SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL March 24–April 9, 2022
A WO R L D O F M U S I C . O N E C I T Y.
Remembering Ray Brown: Christian McBride, Benny Green and Jeff Hamilton Saturday, March 26 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, March 27 at 7 PM see pages 12 and 14 for details
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The Wood Brothers page 23
Olga Kern page 11
Diana Burco page 14
We are thrilled to welcome you to the Savannah Music Festival’s (SMF) 2022 season, a long-awaited return to beloved festival venues throughout downtown Savannah, including the Lucas Theatre for the Arts, Kehoe Iron Works and the Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden, and the North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, among others. In this 2022 edition of SMF, we proudly present unique co-bills, collaborations, and rare regional appearances by artists from across the country and around the globe. Associate Artistic Director Philip Dukes, who joined us in October 2021 for a three-day run with Escher String Quartet and a collaboration with Savannah Philharmonic, presents his first full chamber series as part of this season.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs with mandolin soloist Avi Avital, in what will be maestro Robert Spano’s final SMF performance as conductor of the ASO. Acoustic Music Seminar Director Mike Marshall returns with a special alumni version of the annual Stringband Spectacular while also giving a concert with Caterina Lichtenberg. Join us for Jazz on the River on April 8, a free event showcasing participants in the SMF Jazz Academy. Additionally, free Q&As at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center involve renowned folklorists Dr. William Ferris and Lance Ledbetter with film footage from Dust-to-Digital’s Voices of Mississippi, along with a discussion about the ring shout of the Georgia coast involving McIntosh County Shouters members and Art Rosenbaum.
SMF debuts include NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater (in two special projects, including Memphis, I’m Ready and a sitin with Remembering Ray Brown featuring Christian McBride, Benny Green and Jeff Hamilton), renowned pianists Olga Kern and Benjamin Grosvenor, jazz pianist Vijay Iyer’s trio featuring bassist Linda May Han Oh, Colombian accordionist/bandleader Diana Burco, African desert blues quartet Les Filles de Illighadad, Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange), Haitian roots music ensemble Lakou Mizik, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Academy of St Martin in the Fields Winds Ensemble with Simon Crawford-Phillips, Montreal native Allison Russell, and Georgians Katie Pruitt and Eddie 9V, among many others.
Family-friendly options take place throughout this season, denoted by the icon in the calendar. This season has been put together with safety in mind. Protocols are set up for vaccination and negative test requirements (please visit BINDLE.com for convenient pre-clearance). Safety, personal space and comfortability are priorities. Come as you are, enjoy, and most of all, thank you for supporting locally-produced live music in Savannah.
Ryan McMaken, Artistic Director Gene Dobbs Bradford, Executive Director
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F E S T I VA L S C H E D U L E A T A G L A N C E Family-friendly performances (applies to early show only). Ticket discounts for children 12 and under are available. See page page 35 and call 912.525.5050 for more information. Identifies performances in which patrons are likely to be on their feet and/or dancing. In theaters, those sensitive to this activity are encouraged to purchase early and select balcony/mezzanine seats. T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 4
Balsam Range / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum
$42
5:30 and 8 PM 2 hrs
Kittel & Co. / Mr. Sun
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$42
6 PM
Benjamin Grosvenor, piano
Trinity United Methodist Church
$57
5 and 8 PM
2 hrs
1 hr 50 mins
F R I D AY, M A R C H 2 5 12:30 PM
1 hr 15 mins
NOON30: Kittel & Co.
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$27
6 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Celebrating Bach: Bridget Kibbey & Dover Quartet
Trinity United Methodist Church
$57
6 and 8 PM
1 hr 15 mins
Cajun Dance Party: The Revelers
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum
$39
8:30 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Dee Dee Bridgewater & the Memphis Soulphony: Memphis...Yes, I'm Ready
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$85, 70, 60, 47, 37
S A T U R D AY, M A R C H 2 6 4 and 8 PM
1 hr 15 mins
Latin Dance Party: Spanish Harlem Orchestra
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum
$39
6 PM
1 hr 45 mins
Olga Kern, piano
Trinity United Methodist Church
$57
7:30 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Remembering Ray Brown: Christian McBride, Benny Green and Jeff Hamilton with Special Guest Dee Dee Bridgewater
Trustees Theater
$65, 55, 45, 35
8 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$85, 70, 60, 47, 37
Lúnasa
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum
$42
3 and 6:30 PM 2 hrs
Diana Burco / Jorge Glem & Sam Reider
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$42
5 PM
1 hr 45 mins
Philip Dukes & Friends I: Saint-Säens & Fauré
Trinity United Methodist Church
$52
7 PM
2 hrs 20 mins
Remembering Ray Brown: Christian McBride, Benny Green and Jeff Hamilton / Sean Jones Quartet
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$85, 70, 60, 47, 37
Philip Dukes & Friends II: Tales of the Unexpected
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$52
S U N D AY, M A R C H 2 7 3 PM
1 hr 30 mins
T U E S D AY, M A R C H 2 9 7:30 PM
1 hr 40 mins
W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 3 0 5 and 8 PM
2 hrs 25 mins
John Jorgenson Quintet / Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$42
8 PM
1 hr 15 mins
Watchhouse (fka Mandolin Orange)
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$85, 70, 60, 47, 37
T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 3 1 12:30 PM
1 hr 15 mins
NOON30: Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum
$27
6 PM
1 hr 55 mins
Philip Dukes & Friends III: Brahms & Schumann
Trinity United Methodist Church
$52
7 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Hot Club of Cowtown
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum
$39
8 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Béla Fleck's My Bluegrass Heart feat. Stuart Duncan, Sierra Hull, Bryan Sutton, Mark Schatz and Justin Moses
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$85, 70, 60, 47, 37
Savannah Cultural Arts Center
FREE
F R I D AY, A P R I L 1 5 PM
1 hr
6 PM
2 hrs
Philip Dukes & Friends IV: All Beethoven
Trinity United Methodist Church
$52
7 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Foghorn Stringband
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum
$39
8 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Mavis Staples
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$85, 70, 60, 47, 37
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Ring Shout of the Georgia Coast: McIntosh County Shouters Q&A with Art Rosenbaum
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S A T U R D AY, A P R I L 2 12:30 PM
1 hr 15 mins
NOON30: McIntosh County Shouters
Savannah Cultural Arts Center
$27
3 PM
1 hr 20 mins
Sebastian Knauer, piano
Trinity United Methodist Church
$52
4 and 8 PM
2 hrs
Les Filles de Illighadad / True Blues feat. Corey Harris, Phil Wiggins & Cedric Watson
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum
$42
S U N D AY, A P R I L 3 3 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Robert Spano, Conductor, Avi Avital, Mandolin
Johnny Mercer Theatre
$85, 72, 60, 45
5 PM
1 hr 15 mins
Les Filles de Illighadad
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$27
7 PM
2 hrs 15 mins
The Wood Brothers
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$85, 70, 60, 47, 37
T U E S D AY, A P R I L 5 6 PM
1 hr 15 mins
Beethoven and the Mandolin: Caterina Lichtenberg & Mike Marshall
Trinity United Methodist Church
$52
7:30 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Drive-By Truckers
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$75, 62, 52, 42, 32
8 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Vijay Iyer Trio feat. Linda May Han Oh and Jeremy Dutton
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$42
W E D N E S D AY, A P R I L 6 12:30 PM
1 hr 15 mins
NOON30: Emmet Cohen Trio
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$27
5 and 8 PM
2 hrs 20 mins
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Mile Twelve
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum
$42
7:30 PM
2 hrs 20 mins
Allison Russell / Katie Pruitt
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$75, 62, 52, 42, 32
8 PM
2 hrs 15 mins
Emmet Cohen Trio / Samara Joy
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$42
T H U R S D AY, A P R I L 7 12:30 PM
1 hr 15 mins
NOON30: Samara Joy
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$27
7 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Mike Marshall's Stringband Spectacular feat. Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Mile Twelve, and the Westbound Situation Trio
Trustees Theater
$45, 37, 30, 25
7 PM
2 hrs 30 mins
Blind Boys of Alabama / The Campbell Brothers
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$85, 70, 60, 47, 37
8:30 PM
1 hr 30 mins
Zydeco Dance Party: C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$39
F R I D AY, A P R I L 8 12:30 PM
1 hr 15 mins
NOON30: Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$27
4-7 PM
3 hrs
Jazz on the River
Rousakis Plaza on River Street
FREE
5 and 8 PM
2 hrs 20 mins
Lakou Mizik / Leyla McCalla
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$42
6 PM
2 hrs
Academy of St Martin in the Fields Wind Ensemble with Simon Crawford-Phillips
Trinity United Methodist Church
$57
8 PM
1 hr 15 mins
Voices of Mississippi feat. William Ferris, Cedric Burnside, Sharde Thomas, and Luther & Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars
Lucas Theatre for the Arts
$85, 70, 60, 47, 37
Savannah Cultural Arts Center
FREE
S A T U R D AY, A P R I L 9 12:30 PM
1 hr
3 PM
2 hrs 30 mins
Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen / Lakou Mizik
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$42
9 PM
2 hrs 30 mins
Closing Night Party: Cedric Burnside / Eddie 9V
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden
$39
From the Archives of Dr. William Ferris: Select Documentary Films from Voices of Mississippi including a Q&A with Ferris and Lance Ledbetter
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5 and 8 PM
Balsam Range / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
5:30 and 8 PM
6 PM
Kittel & Co. / Mr. Sun
Benjamin Grosvenor, piano
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $42
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum | $42 Balsam Range is the 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year, and has become one of the genre’s most award-winning acts. Michael Cleveland’s blistering prowess and technical fluency have marked him as a sought-after musician, leading to performances with Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, Rhonda Vincent and Tim O’Brien. Cleveland formed his band Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper in 2006, and he hasn’t rested since, constantly looking for new ways to push himself and his music forward.
