 1 START Band and feature your favorite ADAMS jazz brass, dancing, and more.

We will supply the crowd and

FORSYTH

FO

36

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

BAY

BAY OCE

MAI

LAUR

HOG

s

The Florid Theat

JULIA

TH RSY

PHOTO: SHERVIN LAINEZ

The Bad Plus

Saturday • 8:30 - 10 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

The Bad Plus came together at the end of the 20th century and has avoided easy categorization ever since, winning critical hosannas and a legion of fans worldwide with their creativity, unique sound and flair for live performance. The intensely collaborative trio has constantly searched for rules to break and boundaries to cross, bridging

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genres and techniques while exploring the infinite possibilities of three exceptional musicians working in perfect sync.

The band consists of founding members Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums) and new member Orrin Evans (piano) — a group of passionate collaborators with no single “leader.” Never Stop II is the 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

first full-length release from this lineup, comprised entirely of original music with each member contributing fresh compositions.

The New York Times calls it “an exhilarating document” that sparks an exciting new chapter for the iconic group.

Saturday • 6:30-8 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

“Only a few consistently produce such harmony and feel-good hooks as Euge Groove.”

—JazzTimes Magazine

Euge Groove Euge Groove’s musical sensibilities are hard-won.

Born Steven Eugene Grove in Hagerstown, Maryland, he grew up in a musical home. His mother played piano and taught the church choir and Euge began his musical pursuits at the age of seven, beginning with piano and adding saxophone at nine. Two saxophonists had a profound effect on his approach to playing.

“One was French classical player Marcel Mule, who really defied what the sax was supposed to sound like for me and the other was David Sanborn, who took that sound and brought it into the mainstream world,” Euge reminisces. Through the years,

Euge’s love of jazz, R&B, gospel and blues have all come together to inform his personalized sound.

“I never really know what song is going to come next…thankfully it just comes to me,” confides the chart-topping saxophonist, composer and producer, who has scored close to a dozen #1 hits on the Contemporary Jazz Charts.

A favorite on radio and the international touring circuit, Euge Groove has garnered a devout following with his irresistible mix of danceable grooves, mind-bending hooks, R&B infused melodies and inspired solos. Having collaborated with everyone from Tina Turner, Elton John, and Bonnie Raitt to Tower of Power and Aaron Neville, Euge Groove is never short on inspiration.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 39

The Pete Escovedo Orchestra with special guests Legendary percussionist Pete Escovedo is an artist who broke down the barriers between smooth jazz, salsa, latin jazz and contemporary music. His name has been synonymous in the music industry for more than 50 years.

Born in Pittsburg, California, July 13th, 1935, he began his musical journey while attending high school in Oakland, California. At the age of sixteen, he began playing the saxophone and then discovered percussion which became his love of rhythm and his dream of playing latin jazz music.

Pete’s versatility as a percussionist has been featured in performances and recordings by a wide range of artists such as Carlos Santana, Tito Puente, Herbie Hancock, Mongo Santamaria, Bobby McFerrin, Cal Tjader, Woody Herman, Stephen Stills, Billy Cobham, Anita Baker, George Duke, Boz Scaggs, Andy Narell, Al Jarreau, Ray Obiedo, Dionne Warwick, Marlena Shaw, Barry White, Angela Bofill, Arturo Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, Chick Corea, Dave Valentine, Najee, Gerald Albright, Prince, and the list goes on.

Pete Escovedo believes that there is healing through music and has donated his time to numerous charity events to help

Saturday • 4:30-6 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

children around the world by teaching the importance of music.

Today, Escovedo leads one of the top latin jazz orchestras in

the country performing his own unique sound and continues to deliver his music throughout the world.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 41

PHOTO: JULIE GONZÁLEZ

Jimmy Bosch & Chembo Corniel

Saturday • 3-4 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

Jonathan Baptiste & The Urban Intellectuals Jonathan Baptiste is a bassist/ composer based in Jacksonville, Florida. His group, The Urban Intellectuals is built with some of finest musicians Florida has to offer. The phrase “Urban Intellectuals” derived from the phrase “Urban Renewal,” often

42

criticized by the great James Baldwin, which was a tactic used in the 60s that relocated a majority of African Americans into what we now know as the projects. Those “urban” individuals that refused to just go with the flow and to enlighten 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

their communities is what sparked the name: The Urban Intellectuals.

