MENU

Sections

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Editors and Writers
    • Join our Mailing List
    • Letters to Editor Policy
    • Advertising & Underwriting
    • Code of Ethics
    • Privacy
    • Talbot Spy Terms of Use
  • Art and Design
  • Culture and Local Life
  • Public Affairs
    • Ecosystem
    • Education
    • Health
    • Senior Life
  • Community Opinion
  • Sign up for Free Subscription
  • Donate to the Talbot Spy
  • Cambridge Spy

More

  • Support the Spy
  • About Spy Community Media
  • Advertising with the Spy
  • Subscribe
June 19, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Editors and Writers
    • Join our Mailing List
    • Letters to Editor Policy
    • Advertising & Underwriting
    • Code of Ethics
    • Privacy
    • Talbot Spy Terms of Use
  • Art and Design
  • Culture and Local Life
  • Public Affairs
    • Ecosystem
    • Education
    • Health
    • Senior Life
  • Community Opinion
  • Sign up for Free Subscription
  • Donate to the Talbot Spy
  • Cambridge Spy
1A Arts Lead Arts Arts Portal Lead Spy Chats

Monty Alexander Jazz Festival 2.0: A Chat with New Executive Producer Joe Fischer

January 30, 2020 by Dave Wheelan

Share

Even though Al Sikes, the former executive producer and founder of the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival, is a modestly-sized man, Joe Fischer is a bit worried about filling Al’s shoes nonetheless. As the new leader of MAJF, now considered to be one of the most successful and mature regional jazz festivals in the country, he often wonders, “what would Al do,” as he takes over the reins this year.

And those shoes are pretty big. For ten years, Al and his wife, Marty, not only founded the Chesapeake Music’s jazz program, including the festival, but worked tirelessly for a decade to bring some of the top talents in the jazz world to Easton.

Nonetheless, after working with Al last year while he was still president of the Oxford Community Center on two incredibly successful jazz fundraisers, and with his passion for the music itself, Joe is looking forward to continuing where the Sikes left off.

And that starts next month with the return of the Anderson Twins, who will be returning next month, this time at the Prager Family Auditorium February 15 for a Valentine Day performance.

The Spy sat down with Joe at the Spy studio on how he and his family found Oxford after his stellar career in accounting, and why he can’t wait to continue, with his new friend Monty Alexander, to bring the very best of jazz to the Eastern Shore.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. For ticket information about the Anderson Twins concert please go here. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 1A Arts Lead, Arts Portal Lead, Spy Chats Tagged With: Chesapeake Music, Joe Fischer, Monty Alexander Jazz Festival

About Dave Wheelan

Bill allows Motorists to keep Driving Past Real ID Deadline Jones Recognized by State, County for Service in Health Care

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.

Copyright © 2025

Affiliated News

  • The Chestertown Spy
  • The Talbot Spy

Sections

  • Arts
  • Culture
  • Ecosystem
  • Education
  • Mid-Shore Health
  • Culture and Local Life
  • Shore Recovery
  • Spy Senior Nation

Spy Community Media

  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising & Underwriting

Copyright © 2025 · Spy Community Media Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in