Kittel & Co. includes bandleader Jeremy Kittel on violin, mandolin phenom Josh Pinkham, genre-bending guitarist Quinn Bachand, bassist Jacob Warren, and hammered-dulcimer wizard Simon Chrisman. According to The Bluegrass Situation, Kittel & Co. has “accomplished a feat of new acoustic, string band-rooted chamber music.” Mr. Sun is another wholly unique American stringband, comprising renowned fiddler Darol Anger, awardwinning mandolinist Joe K. Walsh, standout acoustic guitar player Grant Gordy, and masterful Scottish bassist Aidan O’Donnell. Anger describes the music as “relaxing in a way that makes my mind flip on and spark and spin. I think it’ll do the same for most people who like acoustic string music.” NEXT-DAY ENCORE
Trinity United Methodist Church | $57 FRANCK Prelude, Chorale and Fugue, Opus 21 SCHUMANN Kreisleriana, Opus 16 intermission
ALBENIZ Iberia Book I RAVEL Jeux d’eau RAVEL La Valse
British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor is internationally recognized for his electrifying performances, distinctive sound and insightful interpretations. His virtuosic command over the most arduous technical complexities underpins the remarkable depth and understanding of his musicmaking. This is his SMF debut.
Noon30: Kittel & Co.
Friday, March 25 at 12:30 PM Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $27
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6 and 8 PM
6 PM
Cajun Dance Party: The Revelers
Celebrating Bach: Bridget Kibbey & Dover Quartet
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum | $39
Trinity United Methodist Church | $57
Representing the new generation of Cajun musicians, The Revelers blend the fundamental elements of Cajun music with pop, rock and R&B to create their signature brand of Louisiana-bred party music. Between them, Blake Miller (accordion), Chas Justus (guitar), Daniel Coolik (fiddle, guitar), Chris Miller (saxophone), Trey Boudreaux (bass) and Glenn Fields (drums) are connected with many well-known Cajun bands including The Pine Leaf Boys, Balfa Toujours, Les Malfecteurs, Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole and The Red Stick Ramblers. Don’t plan on sitting still for this special evening of two-stepping, hip-swaying, rolling good times.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 Sonata for in E-Flat Major, BWV 1031 Sonata for Viola da Gamba No. 2 in D Major, BWV 1028 Excerpts from Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 intermission
Sonata in G minor for Violin and Clavier, BWV 1020 Contrapunctis I-IV from The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1048 Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048 Bridget Kibbey, harp Joel Link, violin Bryan Lee, violin Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola Camden Shaw, cello
Celebrated harpist Bridget Kibbey and the renowned Dover Quartet are collaborating for the first time in a celebration of the “father” of all Western composers, J.S. Bach. An acclaimed soloist and chamber musician who has toured and recorded with Dawn Upshaw and Placido Domingo, Kibbey brings virtuosic brilliance and musical charisma to her performances. The phenomenal Dover Quartet was catapulted to international stardom by a stunning sweep of every major prize at the 2013 Banff Competition. The Dover Quartet appears by arrangement with the Curtis Institute of Music, where it serves at the Penelope P. Watkins Ensemble in Residence.
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F R I D AY, M A R C H 2 5
8:30 PM
Dee Dee Bridgewater & the Memphis Soulphony: Memphis… Yes, I’m Ready Lucas Theatre for the Arts Tickets start at $37 Over the course of a multifaceted career spanning four decades, Grammy and Tony Award-winning jazz giant and NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater has ascended to the upper echelon of vocalists, putting her unique spin on standards, as well as taking intrepid leaps of faith in re-envisioning jazz classics. With Memphis...Yes, I’m Ready, Bridgewater has gone back to her beginning...Memphis, TN. This joyous project is not only a return to Bridgewater’s roots, but also offers a groundbreaking reimagining of American blues and R&B classics. This is Dee Dee Bridgewater’s SMF debut.
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4 and 8 PM
6 PM
Latin Dance Party: Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Olga Kern, piano Trinity United Methodist Church | $57 BEETHOVEN 10 Variations on Salieri’s ‘La stessa, la stessissima’, WoO 73
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum | $39
SCHUMANN Carnaval, Opus 9
Founded in 2000 by composer-arranger Oscar Hernández, the Grammy-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra is one of the most formidable, thrilling and authentic Latin jazz collectives working today. Born into a large Puerto Rican family living in the Bronx, near Spanish Harlem, Hernández started playing trumpet at age 12, then switched to piano. By the 1970s, he was arranging and working with Latin luminaries, such as Tito Puente, Ray Barretto and Celia Cruz. In 2000, he joined forces with producer Aaron Levinson to record a hand-assembled Latin jazz ensemble, which became the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. If you like your music Latin-hot, don’t miss the return of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
GERSHWIN Three Preludes GERSHWIN / WILD Etude No. 7, “Fascinating Rhythm” intermission
RACHMANINOV Moments Musicaux Opus 16, No. 4 in E minor RACHMANINOV Étude-Tableaux No. 8, Opus 33, No. 8 in G minor RACHMANINOV Polichinelle in F-sharp minor, Opus 3 No. 4 TCHAIKOVSKY Meditation from Souvenir d’un lieu cher, Opus 42 SCRIABIN 2 8 Etudes, Opus 42, Nos. 4 and 5 BALAKIREV Islamey, Opus 18
With a vivid onstage presence, dazzling technique, and keen musicianship, RussianAmerican pianist Olga Kern is widely recognized as one of the great artists of her generation. She was born into a family of musicians in Russia and began studying piano at the age of five, and at seventeen was awarded first prize at the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition. In 2001, she won a historic Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition— the first woman to do so in more than thirty years. In 2016 she was Jury Chairman of both the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition and the first Olga Kern International Piano Competition, where she also holds the title of Artistic Director. In 2019, she was appointed the Connie & Marc Jacobson Director of Chamber Music at the Virginia Arts Festival. Olga Kern is a Steinway Artist.
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S A T U R D AY, M A R C H 2 6
7:30 PM
8 PM
Remembering Ray Brown: Christian McBride, Benny Green and Jeff Hamilton with Special Guest Dee Dee Bridgewater
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
Trustees Theatre | Tickets start at $35 Christian McBride is a six-time Grammy Award-winning bassist/composer, the host of NPR’s Jazz Night in America, and artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival. Since the early 1990’s Christian McBride has recorded on over 300 records as a sideman. However, he’s been a leader from his debut recording in 1995. With this lineup of the Remembering Ray Brown Trio, McBride is joined by pianist Benny Green and drummer Jeff Hamilton, both of whom worked extensively under the mentorship of the great bandleader and Dizzy Gillespie collaborator Ray Brown. One of Christian McBride’s foremost musical influences, Brown also collaborated with acclaimed vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, who will join the trio as a special guest.