Jonathan Baptiste & The Urban Intellectuals look to educate and inspire people with their music. The band endeavors to set a consistent example and be role models to inner city kids—showing them that they can make music and be creative—no matter their skin color.

The Russell Malone Quartet Russell Malone is one of the signature guitar players of his generation. The leader of ten albums since 1992, Malone is as well-known on the international circuit for helming a world-class quartet and trio as he is for his long-standing participation in Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio, and his recent consequential contribution to the musical production of the likes of Sonny Rollins and Dianne Reeves, who recruited Malone for his singular tone, refined listening skills, limitless chops, and efflorescent imagination.

In all these circumstances, Malone addresses the tradition on its own terms, refracting the vocabularies and syntax of such heroes as Charlie Christian, Chet Atkins, George Van Eps, Johnny Smith, Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Pat Martino, and George Benson into an argot entirely his own. A master of all tempos, a relentless swinger, he spins his stories—in idioms ranging from the urban and downhome blues, country, gospel, various comers of the American Songbook, and hardcore jazz with a soulful, instantly-recognizable instrumental voice, and seasons them with sophisticated harmonies that are never “too hip for the room.”

“This is an absolute master, the best of the best.”

—Kurt Rosenwinkel

Saturday • 8 - 9:30 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 43

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra

Saturday • 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

Ottmar Liebert’s global success can be attributed to a myriad of things—his creative vision, his determination, and a strong sense of melody. Born in

44

Cologne, Germany, he began playing guitar at 11. Before the age of 19, Liebert had intended to stay in Germany and pursue a career as a designer and 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

photographer. However, while journeying extensively through Asia and playing with other travelers and local musicians, he realized that he could not escape a life of music.

It was this openness to the local landscape that defined what was to become his musical style, a mix of Spanish, Mexican and World elements, strong melodies tinged with a shade of melancholy, balanced with upbeat rhythms.

Liebert founded the first incarnation of his band, Luna Negra, in 1989. His debut album began as a self-produced release called Marita: Shadows and Storms, copies of which local Native American artist, Frank Howell, distributed in his art galleries. After the record made its way to radio stations, it began generating a buzz among programmers and received unprecedented response among listeners. Higher Octave Music picked it up and released a fully remastered version, Nouveau Flamenco. Recorded for less than $3,000 on an old analog machine in a shack beside a gravel pit, this CD became an international sensation, establishing Liebert’s unique border-style flamenco, and becoming the best-selling instrumental acoustic guitar album of all time.

The 4 Korners Saturday • 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

An original live instrumental music band, The 4 Korners play jazz fusion, though they prefer to call their sounds “Journey Music.”

The ensemble is composed of

Clarence “T-lee” Hill on keys, James “JT” Thompson on bass, Isaac “Ike” Thompson on guitar, and Jerrod “J-rod” Sullivan on drums. They are connected in a

variety of ways, and their bonds are strengthened by their shared passion for playing music that creates experiences.

Having toured with major artists, The 4 Korners dropped their first album, an eponymous indie record, in 2014, and in 2015 they signed with Ropeadope Records. Their first and, to date, only album with Ropeadope Records, Portal of Gold, was released in 2016. In July 2017, they released their single “Phraseology” on their own.

The 4 Korners are known for playing with an inimitably high level of energy. They cite as key influencers – Chick Corea, Yellow Jackets, and Dave Weckl, though their sound is uniquely their own.

Zach Bartholomew Quartet Zach Bartholomew is an awardwinning jazz pianist, composer, and music educator. He graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2009 and a Master of Music in jazz performance in 2015. He Then moved to Miami after being awarded a full tuition waiver to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Miami Frost School of Music, which he received in May 2018. In 2016 and 2017, he was chosen as one of five finalists to compete in the highly acclaimed Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and won 3rd place both years. In 2017, Zach was a featured Artist-in-Residence at the Jalisco Jazz Festival in Guadalajara, Mexico, performed

at the Jazz Educators Network conference in New Orleans, and won 2nd place in the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Competition’s small group category.

In addition to touring across the country with his trio, Zach has performed with artists such as Brian Lynch, Dafnis Prieto, Dave Holland, David Liebman, Cyrille Aimee, John Beasley, and Kevin Mahogany.

As an educator, Zach has taught at jazz camps for middle and high-schoolers, conducted workshops at high schools, taught as an assistant band director for extracurricular jazz band programs, and has been the instructor for college music courses in class piano, jazz combo, and applied lessons. He currently teaches at the

Saturday • 3 - 4 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

Community Arts Program in Miami and is a Frost Teaching Mentor through the Frost School of Music’s Shalala MusicReach Program.

