The fourth annual Monty Alexander Jazz Festival will take place in Easton on Labor Day weekend from August 29 through September 1, 2013. The extraordinary energy and artistry of Artistic Director Monty Alexander have vaulted the Festival into a weekend-long event showcasing new talent, as well as jazz greats. Its attendance doubled last year to over 1,200 attendees. This year, legendary American jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli will open the Festival on August 29 with an intimate night club-style concert at Easton’s Academy Art Museum.
The Festival will continue through the weekend with performances at Easton’s historic Avalon Theatre. On Friday,
August 30, the amazing young alto saxophonist, Sharel Cassity, and her quintet perform. Saturday afternoon’s concert salutes Dizzy Gillespie, including performances by bassist John Lee, who played with Dizzy, and returning percussionist Chuck Redd who toured with him in Africa. Grammy-nominated and legendary jazz pianist Monty Alexander, the Festival’s artistic director and namesake, headlines the Festival on Saturday night with his electrifying music, which crisscrosses and fuses jazz roots, the American Songbook and the sounds of his native Jamaica.
Wrapping up the weekend on Sunday afternoon, is returning jazz and gospel vocalist, Dee Daniels, who will be joined by a local community choral group. The Avalon Theatre’s intimate setting and the lineup of world class artists make The Monty Alexander Jazz Festival an Eastern Shore destination for Labor Day weekend. Easton’s Tidewater Inn will again join in the festivities by offering a Jazz Brunch on Saturday, August 31. The Monty Alexander Jazz Festival, presented by Jazz on the Chesapeake, is a program of Chesapeake Chamber Music.For further information on the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival, visit ChesapeakeJazz.org.
..
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.