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Lucas Theatre for the Arts Tickets start at $37 Bruce Hornsby, the creatively insatiable pianist and singer-songwriter from Williamsburg, Virginia, has always succeeded on his exceptional gifts, his training and his work ethic. He has returned to traditional American roots forms, collaborating with Ricky Skaggs. He has played with the Grateful Dead. He has fused the plunk and dazzle of 20th-century modernist classical composition to singersongwriter emotional inquiries. He has scored films and performed with symphony orchestras. Audiences should prepare for a multi-faceted ride with Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers. Bruce Hornsby is a Steinway Artist.
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S U N D AY, M A R C H 2 7
3 PM
5 PM
Lúnasa
Philip Dukes & Friends I: Saint-Säens & Fauré
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum | $42
Trinity United Methodist Church | $52
Named for an ancient Celtic harvest festival in honour of the Irish god Lugh, Lúnasa was formed in 1997 from members of some of the greatest Irish groups of the previous decade. From the start, the band’s complex arrangements and unique sound reshaped the boundaries of traditional music and energized audiences the world over. MOJO magazine named the band “the new gods of Irish music,” adding that “nobody since the Bothies has wielded such a thrilling rhythmic underlay.”
SAINT-SÄENS Piano Quartet No. 2 in B-flat Major, Opus 41 SAINT-SÄENS Carnival of the Animals (for four hands piano) intermission
FAURÉ Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Opus 15 Benny Kim, violin Brendan Speltz, violin Robin Ashwell, viola Philip Dukes, viola Eric Kim, cello Keith Robinson, cello Sebastian Knauer, piano Anna Tilbrook, piano Ana-Maria Vera, piano
In the first of two contrasting programs featuring French music, we hear two fabulous piano quartets, one by Saint-Säens and one by Fauré, interspersed with the colorful and humorous classic Carnival of the Animals. The original idea was to feature Saint-Säens in 2021 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death, and although we weren’t able to do that, it seemed worthwhile to postpone it for a year given the attraction of this program. Fauré wrote two exquisite piano quartets, and this program concludes with the first of those two works, which is both ravishing and delicious in harmonic content, and equally rewarding for both audience and performers alike.
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S U N D AY, M A R C H 2 7
3 PM and 6:30 PM
7 PM
Diana Burco / Jorge Glem & Sam Reider
Remembering Ray Brown: Christian McBride, Benny Green and Jeff Hamilton / Sean Jones Quartet
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $42
Lucas Theatre for the Arts | Tickets start at $37
A rising star of the explosive and multidimensional Colombian music scene and a two-time Latin Grammy nominee, Diana Burco is a singer-songwriter and accordion player. A native of Bucaramanga in the Andes mountains district of Santander, Burco has played and explored Colombia’s traditional music since she was a child.
Christian McBride is a six-time Grammy Award-winning bassist/composer, the host of NPR’s Jazz Night in America, and artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival. Since the early 1990’s Christian McBride has recorded on over 300 records as a sideman. However, he’s been a leader from his debut recording in 1995. With this lineup of the Remembering Ray Brown Trio, McBride is joined by pianist Benny Green and drummer Jeff Hamilton, both of whom worked extensively under the mentorship of the great bandleader and Dizzy Gillespie collaborator Ray Brown.
Grammy-nominated Venezuelan cuatro virtuoso Jorge Glem teams up with American accordionist, pianist, and composer Sam Reider to create a one-ofkind fusion of folk music. With jaw dropping virtuosity and infectious chemistry, these musicians and friends are breaking down all the boundaries between their two continents, languages and cultures.
sound reminiscent of vintage Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan yet completely modern” (JazzTimes). Jones was a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra from 2004 through 2010, and was tapped to become a member of the SFJAZZ Collective in 2015. He was selected by Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter for their Tribute to Miles tour in 2011. Jones has released eight albums as a bandleader and has performed at SMF several times, last with his quartet at the 2015 festival.
Sean Jones is an acclaimed trumpeter, bandleader, composer and educator “who combines artistry and virtuosity, with a
Diana Burco is part of Center Stage, a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts in cooperation with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations. General management is provided by Lisa Booth Management, Inc.
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7:30 PM
Philip Dukes & Friends II: Tales of the Unexpected Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $52 DEBUSSY Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp POE “The Masque of the Red Death” CAPLET Conte fantastique for Harp and String Quartet (after “The Masque of the Red Death”) intermission
RAVEL Piano Trio in A minor Benny Kim, violin Brendan Speltz, violin Robin Ashwell, viola Philip Dukes, viola Eric Kim, cello Keith Robinson, cello Bridget Kibbey, harp Ana-Maria Vera, piano Tara Helen O’Connor, flute Mervon Mehta, narrator
In a first for the SMF chamber music series, we travel to the magnificent surroundings of the Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden, for a program of fantasy and drama. In a semi-staged, partly programmatic concert, Impressionist France meets the mysterious world of Edgar Allan Poe, with a reading of Poe’s macabre tale “The Masque of the Red Death,” and in response, we hear André Caplet’s brilliant setting of the same story to music. To add to the Impressionistic element there is Claude Debussy’s exquisite trio for flute, viola, and harp, the program concludes with Maurice Ravel’s beguiling Piano Trio, perhaps one the finest trios ever written.
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W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 3 0
5 PM and 8 PM
8 PM
John Jorgenson Quintet / Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
Watchhouse (fka Mandolin Orange)
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $42
Lucas Theatre for the Arts Tickets start at $37
This one-time-only bill showcases several giants of the six-string for a boundaryless exploration of the instrument. Formed in 2004, the John Jorgenson Quintet is the only American act to ever headline the prestigious Django Reinhardt Memorial Festival in France. While the band’s style has been called “Gypsy Jazz” for its dynamic string-driven swing sound based on the music played by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli in 1930s Paris, guitarist Jorgenson’s compositional approach draws on elements from Latin, Romanian, classical, rock and Greek music.
Based on a mutual love of bluegrass, country, blues, western swing, and string band music of all kinds, dobro and lap steel specialist Rob Ickes and guitarist Trey Hensley formed a partnership in 2015 after their debut album. Ickes grew up in California’s Bay Area and cut his teeth on traditional bluegrass before moving to Nashville in the early ‘90s where he cofounded the highly influential bluegrass group Blue Highway. He has won 15 IBMA Awards for Dobro Player of the Year. A Tennessee native, Hensley was 11 years old when Marty Stuart brought him onstage to play with Earl Scruggs at the Grand Ole Opry.
Formed in 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Watchhouse (formerly known as Mandolin Orange) is songwriter Andrew Marlin (vocals, mandolin, guitar, banjo) and Emily Frantz (vocals, violin, guitar). More than a decade down the road, a halfdozen albums, and a family of their own to contend with, Watchhouse makes beautiful, downhome, contemporary acoustic folk music together with deceptive ease.
NEXT-DAY ENCORE
NOON30: Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley Thursday, March 31 at 12:30 PM North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum | $27
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6 PM
7 PM
Philip Dukes & Friends III: Brahms & Schumann
Hot Club of Cowtown
Trinity United Methodist Church | $52
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum | $39
BRAHMS Three Intermezzi, Opus 117 SCHUMANN Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Opus 44 intermission
SCHUMANN Adagio and Allegro, Opus 70 BRAHMS Piano Quintet in F minor, Opus 34 Adam Barnett-Hart, violin Benny Kim, violin Brendan Speltz, violin Robin Ashwell, viola Philip Dukes, viola Eric Kim, cello Keith Robinson, cello Sebastian Knauer, piano Anna Tilbrook, piano Ana-Maria Vera, piano
In this palindromic program we are treated to arguably two of the greatest Piano Quintets ever composed. Much has been written and discussed concerning the fascinating relationship between Brahms and Schumann (and indeed Clara Schumann’s involvement) and while that aspect adds an interesting twist to proceedings, ultimately the music of these two great masters is the standalone winner. Both quintets were written at the absolute pinnacle of their compositional output, and are beautifully complimented in this program by the magical Three Intermezzi by Brahms, and the sumptuous and fiery Adagio and Allegro by Schumann.
