Fri 3/18-Sun 3/20
The long-running Lakeland Jazz Festival returns to Lakeland Community College’s Rodehorst Performing Arts Center for three evenings of concerts by local and international performers as well as the adjudication of performances submitted by high school and middle school musicians and bands.
While the latter was usually done in person, this year once again the judging will be done through recordings and video with members of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra doing the judging. Students will get a written critique to help them get to the next level, and top soloists will get an online lesson and a year’s pass for four to Arts at Lakeland music and theater events.
Things will get lively when Cleveland swing/jump/jazz band, Red Light Roxy, featuring some of the area’s top jazz musicians, takes the stage on Friday March 18 @ 8pm. The ensemble, fronted by vocalist Eileen Burns and featuring pianist Joe Hunter, tenor sax player Dave Sterner, guitarist Daris Atkins, bassist Demetrius Steinmetz and drummer Holbrook Riles III, is known for its renditions of pop tunes in the style of the 1940s and 50s, tunes popularized by artists such as Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. And they will be accompanied by swing dancers! General admission tickets are $15; students are $7.
On Saturday March 19 @ 8pm, an odd but interesting air of artists will share the stage: Brazilian composer/guitarist Diego Figueiredo and pop vocalist/pianist/songwriter Nellie McKay.
Figueiredo is a familiar figure to Clevelanders, having played venues such as Nighttown multiple times. He’s no stranger to the rest of the world either, as he’s performed in more than 60 countries on the basis of his 25 albums that draw on jazz, classical music and traditional Brazilian music. He performs both solo and in collaboration with other artists, including duos with musicians such as guitarists Stanley Jordan and Larry Coryell, pianist Chuchito Valdes and vocalist Cyrille Aimée.
McKay is a one-of-a-king performer whose engaging shows are laced with humor, commentary and unexpected song choices: both off-the-wall covers (she recorded a Doris Day tribute album) and original tunes with her distinctive, skewed viewpoint. She’s also acted in films and onstage and she brings a full-performance sensibility to her concerts. She’s an animal rights advocate and a political activist, and she’s wildly entertaining.
The show is $25 general admission, $10 for students.
The festival wraps up on Sunday March 20 @ 4pm with a Big Band Extravaganza concert with the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra, directed by Ed Michaels, and the Kent State University Jazz Orchestra, directed by Bobby Selvaggio. Tickets are $10, $7 for students.
Go here for more information and tickets.