Zach currently resides in Miami, FL and is involved in a number of musical projects as both a leader and a sideman. His original music is inspired by the jazz tradition, but also draws heavily from Afro-Cuban rhythms and modern influences.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 45

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K.COM R A D R E TAFT JAZZFES Presented by

Host Band

Hosted by 2013 Jacksonville Jazz Fest Hall of Fame inductee, vocalist Lisa Kelly, and 2017 Hall of Fame inductee, trumpeter J. B. Scott, the jam session features their virtuoso rhythm section of Joshua Bowlus, Dennis Marks, and Jeremy Smith.

Jazz Jam Hosted by Breezy Jazz Club

FREE

Presented by Hot 99.5

Saturday, May 26 – 9 p.m. - Midnight Breezy Jazz Club – 119 W. Adams St., Jacksonville, FL

Instrumentalists and vocalists wishing to perform on the jam session: The gear provided includes an acoustic grand piano, electric bass and amp, drums, guitar amp, and a full P/A. Just bring your horn or voice, sign-up to perform a ‘jazz standard’ or a Blues, and join in on the fun! Audience members are encouraged to come early for a good seat.

Beverages and food will be available for purchase.

Jazz fans can enjoy the exciting mix of musicians “sitting-in” to jam together, from aspiring students to festival heavyweights. Jam session participants of the past have included Horace Silver, Diana Krall, Russell Malone, Dave Valentine, Roy Hargrove, Rodney Whitaker, Brad Mehldau, Delfeayo Marsalis, the Poncho Sanchez Group, the Airmen of Note band members, Shelly Burg, Danny Gottlieb, Richard Drexler, the Piano Competition winners and contestants, regional pros, collegiate jazz students from UNF, JU, and FSCJ, jazz students from Douglas Anderson and LaVilla School of the Arts, musicians from around the southeast, and many others. It’s always exciting to see who turns out to play and sing!

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival 47

The Omni

$39.95 / person

Sacred Jazz Brunch

Do you hear that? Can you smell that?! The Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch returns for 2018 with guaranteed reservation times!

Sunday, May 27, 2018 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Lift your spirits and dine on a buffet of gourmet cuisine prepared by the expert chefs of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel as you listen to the unique blend of jazz and traditional gospel music from Noel Freidline Quintet with Maria Howell.

There is truly no better way to bid farewell to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival than this perfect sensory experience.

For tickets, visit: JacksonvilleJazzFest.com/ Brunch

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ACTUALLY TASTE IT.

Experience unique Southern dining and fine wine at Juliette’s Bistro before or after the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. This modern bistro sources locally grown and farmed products, so you can truly savor the experience.

O m ni H o t e l s . c o m / J a c k s o nv i l l e 9 0 4 - 7 9 1 - 4 9 9 5 Fo r Re s e r vat i o ns

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4/27/17 4:24 PM

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Noel Freidline As the leader of the Noel Freidline Quintet for the last 26 years, Freidline has recorded eight albums; performed at jazz festivals such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Bethlehem Musikfest, and Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland; has held down a three-year house band position at the Bellagio in Las Vegas; and performed for actress Julia Roberts’ surprise 35th birthday party. In February of 2018, Noel released his eighth album, Old Devil Moon, a collaboration with vocalist Maria Howell.

In addition to his work with the NFQ, Noel performs regularly with the Charlotte Symphony as well as with touring Broadway

shows, most recently “Jersey Boys.” With the NFQ, Noel has opened for such diverse artists as Tony Bennett, saxophonist David Sanborn, Kenny G, Rosemary Clooney, pianist Dave Brubeck, vocalist Layla Hathaway, jazz legend Roy Ayers, and vocalist Jennifer Holliday.

Maria Howell Best known for her role as the choir soloist in the 1985 Oscarnominated film The Color Purple, Maria Howell is a captivating, dynamic performer, combining an endearing stage presence with a musicality rarely heard in vocalists. She has an innate ability to establish “instant rapport” with an audience. A

Gastonia, NC native, and now residing in Los Angeles, Howell has been known to leave audiences mesmerized with her powerful, sultry, smooth voice, mixing R&B, gospel and soul into her renditions of jazz classics.