The Hot Club of Cowtown has toured extensively worldwide for over twenty years, both on its own and with artists including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Gatemouth Brown, the Avett Brothers and Dan Hicks, and appeared at SMF in 2015 for a run of six shows alongside Asleep at the Wheel. “The threesome of high-heeled violinist Elana James, guitarist Whit Smith and bassist Jake Erwin showed from the beginning that jazz and country music could exist together on the same page, a highly commendable achievement if ever there was one.” wrote The Wall Street Journal.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 31
8 PM
Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart feat. Stuart Duncan, Sierra Hull, Bryan Sutton, Mark Schatz and Justin Moses Lucas Theatre for the Arts Tickets start at $37 “They nearly always come back,” said Béla Fleck. “All the people that leave bluegrass. I had a strong feeling that I’d be coming back as well.” My Bluegrass Heart is that return the 15-time Grammy winner is talking about —the third chapter in a decades-spanning trilogy which, by his counting, started with 1988’s Drive and continued with The Bluegrass Sessions, released eleven years later.
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5 PM
Ring Shout of the Georgia Coast: McIntosh County Shouters Q&A Savannah Cultural Arts Center | FREE In a panel discussion format, this free Q&A is an exploration of the Ring Shout tradition of coastal Georgia and South Carolina. It features McIntosh County Shouters members Brenton Jordan and Carletha Sullivan, along with renowned artist, musician and folklorist Art Rosenbaum, whose book Shout Because You’re Free: The African American Ring Shout Tradition on the Coast of Georgia (1998) resulted from extensive research and fieldwork alongside his wife, photographer and painter Margo Newmark Rosenbaum.
6 PM
8 PM
Philip Dukes & Friends IV: All Beethoven
Foghorn Stringband
Trinity United Methodist Church | $52
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum | $39
String Quintet in C Major, Opus 29 Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Opus 31, No. 2, “Tempest” intermission
Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Opus 97, “Archduke” Adam Barnett-Hart, violin Benny Kim, violin Robin Ashwell, viola Philip Dukes, viola Eric Kim, cello Keith Robinson, cello Sebastian Knauer, piano Ana-Maria Vera, piano
There is perhaps no better way to conclude the chamber music series for 2022 than a special concert dedicated to the great master Ludwig van Beethoven. Arguably one of the greatest exponents of the chamber music medium, the program opens with his electric and fiery C Major String Quintet, affectionately known as “The Storm.” It is followed by pianist Sebastian Knauer playing Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 21, No. 2, also known as “The Tempest.” To close, we hear a performance of his majestic “Archduke” Piano Trio, a timeless classic, brimming with the same original freshness as the day it was first heard.
Founded in the late 1990s in Portland, Oregon, Foghorn Stringband specializes in old-time gospel, square dance tunes, ballads, Cajun waltzes, honky-tonk favorites and pre-bluegrass picking songs. With eight albums, thousands of shows and more than 15 years of touring under their belts, this acclaimed stringband sees itself not as a group of revivalists, but, rather, as curators and ardent fans of a historical legacy. On stage, mandolinist Caleb Klauder, guitarist Reeb Willms, fiddler Sammy Lind and Nadine Landry on upright bass gather around one microphone, delivering their music on the fly with an intense, rousing abandon.
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F R I D AY, A P R I L 1
8 PM
Mavis Staples Lucas Theatre for the Arts Tickets start at $37 Having been referred to as “one of America’s defining voices of freedom and peace” by NPR, Mavis Staples is the kind of once-ina-generation artist whose impact on music and culture would be difficult to overstate. Since beginning her career in 1950 with her family group The Staples Singers, she’s become both a Blues and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, a civil rights icon, a National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient, and a Kennedy Center honoree. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, and sang for Barack Obama at The White House. Staples has collaborated with artists ranging from Prince to Bob Dylan to Arcade Fire, blown away festivalgoers from Newport Folk Festival and Glastonbury to Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, and performed with The Band at The Last Waltz. “I sing because I want to leave people feeling better than I found them,” says Mavis Staples. “I want them to walk away with a positive message in their hearts, feeling stronger than they felt before. I’m singing to myself for those reasons, too.”
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12:30 PM
3 PM
NOON30: McIntosh County Shouters
Sebastian Knauer, piano Trinity United Methodist Church | $52
Savannah Cultural Arts Center | $27 A compelling fusion of movement, call-andresponse singing and percussion (consisting of hand-clapping and beating a stick on the floor), the ring shout tradition of the Georgia and South Carolina coast has African origins but also contains strong elements of Christian belief. NEA National Heritage Fellows the McIntosh County Shouters are the foremost practitioners of this tradition, and have become SMF favorites. This is their first SMF appearance since the 2015 season, but they have performed regularly for local schoolchildren grades K-2 as part of SMF’s Musical Explorers. For more information about Musical Explorers, see page 37.
NYMAN 6 Piano Pieces for Sebastian Knauer, K4
Pianist Sebastian Knauer needs little introduction to SMF audiences, having appeared in most every season since 2004 in roles including recitalist, soloist, conductor and chamber musician. He began playing piano at age 4, and made his debut at the age of 14 at the Laeiszhalle in his hometown of Hamburg. In 2012, Knauer founded Mozart@Augsburg, which takes place in the “Mozart City” of Augsburg, Germany. He is also the artistic director of the “Internationale Musikfestwoche” in Bad Berleburg (home of HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark) and the Beethoven Festival in Aachen.
MOZART Fantasia in C minor, K. 475
Sebastian Knauer is a Steinway Artist.
MOZART Piano Sonata in C Major, K. 545, I. Allegro NYMAN 6 Piano Pieces for Sebastian Knauer, K1 MOZART Piano Sonata in C Major, K. 330, II. Andante cantabile NYMAN 6 Piano Pieces for Sebastian Knauer, K2 MOZART Piano Sonata in F Major, K. 332, III. Allegro assai NYMAN 6 Piano Pieces for Sebastian Knauer, K3 MOZART Piano Sonata in A minor, K. 310, I. Allegro maestoso
NYMAN 6 Piano Pieces for Sebastian Knauer, K5 MOZART Piano Sonata in D Major, K. 311, III. Rondeau - Allegro NYMAN 6 Piano Pieces for Sebastian Knauer, K6 MOZART 12 Variations in C Major on “Ah, vous dirai-je Maman,” K. 265
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4 PM and 8 PM
Les Filles de Illighadad / True Blues feat. Corey Harris, Phil Wiggins & Cedric Watson North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum | $42 In this co-bill, two distinct storytelling traditions come together in the desert blues and tende of Niger and the blues of the American South. Les Filles de Illighadad come from a secluded commune in central Niger, far off in the scrubland deserts at the edge of the Sahara. Fatou Seidi Ghali, lead vocalist and guitarist, is one of the only female Tuareg guitarists in Niger. Les Filles de Illighadad perform tende music, a traditional form dominated by women and played during celebrations and to pass the time during the late nights of the rainy season. Desert blues, synonymous with Tuareg music, evolved as men living in exile in the 70s in Libya and Algeria used guitar as a substitute for the call-and-response vocals of tende. In a place where gender norms have influenced the evolution of two musical styles, Fatou and Les Filles de Illighadad are reasserting the role of tende in Tuareg guitar. Hosted by the powerful blues singer-guitarist Corey Harris, True Blues chronicles the living culture of the blues in an evening of music and conversation. Harris will be joined by southwest Louisiana fiddler/accordionist extraordinaire Cedric Watson and Piedmont blues harmonica wizard and NEA National Heritage Fellow Phil Wiggins.
NEXT-DAY ENCORE
Les Filles de Illighadad Sunday, April 3 at 5 PM Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $42
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S U N D AY, A P R I L 3
3 PM
7 PM
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Robert Spano, Conductor, Avi Avital, Mandolin
The Wood Brothers
Johnny Mercer Theatre | $45 Returning to SMF this season is the explosively talented mandolin player, Avi Avital. The first mandolin soloist to be nominated for a classical Grammy Award, Avital has delighted SMF audiences in past performances, and this weekend he returns to play a brand-new mandolin concerto from composer Jennifer Higdon.
BULLER The Parallactic Transits HIGDON Concerto, Mandolin intermission
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade, Opus 35 Robert Spano, Conductor Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Avi Avital, Mandolin
Looking to the East, Maestro Spano conducts Rimsky-Korsakov’s classic Scheherazade, the story of the crafty wife of the sultan who spins epic tales with cliffhanger endings for 1,001 nights. RimskyKorsakov paints an elaborate picture of Arabian nights. Don’t miss this final SMF appearance by Spano with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra!
