baltimoreblackwoman

Here’s a Baltimore Father’s Day Event that is sure to Jazz Up your Dad’s Special Day!

To highlight and celebrate jazz in Charm City, the Baltimore Jazz Alliance (BJA) is partnering with St. John’s Episcopal Church to hold a free all-day festival from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm on June 16th 2019, on the grounds of the church at 3009 Greenmount Avenue in the Waverly neighborhood. Also partnering with BJA and the church is LCR Jazzy Events, an events management company specializing in events for non-profits, headed by Linda Richardson.

This free event, with food and drink available for purchase, will feature a full day of live music (jazz, with a hint of blues and some funk), plus activities for kids, and food, beer, and wine. The event will showcase a variety of artists from the Baltimore area, introducing them to some new audiences, while giving existing fans an opportunity to enjoy them in a festive outdoor setting that’s fun for the whole family. BJA’s “Musical Instrument Petting Zoo” will provide an opportunity for children to see up close, learn about, and try out, some of the instruments commonly used in jazz ensembles. There will also be vendors, including informational booths from local organizations.

Parking is plentiful, and there is an indoor option in case of rain.

The music line-up includes:

• Rufus Roundtree and Da B’more Brass Factory playing New Orleans jazz and funk
• The Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra, playing straight-ahead jazz and original compositions by bass clarinetist Todd Marcus
• The Kings of Crownsville, a six-piece ensemble featuring an eclectic mix of straight- ahead and New Orleans-style jazz, R&B, and American pop
• The Eric Kennedy Ensemble (straight-ahead jazz), led by drummer Eric Kennedy
• The all-female Women of Baltimore Jazz Collective (straight-ahead jazz), led by Delandria Mills (flute) and Charmaine Michelle (trumpet), with Rachel Winder (alto sax and vocals), Sequoia Snyder (piano), Amy Shook (bass), and Sheritta Harris (drums).
• The Baltimore School for the Arts Big Band

More Details

The bands are sponsored in part by local presenters such as Contemporary Arts, Germano’s Cabaret, and Jazzway 6004, with additional sponsorship from Maryland State Arts Council, 32nd Street Market, and more. Further details will be provided through the BJA website, e-mail list, and social media pages.

The idea for this event came from a desire by the church to find new ways to use their remarkable facilities to benefit the surrounding community. Linda Richardson of Jazzy Events offered to help them coordinate it, and she reached out to the BJA for help with involving the larger Baltimore jazz community. Together they formed a plan to host the one-day event.
The goal of this event is threefold. It will be a welcoming event for a vibrant and diverse neighborhood, in a space that is easily accessible and central to the neighborhood, but which is currently under-utilized by the community. The hosts expect to draw attendees from around the region, and to give them a glimpse of the Waverly neighborhood and all it has to offer.
From the greater Baltimore jazz community perspective, the goal of festival is similar to many of BJA’s past events – providing an opportunity for local jazz artists to perform for new audiences, and to introduce more people to the wealth of great jazz talent available in our area.

About the Baltimore Jazz Alliance

The Baltimore Jazz Alliance continues to serve the local jazz community through all these and many other efforts, funded in part by membership dues and newsletter advertisements, with additional support from Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, as well as individual and corporate donors. For more information, visit https://baltimorejazz.com and https://baltimorejazzfest.com.