As an actress Howell has appeared in the feature films “The Color Purple,” “The Hunger Games” “The Blind Side” and the Academy Award nominated “Hidden Figures,” as well TV’s “Revolution” and “Devious Maids.”

As a vocalist Maria has shared the stage with Ray Charles, Najee, George Howard, Ramsey Lewis, George Benson, Nancy Wilson, lyricist Tim Rice and Marvin Hamlisch among others.

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SunPass Special Promotion at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival ÂŽ

Receive $4.99 in toll credits when you purchase and activate your SunPass Mini transponder with $10.00 in prepaid tolls at our Jacksonville Jazz Festival booth!

Toll credits have no cash value and are non-refundable.

$4.99

Sunday • 8:30 - 10 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

Music brings unity.”

—Troy Andrews

Trombone Shorty &

Orleans Avenue Trombone Shorty’s new album opens with a dirge, but if you think the beloved band leader, singer, songwriter and horn-blower born Troy Andrews came here to mourn, you got it all wrong.

That bit of beautiful New Orleans soul—”Laveau Dirge No. 1,” named after one of the city’s most famous voodoo queens—shows off our host’s roots before Parking Lot Symphony branches out wildly, wonderfully, funkily across 12 diverse cuts. True to its title, this album contains multitudes of sound—from brass band blare and deep-groove funk, to bluesy beauty and hip-hop/pop swagger—and plenty of emotion all anchored, of course, by stellar playing and the idea that, even in the toughest of times, as Andrews says, “music brings unity.”

As for why it’s taken Andrews so long to follow 2013’s Raphael Saadiq-produced Say That to Say This, the man simply says, “I didn’t realize so much time passed. Some artists don’t work until they put a record out but I never stopped going.” Truly. In the last four years, Andrews banked his fifth White House gig; backed Macklemore and Madonna at the GRAMMYs; played on albums by She & Him, Zac Brown, Dierks Bentley, and Mark Ronson; opened tours for Daryl Hall & John Oates and Red Hot Chili Peppers; appeared in Foo Fighters’ Sonic Highways documentary series; voiced the iconic sound of the adult characters in The Peanuts Movie; inherited the esteemed annual fest-closing set at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

in the tradition of Crescent City greats like the Neville Brothers and Professor Longhair; and released Trombone Shorty, a children’s book about his life that was named a Caldecott Honor Book in 2016.

It’s worth noting that Andrews’ vocals sound better than ever because Parking Lot Symphony might be the man’s most heartfelt offering yet. The breezy title track, which Andrews wrote with Alex Ebert (Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros), is as much about walking the Tremé, being uplifted by the music that seems to seep from every surface, as it is about moving on from a broken heart.

And the shuffling, bluesy “No Good Time” reminds us, with a worldweary smile, that “nobody never learned nothin’ from no good time.”

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Sunday • 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

A unique, instantly identifiable vocal sound encompassing both jazz and R&B. GRAMMYnominated soul/jazz Maysa, celebrates her 25th year as a solo recording artist this year.

Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Maysa Leak knew early on that she would be a musician. “I was six years old when my mom took me to see Purlie,” she recalls.

“When Melba Moore came on stage and sang her heart out, I knew at that moment I wanted

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Maysa to make people feel the way she made me feel.”

Maysa’s journey took her from singing upon graduation with Stevie Wonder for a year to becoming the lead singer for Incognito in the 90s. In 1995 she recorded her first solo album.

After celebrating her 26th year as a solo artist, Maysa kicks off the summer with her new album, Love Is A Battlefield, 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

a hand picked collection of Maysa’s favorite songs, redone with her own unique soulful twist, solidifying her as the greatest soul-jazz singer of her generationthe latest in a distinguished line of singers that stretches back through Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, Will Downing, Angela Bofill, Marlena Shaw and more recently, Ledisi and Chrisette Michele.

Ulysses Owens, Jr. THREE Ulysses Owens Jr. is an artist “who takes a backseat to no one” – The New York Times – seems to

“…one of the handful of legitimate jazz triple threats working the scene today.”

—Brent Black, Critical Jazz

describe his remarkable ascent as one of today’s premier drummers, or perhaps, his evolution as a

Sunday • 4:30 - 6 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

producer, composer, educator, and entrepreneur.