Lucas Theatre for the Arts Tickets start at $37 The Wood Brothers formed after brothers Chris and Oliver Wood pursued separate musical careers for 15 years. Chris already had legions of devoted fans for his incomparable work as one-third of Medeski Martin & Wood, while Oliver toured with Tinsley Ellis before releasing a half-dozen albums with his band King Johnson. With drummer Jano Rix added as a permanent third member, it’s become quite clear that The Wood Brothers is indeed the main act. Their latest album, One Drop of Truth, is their most dynamic recording to date and earned them a Grammy nomination for “Best Americana Album.” Bay Area singer-songwriter Sean Hayes, who has dueted with Aimee Mann and toured with Anais Mitchell, opens the show.
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T U E S D AY, A P R I L 5
6 PM
7:30 PM
8 PM
Beethoven and the Mandolin: Caterina Lichtenberg & Mike Marshall
Drive-By Truckers
Vijay Iyer Trio feat. Linda May Han Oh and Jeremy Dutton
Trinity United Methodist Church | $52 Mandolinists Mike Marshall and Caterina Lichtenberg will play a program from their rich duet repertoire. Beethoven wrote four pieces for mandolin and Lichtenberg performs two of these accompanied by Adam Jaffe on fortepiano. These works were written for the Contessa Josefine in Prague in 1796. A scholar on the subject, Lichtenberg will share her deep connection to these works.
Lucas Theatre for the Arts Tickets start at $37 Originally hailing from Athens, Georgia, the Drive-By Truckers have always been outspoken, telling a distinctly American story via craft, character and concept, all backed by sonic ambition and social conscience. Founded by singer/songwriter/ guitarists Mike Cooley and Patterson Hood, the band celebrated their 25th anniversary last year. “From their first notes together to their current tour, the Truckers have insisted, however, that rock-and-roll remains an effective, even meaningful, vehicle for dissent, resistance and longevity,” notes the Washington Post.
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $42 Composer-pianist Vijay Iyer (pronounced “VID-jay EYE-yer”) has carved out a unique path as an influential, prolific, shape-shifting presence in modern music. Iyer was named a 2017 United States Artists Fellow, a 2013 MacArthur Fellow, and a 2012 Doris Duke Performing Artist. For this SMF debut, Vijay Iyer’s trio features Linda May Han Oh, a bassist/composer who has performed and recorded with artists such as Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Terri Lyne Carrington, Steve Wilson, Geri Allen, and recently on the acclaimed 2021 album Uneasy with Iyer and Tyshawn Sorey. Vijay Iyer is a Steinway Artist.
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12:30 PM
5 PM and 8 PM
NOON30: Emmet Cohen Trio
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out / Mile Twelve
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $27
For over 30 years, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out have been touring and releasing great, original bluegrass music. After spending a handful of formative years as a member of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Russell Moore formed IIIrd Tyme Out in 1991 and bluegrass music hasn’t been the same since. IIIrd Tyme Out helped usher in a new era of youthful, energetic bluegrass and established a unique sound that has lasted well into the 21st century. Three decades later, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out are one of bluegrass music’s most-awarded touring bands with over 50 industry accolades to their credit. In 2019, Moore received his 6th Male Vocalist of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association, maintaining the record as their most awarded in that category.
North Garden Assembly Room at Ships of the Sea Museum | $42
Pianist Emmet Cohen began Suzuki method piano instruction at age 3. In 2011, he was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition. He recently won the Cole Porter Fellowship, which is awarded every four years by the American Pianists Association. In addition to leading his own trio (with Yasushi Nakamura and Kyle Poole), Cohen is a renowned Hammond B-3 specialist and member of Christian McBride’s trio Tip City, the Ali Jackson Trio, and the Herlin Riley Quartet. Cohen has performed with jazz luminaries such as Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Jimmy Cobb, George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Houston Person, Kurt Elling, Billy Hart and Brian Lynch. Since the beginning of the pandemic, he has been prolific in recording new music with a who’s-who of special guests, in his celebrated Monday night virtual series Live from Emmet’s Place.
Mile Twelve won the 2020 IBMA New Artist of the Year award, and has been making waves in the acoustic music community with their seamless blend of expertlycrafted songs, creative arrangements and virtuosic execution. They’ve found receptive audiences across the globe, touring throughout North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. With members based in Boston, New York and Maine the lineup includes Evan Murphy (guitar, vocals), Catherine “BB” Bowness (banjo), Nate Sabat (bass, vocals), Ella Jordan (fiddle, vocals), and Korey Brodsky (mandolin).
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7:30 PM
8 PM
Allison Russell / Katie Pruitt
Emmet Cohen Trio / Samara Joy
Lucas Theatre for the Arts | Tickets start at $37 Allison Russell released her first solo project, Outside Child, in May of 2021. The breathtaking album has since earned her three Grammy nominations. A self-taught singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and co-founder of Our Native Daughters and Birds of Chicago, Russell was raised in Montreal, Quebec. She imbues her music with the colors of her city – the light, the landscape, the language – but also the trauma that she suffered there. It is a heartbreaking reflection on a childhood no one should have to endure, and at the same time a powerful reclamation – asserted from a place of healing, of motherhood, of partnership – and from a new home made in Nashville.
Guitarist and singer-songwriter Katie Pruitt is a Nashville transplant from the suburbs of Atlanta. Pruitt tackles topics such as religion, mental health, and contemporary love songs with a modern twist. Her passionate delivery and powerful message are the reason her name has graced the bills of major festivals, and sold out shows across the US and internationally. Her recently released debut album, Expectations, is a glowingly detailed collection of real-life stories, and a courageous document of coming of age.
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $42 Samara Joy recently won the Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition, and released her debut recording. Growing up in the Bronx in a musical family, Samara Joy was influenced by the sounds of gospel and R&B. Her first exposure to jazz was at Fordham High School for the Arts, and it was there that she won Best Vocalist at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington program. She was named “Best New Artist” in the 2021 JazzTimes Critics’ Poll. This is her SMF debut.
NEXT-DAY ENCORE
NOON30: Samara Joy
Thursday, April 7 at 12:30 PM Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $27
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T H U R S D AY, A P R I L 7
7 PM
8:30 PM
Mike Marshall’s Stringband Spectacular feat. Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Mile Twelve, Westbound Situation Trio
Zydeco Dance Party: C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band
Trustees Theater | Tickets start at $35
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $39
An annual highlight of the Acoustic Music Seminar, this special 2022 edition of Mike Marshall’s Stringband Spectacular includes several alumni of the SMF workshop and mentorship program. Allison de Groot (clawhammer banjo) & Tatiana Hargreaves (fiddle, vocals) are an old-time duo that creates a sound that is adventurous, masterful and original, as they expand on the eccentricities of these old songs while never losing sight of what makes them endure.
Westbound Situation blends the precision of classical chamber music, the rhythmic drive of bluegrass, and the colorful expression of jazz into a new style of chamber music they call chambergrass. This trio version of the group (also typically including a fourth member in Jake Howard) is composed of Grant Flick on violin, Zach Brown on cello, and Jacob Warren on bass.
Creole-born musician C.J. Chenier delivers soulful vocals along with masterful accordion-driven zydeco and blues. Chenier has performed alongside many internationally-recognized artists including his father, Clifton Chenier (“The King of Zydeco”), Paul Simon, Joe Sample and Ray Parker, Jr. This is his SMF debut.
For more information on Mile Twelve, please see page 25.
NEXT-DAY ENCORE
NOON30: Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves Thursday, April 7 at 12:30 PM | Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $27
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THURSDAY, APRIL 7
7 PM
Blind Boys of Alabama / The Campbell Brothers Lucas Theatre for the Arts | Tickets start at $37 The Blind Boys of Alabama have the rare distinction of being recognized around the world as both living legends and modern-day innovators. They are not just gospel singers borrowing from old traditions; the group helped to define those traditions in the 20th century and almost single-handedly created a new gospel sound for the 21st. Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in the late 1930s (including Jimmy Carter, who leads the group today), the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world. The Campbell Brothers present Sacred Steel: African-American gospel music with electric steel guitar and vocals. This tradition emerges from the House of God Church, Keith Dominion, where for over sixty years it has been an integral part of worship and a vital, if little known, American tradition.
