Fri 2/22 – Sun 2/24
Each year for the past four decades, Lakeland Community College has devoted a weekend to showcasing jazz and to bringing aspiring young artists together with seasoned performers. This year’s 41st annual festival will feature two days of performances by high school ensemble who’ll get input from some of the area’s top jazz educators.
At 8 p.m. Friday, internationally acclaimed percussionist Jamey Haddad performers with pianist Leo Blanco and bassist Roberto Occhipinto. Tickets are $15, $10 for students.
Saturday’s headliner is sax player Chris Potter, who has recorded 15 albums as a band leader and recorded and/or played with artists like Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, and Steely Dan. He and his quartet play at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25, $15 for students. He’ll also do a clinic from 4:30-5:30 pm that’s free and open to the public.
The festival concludes Sunday at 4 pm with a big band matinee featuring the Lakeland Civic Jazz orchestra directed by Dave Sterner and the Cleveland State University Jazz Ensemble led by John Perrine. They’ll play music by Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Wayne Shorter, Bill Dobbins, and Lennon/McCartney, among others. Tickets are $10, $7 for students.