Owens has established himself as a leader in his generation of jazz artists, admired for his sensitive, fiery and complex playing, vivid display of textural nuance, and gift for propelling a band with charisma and integrity. Both humble in person and imposing behind a kit, he is a graduate of the inaugural Jazz Studies Program at The Juilliard School, a two-time GRAMMY Award winner, and he earned his stripes as a member of bassist Christian McBride’s acclaimed trio and the driving force of McBride’s big band. In addition to the two GRAMMY Awards, he has also received four GRAMMY nominations for his work with Christian McBride and Joey Alexander.

Owens is incredibly versatile and has toured and recorded with artists including Christian McBride, Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Elling, Diane Schuur, Renee Fleming, Monty Alexander, Russell Malone, and Mulgrew Miller. In the summer of 2015, he was recommended by Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center to compose a work for the Museum of Modern Art Summergarden Series, and he premiered “Stages Of Us”, a seven-movement suite, at their sculpture garden. Ulysses has been honored with a 2015 Jazz At Lincoln Center Swing Award, 2014 Global Music Award, 2013 ASCAP Plus Award, was designated a 2014 Downbeat Rising Star, and appeared as a TEDx Jacksonville performer. He continues touring extensively and remains in demand for new projects.

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UNF Jazz Ensemble 1 The University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble 1 is the flagship ensemble of the prestigious University of North Florida Jazz Studies Program. Thanks to the visionary leadership of Rich Matteson in 1986, UNF’s JE 1 has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest collegiate jazz ensembles worldwide. Jazz Ensemble 1 has won numerous group and individual awards and has been invited to perform at prestigious jazz festivals in both the U.S. and in Europe. Jazz Ensemble 1 is the 2015 Downbeat award winning undergraduate jazz Lexington Hotel-HALF ad_JJF18.pdf

Sunday • 3-4 p.m.

Swingin’ Stage

ensemble. The ensemble also has been invited to perform at International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences in Atlanta, Boston, Miami and New Orleans, the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra 1

5/7/18

Clinic in Chicago, the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Tampa, the Savannah Jazz Festival, the Mobile Jazz Festival and annually at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival.

7:46 AM

FIND YOURSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACTION AT JACKSONVILLE’S NEWLY RENOVATED LEXINGTON HOTEL. Situated alongside St. John’s River, right in the center of the city, you’ll be near restaurants, sports and entertainment venues, museums, shopping, the Riverwalk, and public transportation. Gaze over the river, pool, or city lights from the well-appointed rooms at this full-service hotel and conference center.

The ideal spot for your next event...Lexjax.com.

Come see what’s new and take the water taxi to Jazz Fest!

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2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Arturo Sandoval Sextet A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, on November 6, 1949, just two years after Gillespie became the first musician to bring latin influences into American jazz.

Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of twelve, but it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the world’s

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most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer. Sandoval has been awarded ten GRAMMY Awards, and nominated 19 times; he has also received six Billboard Awards and an Emmy Award. The latter for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, “For Love or Country” that starred Andy Garcia as Arturo. Arturo also is the 2013 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Arturo Sandoval’s versatility can be heard on recordings with 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Sunday • 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

everyone from Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Woody Shaw, Michel Legrand, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Bill Conti, and Stan Getz to Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Rod Stewart and Alicia Keys among many others. He has performed with John Williams with the Boston Pops, and in the Super bowl with Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle.

One frequently speaks of Arturo Sandoval’s virtuoso technical ability or his specialty in high notes, but he who has seen him on the piano, lyrically improvising a ballad, or has had the opportunity to enjoy the diversity of his music, through his compositions from the most straight ahead jazz, latin jazz or classical, knows that Arturo Sandoval is a prominent musician, and recognizes that he is one of the most brilliant, multifaceted and renowned musicians of our time.

“…long been-established as one of our most important jazz and world music artists.”

—Kerry Doole for newcanadianmusic.ca Sunday • 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

Jane Bunnett and Maqueque Multiple Juno Award winner, Jane Bunnett has turned her bands and recordings into showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the U.S. and Cuba. She has been nominated for GRAMMY Awards, numerous Juno Awards, received an Order of Canada, The Queens Diamond Jubilee medal, and most recently Ontario’s Premiers Award for Excellence. An internationally

acclaimed musician, Jane Bunnett is known for her creative integrity, improvisational daring and courageous artistry. Her exploration of Afro-Cuban melodies expresses the universality of music and her ability to embrace and showcase the rhythms and culture of Cuba has been groundbreaking.

She has toured the world

bringing her own special sound to numerous jazz festivals, displaying her versatility as a tourist, saxophone player and pianist. As an educator, spokesperson and social activist, she remains unafraid to explore uncharted territory in her quest for excellence!