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FRIDAY, APRIL 8
4–7 PM
5 PM and 8 PM
Jazz on the River
Lakou Mizik / Leyla McCalla
Rousakis Plaza | FREE
Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $42
Join Savannah’s youngest jazz musicians in this free performance on River Street’s Rousakis Plaza. SMF Jazz Academy students showcase tunes by Duke Ellington, Lovie Austin, Miles Davis and others, with special guest performances by Savannah Arts Academy’s Skyelite Jazz Band and other local student ensembles. For more information about SMF Jazz Academy, see page 37.
Lakou Mizik is a multigenerational collective of Haitian musicians formed in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake. The group includes elder legends and rising young talents, united in a mission to honor the healing spirit of their culture and communicate a message of pride, strength and hope to their countrymen and the world.
Jean Dominique, in 2000. The title is derived from a proverb used by Dominique to describe the spirit of Haiti’s marginalized poor in the face of violence and political oppression.
In her second SMF appearance, HaitianAmerican singer-songwriter and cellist Leyla McCalla performs content from her recent project entitled Breaking the Thermometer to Hide the Fever. The project explores the legacy of Radio Haiti-Inter, Haiti’s first privately owned Creole-speaking radio station, and the assassination of its owner,
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FRIDAY, APRIL 8
6 PM
Academy of St Martin in the Fields Wind Ensemble with Simon Crawford-Phillips Trinity United Methodist Church | $57 REINECKE Trio for Oboe, Horn, and Piano, Opus 188 MOZART Quintet for Winds and Piano in E-flat Major, K. 452 intermission
BRAHMS Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in E-flat Major, Opus 120, No. 2 BEETHOVEN Quintet for Winds and Piano in E-flat Major, Opus 16 James Burke, clarinet Julie Price, bassoon Stephen Stirling, horn Tom Blomfield, oboe Simon Crawford-Phillips, piano
The Academy of St Martin in the Fields was founded by Sir Neville Marriner in 1958 and is currently led by Music Director Joshua Bell. In 1967, the Academy Chamber Ensemble was formed to perform the larger scale chamber music repertoire with players who customarily worked together, instead of the usual string quartet with additional guests. The Chamber Ensemble now performs in multiple configurations, including the Academy Wind Ensemble. Simon Crawford-Phillips is a multi-festival director, renowned pianist, creative programmer with a passion for championing contemporary repertoire, and a chamber musician who regularly collaborates with artists such as Daniel Hope and Lawrence Power in repertoire from Haydn and Schumann to Adès, Byström, Dean and Reich. His own ensembles include The Kungsbacka Piano Trio and Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble. He has been a regular of the SMF chamber series, and is a Steinway Artist.
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FRIDAY, APRIL 8
8 PM
Voices of Mississippi feat. William Ferris, Cedric Burnside, Shardé Thomas, and Luther & Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars Lucas Theatre for the Arts Tickets start at $37 Voices of Mississippi is a new multimedia event that celebrates the music, art and storytelling traditions of the people of Mississippi. Based on the 2019 doubleGrammy Award–winning Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris, the program features live musical performances integrated with film, audio recordings and rare photographs captured by folklorist William ‘Bill’ Ferris, who will serve as host for the evening. The show features musicians Shardé Thomas, Cedric Burnside, and Luther and Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, all of whom are descendants of artists documented by Ferris. A historian with a proudly egalitarian lens, Ferris studied Mississippi as a slice of humanity in which everyone and everything was interconnected—and in which the beating heart of broader cultural traditions could be found in some of the most overlooked figures and places.
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S A T U R D AY, A P R I L 9
3 PM
Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen / Lakou Mizik
12:30 PM
From the Archives of Dr. William Ferris: Select Documentary Films from Voices of Mississippi including a Q&A with Ferris and Lance Ledbetter Savannah Cultural Arts Center | FREE Join Dr. William Ferris and Lance Ledbetter for a screening of documentary film selections from the Grammy Award-winning box set from the Atlanta-based Dust-to-Digital label.
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Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $42 Jon Cleary’s work pays obvious homage to the classic Crescent City keyboard repertoire created by such icons as Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Art Neville, Dr. John, and James Booker – while also using it as a launching pad for a style that incorporates such other diverse influences as ’70s soul and R&B, gospel music, funk, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Cuban rhythms, and much more. Cleary recorded his first album of nine, to date, in 1989. In his second SMF appearance, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen share a bill with Haiti’s Lakou Mizik. Audiences can anticipate a collaboration between the two, from their material on the Lakou Mizik album HaitiaNola.
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To this day, Haitian influences can be felt in the music of New Orleans. From the rhythms of the Mardi Gras parades to the swampy grooves of funk, echoes of this Haitian connection can still be heard in the sounds of the city. It can also be felt in the food, language, spirituality and so much more. One sunny day, when the musicians of Lakou Mizik found themselves walking down Frenchmen Street, they hatched the idea for HaitiaNola (Haiti & NOLA & Hispaniola = HaitiaNola). HaitiaNola celebrates this defiantly joyous spirit and the rhythmic roots that have connected them for more than two centuries.
A WO R L D O F M U S I C . O N E C I T Y.
S A T U R D AY, A P R I L 9
9 PM
Closing Night Party: Cedric Burnside / Eddie 9V Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden | $39 Cedric Burnside still lives on several acres not far from the Holly Springs, Mississippi, home where he was raised by “Big Daddy,” his grandfather, the late singer/songwriter/ guitarist R.L. Burnside. Cedric was literally born to the blues, more specifically, the “rhythmically unorthodox” Hill country variant which emerged from Mississippi, where he grew up surrounded (and influenced) by Junior Kimbrough, Jessie May Hemphill and Otha Turner, as well as delta musicians T-Model Ford and Paul “Wine” Jones. All his life, Eddie 9V (9-volt) has acted on instinct. Aged just 15, this old-soul artist turned away from the path of college and jobs to burst all guns blazing onto the roots and blues club circuit of his native Atlanta, Georgia. Flash forward to 2019, and for his debut album, Left My Soul In Memphis, the prodigious multi-instrumentalist simply powered up the amps in his mobile trailer and with his brother/co-writer/producer, Lane Kelly, laid down one of the year’s breakout releases.
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AREA MAP
S AVA N N A H R I V E R W. RIVER
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IND
IAN
E. RIVER
Emmet Park W. BAY
E. BAY
F
Wright Square YORK
8
Oglethorpe Square
E. BROUGHTON
Columbia Square
Greene Square
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E. BROAD
ABERCORN
BULL
BARNARD
Telfair Square
DRAYTON
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E STATE
WHITAKER
D
JEFFERSON
MONTGOMERY
ANN
FAHM
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
W. BROUGHTON
2
Washington Square
HOUSTON
CONGRESS
ORANGE
ZUBLEY
Warren Square
Reynolds Square
HABERSHAM
Johnson Square
LINCOLN
4
Ellis Square
PRICE
BRYAN
Franklin Square
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A
E. PRESIDENT
S A VA N N A H B O X O F F I C E 216 East Broughton Street, 912.525.5050 Mon–Fri 10 AM–5 PM, Sat 11 AM–4 PM
E. OGLETHORPE
W. OGLETHORPE
Colonial Park Cemetery
HULL
Orleans Square
C
UISVILLE
Chippewa Square
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Crawford Square
PERRY
E. LIBERTY
W. LIBERTY
W. HARRIS
Festival Venues JONES
RRIEN
RANDOLPH
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E. HARRIS
Pulaski Square
J O H N N Y M E R CW.ECHARLTON R T H E AT R E 1 301 West Oglethorpe Avenue Located at the Savannah Civic Center, the Johnny Mercer Theatre has a capacity of just over 2,500, making it SMF’s largest reserved seating venue. Beer, wine and W. TAYLOR non-alcoholic beverages are available in Chatham the lobby. On-site parking is available. Square
Madison Square
Lafayette Square
Troup Square
N O R T H G A R D E N A S S E M B LY R O O M AT S H I P S O F T H E S E A MUSEUM 41 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd Wear layers to prepare for Savannah’s spring weather at this unique outdoor covered space. Craft beer, wine and Monterey Calhoun Whitefield nonalcoholic beverages are available at Square Square Square this venue. On-site parking is limited.
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 127 Barnard Street E. Located JONES on Telfair Square, Trinity United Methodist Church is the festival’s primary classical music venue. The sanctuary E. TAYLOR provides wonderful acoustics and plentiful sight lines. Parking is limited to cityoperated garages and on-street spaces.
