The Summer Solstice Jazz Festival will boast an outstanding lineup of national, regional and local jazz musicians, June 17-18, 2011. Learn more about the eclectic ensemble of performers that will grace this year’s festival stage:
High-resolution publicity photos can be downloaded here.
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Metro Jazz Voices – The Detroit-based Metro Jazz Voices render jazz standards, popular favorites and rare gems in sophisticated four-part harmony. Backed by one of the best rhythm trios in Detroit, Metro Jazz Voices features lead vocalist Meri Slaven, lead/alto Nicci Der Stepanian, tenor Carl Cafagna and Jeremy St.Martin on baritone. The rhythm trio includes pianist Scott Gwinnell, Jordan Shug on bass and drummer Mike Higgins. Metro Jazz Voices performs selections from all eras of the Great American Songbook, including the likes of “Pennies from Heaven,” “Over the Rainbow,” “Me and Julio, Down by the Schoolyard” and much more.
……………………………………………………………. Etienne Charles & Folklore – Born on the island of Trinidad in 1983, jazz musician Etienne Charles defies easy musical categorization. The young trumpeter’s musical lineage runs at least four generations deep and it was at the tender age of 10 that Charles’ musical journey began with the gift of his first trumpet. He later went on to gain his bachelor’s degree as the College of Music Brautlecht Scholar at Florida State University and his master’s degree at the Julliard School of Music in New York City. The 28-year-old jazz talent has released two albums, “Culture Shock” in 2006 and “Folklore” in 2009, the latter of which was named the #6 Jazz Album of 2009 by NPR. Visit www.etiennecharles.com to learn more.
……………………………………………………………. Grace Kelly – Saxophonist, singer, composer, lyricist and arranger Grace Kelly is an 18-year-old teenage phenom that was named one of five Bostonians to Watch in 2009 by ABC affiliate WCVB-TV. The up-and-coming, multi-faceted jazz talent has astonished crowds across the world with her proficiency, creativity and ever-accelerating growth. With more than 500 live concerts, two ASCAP awards and five albums under her belt, Kelly is on the fast track to international fame with her primary instrument, the beloved alto saxophone, in tow. She is currently a junior, attending Boston’s Berklee College of Music on a full-ride scholarship. Visit www.gracekellymusic.com to learn more about this talented jazz artist.
……………………………………………………………. Tumbao Bravo – Tumbao Bravo is an award-winning Latin jazz combo from Ann Arbor/Detroit. Formed in 2003 by reedman Paul VornHagen and conga player Alberto Nacif, this exciting combo performs the authentic rythyms of Cuba with rich original jazz harmonies. Tumbao Bravo has twice been awarded Best Recording in Jazz and World Music by the Detroit Music Awards and has been nominated every year since 2004. The combo’s music has been aired on all the major Latin jazz radio programs nationwide and used as a sound track for the USA Network TV show, “Burn Notice,” out of Miami, Florida. Rounding out the band is Javier Barrios on timbales, Bob Mojica on trumpet, Brian Di Blassio on keyboard and Pat Prouty on bass.
……………………………………………………………. Arlene McDaniel – Arlene McDaniel is a jazz pianist and educator who has been active in the mid-Michigan region since 1981. McDaniel gained her bachelor’s degree in music theory/composition from Michigan State University in 1984 and began teaching jazz piano at the MSU Community Music School in the fall of 2008. McDaniel has been a mainstay on the local festival scene and has also made numerous appearances at jazz clubs, coffee shops and other performance venues throughout the state. McDaniel’s trio of many years with bassist Gene Rebeck and drummer Ian LeVine recently released their recording, “Timeless,” containing mainly original material. Visit http://pws.cablespeed.com/arlenemcdaniel/Home.html to learn more.
……………………………………………………………. Randy Gelispie & Friends – Professional jazz drummer Randy Gelispie got an early start, joining a 10-piece band in the ninth grade. He has traveled on the road with many jazz greats, including the likes of Wes Montgomery, Sonny Stitt, Dinah Washington, Etta Jones, Lou Donaldson, Gene Ammons, Rodney Whitaker and more. He is currently an instructor of jazz drums at the Michigan State University College of Music.
……………………………………………………………. Billie Holiday Project featuring Mardra Thomas - Mardra Thomas has traveled the country painting a musical and historical picture of the life and legacy of Billie Holiday. Thomas’ voice is well suited to showcase Holiday’s sculptured phrasing, which stamped a signature style on jazz singing. Billie worked with some of the best musicians of her time; and in keeping with that tradition, Thomas is joined by pianist/arranger Reggie Thomas, bassist Rodney Whitaker, percussionist Randy Gelispie and saxophonist Diego Rivera. According to critics, Thomas may be the best vocalist to interpret Holiday. Her vocal styling and portrayal of Holidays “Lady Day” have mesmerized audiences across the county.
……………………………………………………………. Taylor Eigsti - Taylor Eigsti is a two-time GRAMMY-nominated pianist and composer based out of New York. He started playing piano when he was four years old and was quickly labeled a prodigy. After signing with Concord records, the 26-year-old California native quickly gained national exposure for his 2006 album “Lucky to Be Me,” which was nominated for two GRAMMY awards for Best Instrumental Composition and Best Instrumental Jazz Solo. His most recent album, “Daylight at Midnight,” takes a departure from his previous albums in that it integrates the influence of lyrically-driven acoustic rock music through covers of songs by Coldplay, Feist, MuteMath, Elliot Smith and many others. Visit www.tayjazz.com to learn more.
……………………………………………………………. Grupo-Aye’ - Grupo Aye specializes in Afro-Cuban music, a broad category with dashes of salsa, Latin jazz, bachata and merengue. Since its start in 2009, this talented 11-piece band has performed in musical venues and at festivals/events across the state of Michigan. Band leader and percussionist Robert Mulligan has assembled a carefully chosen group of musicians, including lead vocalists Daniel Montejo and Oscar Gonzalez, keyboardist Steve Talaga, sax/flutist Tom Lockwood, trumpeters Brad Fowler and Anthony Stanco, trombonist Peter Nelson, percussionists James Rodriguez and Carlos Cruz and bassist Jordan Richards. The group recently released its first album, “Guajiro del Corazon.”
……………………………………………………………. Rodney Whitaker Quartet – Internationally-renowned, Detroit-born jazz musician Rodney Whitaker is professor of double bass and director of jazz studies at the Michigan State University College of Music. Whitaker is one of the leading performers and teachers of jazz double bass in the United States. He is also the artistic director of the MSU Professors of Jazz, former artistic advisor of Jazz @ Wharton Center, director of Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s-Civic Jazz Orchestra and a member of the Jazz @ Lincoln Center Orchestra. Whitaker has also toured internationally as a featured performer with the Roy Hargrove Quintet. In 2006, he was nominated for the Juno Award, Canada's equivalent to the Grammy, for his work on “Let Me Tell You About My Day,” produced by Alma Records.
Tamara Mayers Jazz Combo - Tamara Mayers is a jazz vocalist, composer and arranger, originally from St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Her music is a huge melting pot of every sonic experience she’s had, blending roots and funk, jazz and classical, Afrobeat and soul with hints of Caribbean flavor.
……………………………………………………………. The Jonathan Beshay Quartet - As a saxophonist and educator, Jonathan Beshay has proven himself to be a hard working Michigan-based jazz musician. Beshay studied under one of Michigan’s most talented drummers, Sean Dobbins, and now teaches alonside him at the AAPS Summer Music Camp in Ann Arbor each summer.