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Naughty Professor Naughty Professor is an iconoclastic New Orleansbased jazz-funk sextet whose adventurous recordings and horn-charged, high-energy live performances have earned them an enthusiastic fan base, critical acclaim, and widespread attention from their musical peers.

Their diligent roadwork has established Naughty Professor as a beloved live act. Weaving together complex, inventive compositions

and loose, organic improvisation, the band honors their hometown’s jazz, R&B and brassband traditions while looking to the future.

Naughty Professor raises the stakes on its new album Identity, release June 2017. Where their prior four releases showcased the group’s knack for self-contained instrumental experimentation,

“I believe that the sky has no limit for these boys.”

Sunday • 4 - 5 p.m.

—David Shaw Breezin’ Stage

Identity finds the band teaming with a stellar assortment of more than a dozen cutting-edge Sunday collaborators, whose vocal,2 - 3 p.m. instrumental and compositional contributions expand the music into new musical territory.

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble 1 The jazz program within the band area at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts has had a storied legacy since its inception in 1984. Celebrating “America’s music” to its fullest extent, two jazz ensembles serve as the primary performing groups. With a scope of study that represents one hundred years of the evolution of jazz, repertoire includes the music of Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Stan Kenton through more recent big band contemporaries like Maria Schneider, Dave Holland, Roy Hargrove, and Christian McBride. Ensemble precision,

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stylistic integrity, and improvisational concepts are the focal points of instruction.

The flagship of the Douglas Anderson jazz program is Jazz Ensemble 1. Long recognized as one of the leading high school jazz bands in the country, JE 1 has had the honor of performing at many esteemed festivals and events. The band most recently performed at the 2017 Jazz Educators Network (JEN) conference in New Orleans, won the 2017 national Swing Central jazz band competition in Savannah, and has been 2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Sunday • 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Breezin’ Stage

recognized by DownBeat Magazine for Outstanding Performance placement in their 2017 & 2018 Student Music Awards. Receiving superior ratings at music performance assessments continues to be a mainstay for both Douglas Anderson jazz ensembles along with having students selected to the Florida All-State Jazz Band.

Josh Vietti

Josh Vietti has had a meteoric career and has had the privilege of performing for Michael Jordan, on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and on ESPN’s NFL Countdown. His albums have been streamed over ten million times and he has opened for many major artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Lil Wayne, David Sanborn and Gerald Albright. But even though he has generated national acclaim, he comes from very humble roots.

Josh currently tours the United States performing at private and corporate events, colleges, sports arenas and jazz festivals.

He has performed for sold out crowds with a full band at the Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Stone Soul Festival in Richmond, VA, the Lake Arbor Jazz Festival in Baltimore, MD and the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Vietti is currently about to release a brand new smooth jazz record called Magic City on May 4, 2018, which incorporates jazz, R&B and funk on the violin. It incorporates many great original compositions, notable featured artists and covers of some of the classics, including Josh’s favorite song “At Last” by Etta James. Josh is calling it his “most mature body of work to date” and it is already getting major radio play across the US.

Sunday • 5 – 6:30 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

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Sunday • 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

Jeff Lorber

Fusion

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2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Trailblazing pianist, composer, producer and band leader, Jeff Lorber is a consummate artist who continues to push himself to new plateaus.

A groundbreaking Fender Rhodes pioneer along with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample and Bob James, Lorber has triumphed as one of the most innovative musical minds in contemporary jazz. The GRAMMY Award winning pianist’s newest album, Prototype, is a sterling example of his expansive musical roots, masterfully crafted harmonic and melodic sophistication, irresistible finger-poppin’ grooves and intricate rhythmic sense.

Sunday • 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

Linda Cole

& The Joshua Bowlus Quartet From age three, Linda Cole was constantly surrounded within her immediate and extended family by musical talent, participating regularly in her family group “The Singing Coles” in her hometown of Freeport, Illinois. Linda has now

created a distinctly recognizable voice of her own, stemming from influences such as Carmen McRae, Betty Carter, Rosemary Clooney, and all the classic music of Motown. Perhaps one of her greatest inspirations comes from

the most prestigious and wellknown singer within her family’s musical lineage: her father’s cousin, Nat King Cole.