Parking Garages
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E. CHARLTON T R I N I T Y
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L U C A S T H E A T R E E. GORDON 2 FOR THE ARTS ROUSAKIS PLAZA T R U S T E E S T H E AT E R 8 216 5 River Street 32 Abercorn Street East Broughton Street The Lucas Theatre one of SMF’s primary Savannah’s breezy, cobblestone-lined River SCAD’s Trustees Theater seats over 1,100 W.is GASTON E. GASTON performance halls with seating for over Street is home to Jazz on the River on patrons. Non-alcoholic beverages and 1,200 patrons. Beer, wine and nonFriday, April 8 from 4–7 pm, featuring free snacks are available in the lobby. Parking alcoholic beverages are available in the open-air performances by students of SMF is limited to city-operated garages and onE. HUNTINGDON W. HUNTINGDON lobby. Parking is limited to city-operated Jazz Academy as well as local student jazz street spaces. Forsyth garages and on-street spaces. bands. Parking is very limited. Park W. HALL
M E T A L B U I L D I N G A T TRUSTEES’ GARDEN 660 East Broughton Street W. GWINNETT Initially built for use as an iron foundry, Kehoe Iron Works was rehabilitated by Charles H. Morris W. and opened in 2018. BOLTON Craft beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. Parking is limited to on-street spaces and the cityW. WALDBURG operated parking garage located across General McIntosh Blvd at Eastern Wharf.
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S AVA N N A H C U LT U R A L A R T S CENTER 201 Montgomery Street The Savannah Cultural Arts Center includes a theater that seats 330 patrons, a smaller performance space and working studios for local artists. Parking is limited to city-operated garages and on-street spaces. Curbside drop-off is available on Montgomery Street.
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E. HALL
A B R YA N S T R E E T G A R A G E 100 East Bryan Street E. GWINNETT
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E A S T E R N W H A R F G A R A G E 301 Passage Way
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L I B E R T Y S T R E E T G A R A G E 401 West Liberty Street
ROBINSON GARAGE DE. WALDBURG 132 Montgomery Street
E S T A T E S T R E E T G A R A G E 100 East State Street
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S AVA N N A H M U S I C F E S T I VA L
E. BOLTON
F
W H I T A K E R S T R E E T G A R A G E 7 Whitaker Street
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T I C K E T I N G I N F O R M AT I O N
Get Tickets O N L I N E : savannahmusicfestival.org Choose performances and seats 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. B Y P H O N E : 912.525.5050 Monday to Friday, 10 AM – 5 PM Saturday 11 AM–4 PM (during the festival) I N P E R S O N : Savannah Box Office, 216 East Broughton Street Monday to Friday, 10 AM–5 PM Saturday 11 AM–4 PM (during the festival) AT T H E S H O W One hour prior to showtime at the performance venue. Subject to availability.
Ticket Information & Policies COVID POLICIES To ensure the well-being of our patrons, artists, and staff, Savannah Music Festival is implementing safety measures in line with industry standards and CDC recommendations. Please visit savannahmusicfestival.org/safety for the most up-to-date policies.
To speed up health checks, we encourage patrons to download the Bindle App to their phones and to create a Bindle entry pass for Savannah Music Festival. C A N C E L L AT I O N S & R E F U N D S Except in the event of cancellation or postponement of a performance, Savannah Music Festival does not offer ticket refunds. Tickets can be exchanged or donated to the festival for resale. Exchanges are subject to availability and exchange fees. Tickets for donation must be received by the SMF office at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled performance. You will receive a tax-deductible donation receipt after the festival.
which patrons are likely to be on their feet and/ or dancing. Look for the icon on the festival calendar on pages 6–7. In theaters, those sensitive to this activity are encouraged to purchase early and select balcony/mezzanine seats closer to the front. PAT R O N C O D E O F C O N D U C T We are committed to providing an inclusive environment that celebrates exceptional live music, highlights diverse voices and genres and unites our community. We are dedicated to cultivating a safe, comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone who interacts with the Savannah Music Festival. Patrons are expected to contribute to our mutually respectful and welcoming community, supporting the richness of music from around the world and its transformative power. Please refrain from behavior that could disturb other patrons and performers. Patrons may be asked to relocate or leave if their behavior is disruptive to other audience members or if they are violating our safety protocols. Untolerated behavior includes, but is not limited to:
COME UNPLUGGED Thank you for leaving your recording devices at home and silencing your cell phones for all SMF concerts. For the enjoyment of all patrons, photographing, videotaping and sound recording of any SMF performance is prohibited.
• Ignoring requests from SMF staff and security regarding facility operations and emergency response procedures
HOUSE RULES While outside food and drink will not be permitted inside any SMF venue, food and drink will be available for in-house purchase at select concerts. Smoking is not permitted inside any SMF venue.
• Any form of discrimination or harassment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability or veteran status
L AT E S E AT I N G Late seating will take place during the first appropriate pause in the program at the discretion of house management. D A N C I N G / S TA N D I N G Patrons are advised to note that certain shows within the lineup are marked as performances in
• Verbal or physical harassment, including abusive language and gestures, threats, cursing or sexual language directed at others
• Behavior that violates government laws and regulations A C C E S S I B I L I T Y I N F O R M AT I O N All SMF venues are accessible, but please note that the Lucas and Trustees theaters do not have elevators to access balcony seating. Patrons using wheelchairs must confirm seating access in advance by calling the Savannah Box Office at 912.525.5050.
Ticket Discounts DISCOUNTS FOR CHILDREN SMF strives to provide a welcoming environment for everyone. Several concerts, within the lineup are familyfriendly. Children 12 years of age and younger receive free admission to familyfriendly concerts. Look for the icon on the festival calendar on pages 6-7. Children 5 years of age or younger receive free admission to all SMF concerts when accompanied by paying adult ticket holders (limit one child per one paying adult). Free tickets for children are only available in person on the day of show. Older children and young adults, especially those studying to learn an instrument, are invited to take advantage of SMF’s special discounts at classical concerts at Trinity United Methodist Church (see below). All patrons, regardless of age, must have a valid ticket to enter the venue. This includes infants and children that may normally sit on the lap of a parent. Classical performances are not recommended for children under the age of 5 years. SMF staff reserves the right to ask children and adults who become disruptive to leave the venue. For questions about the suitability of a performance or venue for your child, please call 912.234.3378. DISCOUNTS SPECIFIC TO CONCERTS AT TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Every patron aged 39 and under can purchase discounted tickets to concerts at Trinity United Methodist Church (limited availability)! Cannot be combined with other discounts. • Patrons 12 and under receive free admission • School children and young adults age 13–19: $10 tickets • Patrons in their 20s (20–29): $20 tickets • Patrons in their 30s (30–39): $30 tickets SENIOR, MILITARY, STUDENT & EDUCATOR DISCOUNTS Patrons aged 65+, military personnel, as well as students and educators, are eligible to receive a 15% discount on all single ticket purchases. Limit one ticket per person per performance. Tickets must be purchased by calling the box office at 912.525.5050 or the day of show. Valid ID required. Cannot be combined with other discounts.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PROGRAMS, ARTISTS AND VENUES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
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SUPPORT US
For over 30 years, Savannah Music Festival has proudly presented top artists in classical, jazz, American, and international roots music, as well as original, one-timeonly productions, commissioned works, regional and world premieres, and original double-bills. As a nonprofit organization, SMF relies on underwriting to create an exceptional live music experience for thousands of concertgoers each season, produce a weekly radio series (Savannah Music Festival LIVE), and provide free educational programming to more than 10,000 children each year. We are genuinely grateful to the donors, sponsors, and the community for their generous support throughout the pandemic, and we are thrilled to be back for an entire 17-day festival this season!
W AY S T O G I V E Donate securely online: savannahmusicfestival.org/SupportUs Donate by phone: 912.234.3378 ext. 106 Set up recurring monthly gifts with your credit card Transfer a gift of stock Contact your employer for corporate matching gifts Contact us for information about inkind sponsorships Join the Legacy Society and include Savannah Music Festival in your estate plans
If you have not yet given a gift in support this season, we hope you will consider SMF. SMF is pleased to offer various benefits to recognize and thank our donors and corporate sponsors for their support.
