Performances
Lori WilliamsFriday, March 6, 2020, 8 pm Lori Williams is the lead vocalist of her self-titled Washington, DC-based jazz ensemble and a featured vocalist with many internationally known artists. Enjoy her smooth mix of jazz and R&B with us as we kick off the spring season. |
Jamie BaumFriday, March 13, 2020, 8 pmPurchase tickets through PARKS DIRECT Tickets: $25/person; 10% discount for Montpelier members and seniors NYC flutist, composer, recording artist, and clinician, Jamie Baum, has toured the United States and over 30 countries performing at major festivals and concert halls including The Monterey and London Jazz Festivals, Tampere Jazz Happening, North Sea Jazz Festival, and Guimaraes Jazz Festival alongside artists such as George Russell, Randy Brecker, Donald Brown, Mick Goodrick, Tom Harrell, and Kenny Barron. Baum, known for her award-winning Septet that features her global-influenced, increasingly complex and long-form compositions, formed Short Stories to complement and expand her palette. With an emphasis on improvisation, her inspiration came from the short but eloquent, harmonic and motivically-packed compositions by such jazz icons as Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk. Combined with the excitement and drive of the modern “jazz standard,” Baum strives to compose or arrange “short stories” that set the tone for this unique instrumentation and a top-flight group of musicians. Come enjoy an evening of short stories with Jamie Baum. |
MAUREEN CHOI QUARTETFriday, March 20, 2020, 8 pmPurchase tickets through PARKS DIRECT Tickets: $25/person; 10% discount for Montpelier members and seniors Since winning the International Jazz Competition in Talavera, Spain, the Maureen Choi Quartet has continuously sold-out concerts in major cities in Spain (such as Madrid and Barcelona) as well as in the USA (New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.). Choi has taken her quartet to the Madrid Jazz Festival, Jazz Festival in Guggenheim, Jazz Festival Yecla, Jazz Festival Teruel, Atlantic Sons Festival, South by Southwest, Festival de Jazz San Javier, CLAZZ, and many more. They toured the U.S. in 2016 in support of her last album, Ida y Vuelta. Currently performing in Spain, they have been invited to perform in the Summer Solstice Jazz Festival (Michigan), Shanghai Jazz Festival (China), and at the Taichung Jazz Festival (Taiwan) in 2019. | |
WASHINGTON WOMEN IN JAZZFriday, March 27, 2020, 8 pmPurchase tickets through PARKS DIRECT Tickets: $25/person; 10% discount for Montpelier members and seniors Created by pianist Amy K. Bormet in 2011, the Washington Women in Jazz hosts an annual festival each March to celebrate the women of the DC jazz community. Bormet and her colleagues develop, promote, and lead a wide array of concerts, jam sessions, lectures, panels, discussions, and masterclasses throughout the festival. During the Montpelier concert, you will see the passion, devotion, and talent these Women in Jazz possess. | |
PHIL WIGGINSFriday, April 3, 2020, 8 pmPurchase tickets through PARKS DIRECT Tickets: $25/person; 10% discount for Montpelier members and seniors Join harmonica player Phil Wiggins as we celebrate his new book, Sweet Bitter Blues. This non-fiction book tells his story and discusses the African American blues scene in Washington, D.C. Phil Wiggins is arguably America’s foremost blues harmonica virtuoso. While rooted in the melodic Piedmont or “Tidewater” blues of the Chesapeake region, his mastery of the instrument now transcends stylistic boundaries. Born in Washington D.C. in 1954, Phil Wiggins achieved worldwide acclaim over three decades as one-half of the premier Piedmont blues duo of Cephas & Wiggins. Since the death of guitarist and singer John Cephas in 2009, Phil brought his harmonica wizardry to bear in a variety of musical collaborations. Join us at Montpelier Arts Center for a night of beautiful music and to purchase a copy of Sweet Bitter Blues. | |
CARLY HARVEYFriday, April 17, 2020, 8 pmPurchase tickets through PARKS DIRECT Tickets: $25/person; 10% discount for Montpelier members and seniors Based out of Washington, D.C., Carly Harvey combines blues, jazz, soul, and Americana roots styles to create a unique sound that calls to mind Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Nina Simone, with a little Ella Fitzgerald thrown in for good measure. In July 2018, Ms. Harvey was featured in Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine as one of the youngest blues artists to watch. She has had the privilege to share the stage with iconic musicians including Annika Chambers, Ron Holloway, Kebbie Williams, Ephraim Owens, Cory Henry, Kofi Burbridge, Junior Marvin, and Susan Tedeschi, another artist whose work has been foundational to her musical evolution. Join us for an off-the-hook performance that is sure to entertain! | |
MIKE CASEY TRIO PLUS SPECIAL GUEST GRAMMY NOMINATED PIANIST BENITO GONZALEZFriday, May 1, 2020, 8 pmPurchase tickets through PARKS DIRECT Tickets: $25/person; 10% discount for Montpelier members and seniors Recently featured by The Huffington Post, Forbes, on the cover of Spotify's "State of Jazz" playlist and much more, rising star saxophonist & storyteller Mike Casey makes his Montpelier debut in style with GRAMMY-nominated pianist Benito Gonzalez (fresh off his summer Europe tour with sax icon Pharaoh Sanders), joining Mike's dynamic New York trio as a special guest. Mike, trio, and Benito will take you on a journey of original, progressive, melodic, rhythmic, emotional jazz with influences from around the world mixed with surprising takes on familiar classics. This is part of Mike's USA Return Tour - he has just arrived home after completing a yearlong master's degree program at Berklee Valencia's selective Spain campus. | |
ALLYN JOHNSONFriday, May 8, 2020, 8 pmPurchase tickets through PARKS DIRECT Tickets: $25/person; 10% discount for Montpelier members and seniors Native Washingtonian, Allyn Johnson will perform music from his newly released CD, Where Angels Live. Johnson is a multi-talented musician, composer, arranger, and producer whose trademark sound gives brilliance and fortitude to the art of jazz improvisation. Mentored by the late great jazz legend Calvin Jones, Johnson hopes to continue Jones’s rich legacy of service, musicianship, and academic excellence in his teaching. Be the first to hear Johnson’s exciting new music! | |
CYRUS CHESTNUTFriday, May 15, 2020, 8 pmPurchase tickets through PARKS DIRECT Tickets: $25/person; 10% discount for Montpelier members and seniors Composer, pianist, and educator, Cyrus Chestnut is a musical force that utilizes his classical, gospel and jazz influences to entertain and capture his audiences. This performance will consist of jazz interpretations of Eric Satie, Claude Debussy, Mozart, and Deep Purple. New compositions from the mind of Cyrus Chestnut will be premiered as well. It will utilize influences from the history of music that is uniquely Chestnut! Join us for an evening of jazz merged with the classics! |