Linda met pianist Joshua Bowlus in 2008, and they have since created an unstoppable musical partnership working together regularly across the east coast. As a versatile jazz pianist residing in Jacksonville, Bowlus has shared the stage and/or recorded with a variety of modern masters including such names as Wynton Marsalis, Chris Potter, Christian McBride, Reuben Rogers, among others.

Recently, Bowlus & Cole have joined musical forces to record their first album together, also featuring trumpeter Alphonso Horne, which is entitled What a Wonderful World.

Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys One of the most influential accordionists and vocalists in modern Zydeco music, Jeffery Broussard continues to be one of the genre’s most dynamic performers. He has continually been an innovator, beginning his career with traditional Creole Zydeco music playing drums in his father’s band, Delton Broussard & The Lawtell Playboys, then moving on to develop the nouveau Zydeco sound in Zydeco Force, now returning to the more traditional Zydeco sound with his own band,

Jeffery Broussard and The Creole Cowboys.

Jeffery’s music career started very early in life, similar to many other famous Zydeco musicians.

At the age of eight, he started playing drums in his father’s band, the renowned Delton Broussard & The Lawtell Playboys. Whenever he could, Jeffery would sneak in to the house and get his daddy’s accordion down from the closet and would teach himself how to play.

Jeffery Broussard is well, the real deal. Dedicated to preserving

Sunday • 2 - 3 p.m.

Groovin’ Stage

and promoting the Creole culture and traditional Zydeco music, Jeffery plays with passion and commitment to carry on his daddy’s legacy.

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Experience Jax by day… groove by night!

By Karson Workman While groovin’ in the streets at the Jazz Festival by night, be sure to explore everything Jacksonville has to offer during the day. From beaches to golf, to museums and more, Jacksonville has it all.

There’s plenty to do for families, couples, foodies, sports fans, travelers and everyone in between.

Take a break from the city life and soak up some sun on the 22 miles of beaches that Jacksonville offers. Lay back,

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relax and get a tan or enjoy some fun water sports. Paddleboard the past the waves, drop a line at the pier, take a guided eco-kayak tour, or enjoy a surfing lesson.

If you want some of the famous Florida sunshine but none of the sand in your shoes, then be sure to visit Jacksonville’s many golf courses. Take on the 18 holes like a pro at Sawgrass Country Club, home of The Players Championship.

2018 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Don’t be afraid to get a little wild during your visit, and check out the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Interactive and educational exhibits keep kids of all ages engaged in learning about the 2,000+ exotic animals. Stop by the award-winning exhibits including Range of the Jaguars and the Giraffe Overlook.

Don’t want to leave downtown? Experience the culture by visiting some the marvelous museums that Jacksonville has to offer. The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, located in the historic Riverside, is the perfect blend of art, gardens, and education that inspires imagination for all ages. The Museum of Science and History, located across the main street bridge, invites guests to broaden their world through science and history. The Museum of Contemporary Art, located across from Hemming Park, aims to help visitors enhance an understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary art.

Needing to indulge in some retail therapy? The St. John’s Town Center is your place to be. The Town Center is an outdoor mall that is home to 150 of the hottest stores. Splurge the stores in the market, including Dillard’s, Apple, Pottery Barn and Ann Taylor. Take it all in walking down the palm-lined streets of the Luxury Collection, featuring stores such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and Mayors.

Jacksonville has something for everyone—regardless your interest or hobby. From a hip and emerging craft brewery scene, boutique shopping, outdoor adventures—on and off the water, this is your time to experience Jacksonville!

AARP JACKSONVILLE IS

ON THE MOVE!

Join AARP at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 25-27th. Meet us at the corner of Hogan and Adams streets, where we’ll be hosting a dance party with a live DJ and having daily drawings for a digital assistant. New this year is a Members Only Lounge with a charging station. Come show your AARP card and relax in the Members Only Lounge between acts.

At the event, you’ll get the chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities AARP is helping to create for the people here in Jacksonville. Whether you’re looking to advance or change careers, seeking caregiving advice, or wanting to get involved in the community, we provide helpful support and resources so that you can achieve your goals and live your best life.

Stop by the AARP Pavilion anytime during the festival. We look forward to meeting you! For more details, visit aarp.org/Jacksonville

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE

MEDIA PARTNERS

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Thanks to JTA, JaxParks, and Duval County Courthouse. A very special thanks to the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding efforts to keep festival attendees safe and traffic flowing smoothly.

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Jacksonville Jazz Festival

@JaxJazzFest