Time Armacost( Courtesy)It’s time for another season of jazz performances in the Starr Theatre at Walton Arts Center.
Of course, we’re talking about the Starlight Jazz series, set to begin on Sept. 30 and running through April of 2024.
The series features an all-star lineup of world class jazz performers with five Grammy awards and 24 nominations between them performing intimate shows in the smaller Starr Theatre.
Performers include Tim Armacost, Jeff Lorber, Tierney Sutton, Loston Harris, Brian Blade, and Aubrey Logan.
Full subscriptions to the series or single tickets are now on sale for the series.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit waltonartscenter.org.
Artist descriptions provided by Walton Arts Center
Tim Armacost Quintet
Saturday, Sept. 30, 7:30 pm
After a life of travel and discovery on three continents, Grammy-winning saxophonist Tim Armacost has established himself as one of the most important improvisers on the jazz scene today. Performing alongside bandmates Joe Locke (vibraphone), Jim Ridl (piano), Kenny Davis (bass) and Rudy Royston (percussion), Armacost is “a force to be reckoned with,” playing with a full, round sound and drawing on bebop, hard bop and most importantly, experience (JazzViews). With a hard-edged tone and melodic figures that never quite go where one might expect, this is sure to be a thrilling jazz concert, brimming with harmonic tension and release.
Jeff Lorber Fusion Trio
Friday, Oct. 13, 7:30 pm
Trailblazing, Grammy-winning pianist, composer and producer Jeff Lorber has built an impressive four-decade career,transcending musical boundaries and honing his own uniquely identifiable sound. A Fender Rhodes electric piano pioneer, in-demandproducer and iconic bandleader, Lorber infuses his music with blues, funk, soul and R&B. He’s one of the few artists still able to carry the mantle of “adult contemporary jazz,” accessible to most ears and infectiously swinging. Join us on a supersonic odyssey as we watch Lorber and his trio push the music forward, as energized and melodic as ever.
Tierney Sutton
Saturday, Dec. 2, 7:30 pm
Tierney Sutton is heralded for her impeccable voice, superbly imaginative arrangements and ability to transform even the most familiar song into a revelation. Her scatting boasts a clean airborne quality, and most important of all – she can swing! In high demand as both a studio producer and vocal coach, the nine-time Grammy nominee’s brilliance lies in her ability to blend seamlessly with her bandmates. In this performance, her elaborate arrangements will be complemented onstage by pianist Mitch Foreman and guitarist Serge Merlaud.
Loston Harris Trio
Saturday, Jan. 13, 7:30 pm
His piano playing has been described as “percussive” and “incredibly fluid.” His vocals noted as “suave.” Loston Harris is an improvisational musician doing his part to continue a musical legacy, blending traditional jazz, gospel and blues with his own unique stylings. With early inspiration from artists like Stevie Wonder, Carole King and other pop and R&B bands, Harris discovered jazz – and went on to study under Ellis Marsalis, eventually touring with Wynton Marsalis. To this day, Harris and his Trio are living the dream, playing the music closest to their hearts, and ensuring jazz remains hip, complex and limitless.
Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
Friday, Feb. 2, 7:30 pm
Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band introduced a magnetic new musical synthesis in the late ‘90s and have been adding a jazz-inflected, gospel-rooted take to the genre ever since. “A peerless drummer with a gift for subtle shading and flowing undertow,” Blade has always had an integral partner in Jon Cowherd, the band’s brilliant pianist who helped co-found the Grammy-winning group (NPR). The stellar Fellowship Band features two saxophonists, Myron Walden on alto and Melvin Butler on tenor, along with Christopher Thomas on bass and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. It’s an all-star lineup that functions like a harmonious congregation, ebbing and flowing as one.
Aubrey Logan Band
Saturday, April 27, 7:30 pm
Called one of the most brilliant contemporary jazz artists on the scene today, the inspiring singer-songwriter and trombonist Aubrey Logan uses music to touch the deepest parts of the human experience. Working with some incredible names, including Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Josh Groban, Smokey Robinson and Pharrell Williams, Logan’s work is accessible, fresh and dynamic. Moving between jazz, funk, love songs, Calypso-infused rhythms and traditionally inspired fusions, her vocals and trombone playing sway between the tender caress of a long-lost love and triumphant powerhouse performances that will blow your mind.