Join the Savannah Music Festival’s Legacy Society and leave a lasting gift for future generations of music lovers. Gifts to the Legacy Society are acts of hope for the future of our organization. Legacy gifts will assist SMF in building its endowment fund, which will ensure a sustainable future for the Festival. Through your generosity, SMF will be well equipped to continue to serve our community. There are numerous ways to make a legacy gift: A Bequest in a Will Life Income Gifts Life Insurance
Thank you for considering a gift to SMF! For more information on ways to give and benefits for donors and corporate sponsors, contact the Development Department at 912.234.3378 x106 or development@savannahmusicfestival.org.
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E D U C AT I O N P R O G R A M S
MAJOR INVESTMENT BY The William Randolph Hearst Foundation, General Education Ron & Susan Whitaker, SMF Jazz Academy SPONSORSHIP PROVIDED BY City of Savannah, General Education Chestnut Family Foundation, SMF Jazz Academy Charles A. Frueauff Foundation, General Education Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, General Education Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, General Education May Wall, Walter Lynch and May Li Wall Lynch, General Education
Musical Explorers
SMF Jazz Academy
Now in its eighth year, Musical Explorers is an unparalleled year-round music education program for children in the coastal region. Reaching more than 10,000 K-2 students and nearly 300 teachers, Musical Explorers teaches students about a world of music throughout the year, incorporating multicultural music education into every aspect of a child’s schooling.
Ron and Susan Whitaker, Founding Sponsors Erez Dessel, Music Director Aaron Jennings, Manager
For more information, visit musicalexplorers.savannahmusicfestival.org.
Launched in January 2020, SMF Jazz Academy is a free after-school jazz program for local students grades 5-12. Through weekly ensemble rehearsals, private lessons, jam sessions and more, students at all levels across Savannah learn the great art of jazz. For more information, visit savannahmusicfestival.org/jazz-academy.
Developed in partnership with
“SMF Jazz Academy has had a positive effect on my son…. I can see the benefits of him “Musical Explorers does an excellent job bringing different growing and identifying as a musician, being part of cultures and experiences a community, and making together through music. It is lifelong friends.” so good for the city and the SMFJA PARENT community to have such a great program!” K-2 TEACHER, SAVANNAH
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Balsam Range / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper Thursday, March 25 at 5 and 8 pm see page 8 for details
PHOTO CREDITS Cover art by Christen Albin Page 2: Christian McBride by Anna Webber Page 3: The Wood Brothers by Alysse Gafkjen, Olga Kern by Chris Lee , Diana Burco by Jose Cardona Page 8: Balsam Range courtesy of the artist, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper courtesy of the artists, Kittel & Co. courtesy of the artist, Mr. Sun by Dylan Ladd Page 9: The Revelers courtesy of the artist, Bridget Kibbey by Ronald Smith, Dover Quartet by Roy Cox Page 10: Dee Dee Bridgewater by Mark Higashino Page 11: Spanish Harlem Orchestra courtesy of the artist, Olga Kern by Chris Lee Page 12: Christian McBride by Anna Webber, Bruce Hornsby by Sarah Walor Page 13: Lúnasa courtesy of the artist, Philip Dukes & Friends I by Frank Stewart for Savannah Music Festival Page 14: Diana Burco by Jose Cardona, Jorge Glem & Sam Reider courtesy of artist, Sean Jones Quartet courtesy of the artist Page 15: Philip Dukes by Bailey Davidson Page 16: John Jorgenson Quintet courtesy of the artist, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley courtesy of the artist, Watchhouse (fka Mandolin Orange) by Shervin Lainez
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Page 17: Philip Dukes & Friends III by Frank Stewart for Savannah Music Festival, Hot Club of Cowtown courtesy of the artist Page 18: Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart by Alan Messer Page 19: Foghorn Stringband courtesy of the artist Page 20: Mavis Staples by Myriam Santos Page 21: McIntosh Country Shouters courtesy of the artist, Sebastian Knauer by KristianSickinger Page 22: Les Filles de Illighadad by Álvaro López, Corey Harris courtesy of the artist, Phil Wiggins courtesy of the artist, Cedric Watson by Jelena Rudi Page 23: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra by Jeff Roffman, Avi Avital by Christoph Kîstlin, The Wood Brothers by Alysse Gafkjen Page 24: Caterina Lichtenberg & Mike Marshall by Claudia Kempf, Drive-By Truckers courtesy of the artist, Vijay Iyer Trio by Ebru Yildiz Page 25: Emmet Cohen courtesy of the artist, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out by Anthony Ladd, Mile Twelve courtesy of the artist Page 26: Allison Russell courtesy of the artist, Katie Pruitt courtesy of the artist, Samara Joy courtesy of the artist
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Page 27: Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves courtesy of the artist, Mike Marshall’s Stringband Spectacular by Frank Stewart for Savannah Music Festival, Westbound Situation Trio courtesy of the artist, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band by Karen Murphy Page 28: Blind Boys of Alabama courtesy of the artist, The Campbell Brothers courtesy of the artist Page 29: Jazz on the River by Elizabeth Leitzell for Savannah Music Festival, Lakou Mizik by Maxence Bradley, Leyla McCalla by Greg Miles, Page 30: Simon Crawford-Phillips by Bailey Davidson, Academy of St Martin in the Fields Wind Ensemble by Benjamin Ealovega Page 31: Voices of Mississippi all courtesy of the artists Page 32: Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen by Greg Miles, Lakou Mizik by Daniel Schechner Page 33: Cedric Burnside by Abraham Rowe, Eddie 9v by Em Pearson. Page 36: All photos by Elizabeth Leitzell for Savannah Music Festival Page 37: All photos by Shot by Somi for Savannah Music Festival Page 38: Balsam Range courtesy of the artist Back cover: Les Filles de Illighadad courtesy of the artist
A WO R L D O F M U S I C . O N E C I T Y.
Board of Directors
Savannah Music Festival Staff
Chair: Vicki McElreath Treasurer & Vice Chair: Thomas Reilly Vice Chair: Ron Whitaker Secretary: Harold Yellin
Executive & Administration
Melissa Bouchillon Dr. Jessica Carter Tim Coy (Immediate Past Chairman) Mary Dugas John Haslam Holden Hayes Bill Jaques David Johnson Monty Jones, Jr. Bill Keightley Ted Kleisner Jeff Kole Dr. Ann Levett B.H. Levy Joe Marinelli (Ex-Officio) Ruth McMullin Dave Neises David Paddison Larry Pike Kacey Kennickell Ray Cyreia Sandlin Shelby G. Schavoir Trip Tollison (Ex-Officio) Vincent West Rhegan White-Clemm
Artistic & Production
Gene Dobbs Bradford, Executive Director Judi Szenes, Finance Assistant
Ryan McMaken, Artistic Director Philip Dukes, Thomas V. & Susan G. Reilly Associate Artistic Director Mike Marshall, Associate Artistic Director Abbey Matye, Programming Associate Development Kat Clark, Development Manager, Major Gifts Kristopher Monroe, Office Assistant Education & Outreach Jenny Woodruff, Director of Education & Community Engagement Elizabeth Anderson & Charles H. Morris Music Education Chair Jessica Messere, Education Manager Erez Dessel, Music Director, SMF Jazz Academy Aaron Jennings, Manager, SMF Jazz Academy Katie Griffith, Coordinator, Musical Explorers Marketing Larissa Thut Davidson, Marketing Director Paige Petrangelo, Marketing & Patron Services Associate Mark Rand, Graphic Design Assistant
Bob Faircloth (Chairman Emeritus, Ex-Officio)
Stay social
Join us as a Volunteer!
Future Festival Dates
Follow us to receive the latest updates on artists, performances, ticket deals and giveaways. Make sure to follow and use #SMF2022 and #savannahmusicfestival to find out about special ticket promotions, for behind-the-scenes access. and to share your festival experience with us!
Nearly 300 dedicated volunteers contribute to the success of Savannah Music Festival each year. If you are interested in joining our volunteer team, please visit savannahmusicfestival.org/volunteer to submit an interest form.
March 23–April 8, 2023 March 28–April 13, 2024 March 27–April 12, 2025
Facebook.com/SavannahMusicFestival Twitter.com/SavMusicFest Instagram.com/SavannahMusicFestival
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A W O R L D O F M U S I C . O N E C I T Y. 200 East Saint Julian Street, Suite 601 Savannah, GA 31401 savannahmusicfestival.org
Les Filles de Illighadad Saturday, April 2 at 4 and 8 PM and Sunday, April 3 at 5 PM see page 22 for details
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A WO R L D O F M U S I C . O N E C I T Y.