7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Cassandra Wilson
Emerson Stage
Tito Puente Jr.
Emerson Stage
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Lao Tizer with special guests Chieli Minucci & Karen Briggs
Emerson Stage
2:00 - 3:00 p.m
Contemporary jazz keyboardist and recording artist Lao Tizer captivates audiences of all ages and musical tastes. Tizer has been proclaimed “an independent artist with all the tight moves” and a torchbearer for the new generation of contemporary jazz.” He was
nominated “Best New Artist of the Year” at the National Smooth Jazz Awards. Accompanying Tizer are Drew Megna on drums; Jeff Kollman, guitar; and Steve Nieves on sax, percussion and vocals.
www.laotizer.com/
Special guest Chieli Minucci is the leader of the Grammy nominated contemporary jazz group Special EFX and Karen Briggs, a jazz violinist with a natural ability to improvise in various styles of music, such as symphonic orchestra, Latin orquesta, R & B, gospel, jazz ensemble and even rap.
www.chielimusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/karenbriggs
Brian Owens
Soul School
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Teddy Presberg
Soul School
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Ptah Williams- the Music of Stevie Wonder
Soul School
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
St. Louis Jazz Orchestra, Directed by Jim Widner
Soul School
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Ptah J. Williams is one of the most talented jazz and classical pianists of our time. His jazz style is reminiscent of Charlie Bird and Thelonius Monk. Ptah's jazz sound and style is the most creative since Miles Davis revolutionized jazz. Ptah is classically trained. He was groomed for the classical music stage. At age 16 he discovered jazz and his ear, timing and improvisation for jazz began to blossom. He has performed solo and with other internationally renowned artist throughout Europe and the United States. Ptah has been voted five times the best jazz musician by the readers of the Riverfront
ptahwilliams.com/
St. Louis ' premier big band makes its jazz fest debut! Led by bassist and educator Jim Widner, the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra draws on a wide repertoire from Duke Ellington and Count Basie to contemporary arrangers Gordon Goodwin and Bob Florence.
Two Times True - Carolbeth and David
Emerson Stage
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
It’s always thrilling when members of one family join forces musically, and that was the basic concept for TWO TIMES TRUE, featuring Carolbeth True on piano and keyboard, and her son David True on drums. In performance the two Trues are joined by Glen Smith on bass and Larry Johnson on saxophone. The group’s material consists largely of funky classics, jazz-rock and Latin styles, with great songbook and jazz standards, as well as originals.
www.carolbethtrue.com/
Teddy Presberg has been playing guitar ever since he had a thumb to hitchhike his way into the downtown St. Louis jazz and blues scene. After a recent eightyear stint in the West Coast music scene, Teddy makes his home once again in St. Louis, Missouri. Teddy roots his music in improvisation, inspired by the moment and the audience. Often compared to the funky, soulful jazz musicians such as Grant Green and Eddie Harris, you also hear artists such as The White Stripes and Beck influence his sound.
www.outrightmusic.com/
Joe Sample and Randy Crawford
Emerson Stage
5:30 - 7:00 p.m
Brian Owens is rapidly earning a reputation as one of the most promising young vocalists on today’s music scene. At the age of 27, Owens has already shared the stage with many notable performers: Peter Martin, Peter Mayer, Christine Brewer, Herlin Riley, Reuben Rogers, Greg Hutchinson, Neal Caine, David Torkanowsky, Reggie Thomas, Rick Haydon, Tom Kennedy, and Cassandre McKinley. Owens has opened for jazz legend Ramsey Lewis, smooth jazz artists Boney James and Spyro Gyra
www.myspace.com/owensbrian
Grammy award winning vocalist with a style is so extraordinary that it's almost impossible to properly classify. All the pre-existing categories aren't quite big enough to handle her talent. She's a jazz singer as well as a blues belter, but she also draws mightily from the pop, folk and world music genres, and, at every turn, she sounds like a true natural.
www.cassandrawilson.com
Legendary jazz pianist Joe Sample and soul vocal icon Randy Crawford bring a mixture of soul, jazz, gospel, pop, and of course a little bit of the blues, Crawford's performances underscore her position as one of the premier songstresses in contemporary music. Sample's piano playing and arrangements envelop Crawford's voice, and capture the essence of each song. Sample and Crawford first met 30 years ago when she was recording her debut album, Everything Must Change, on which he played. So you could say Feeling Good has been a long time coming. Shortly after that debut album, while writing songs for his band, The Crusaders, Sample invited Crawford to appear as a guest, and wrote “Street Life" especially for her. This international hit record for the Crusaders launched her on her own phenomenally successful career.
http://www.myspace.com/randycrawfordandjoesample
The comparison is inevitable. How could it be otherwise? Tito Puente Jr. carries his father with him – imprinted on his physical being and locked in his soul. It’s in his looks, his joy, and his music. No doubt, every time Tito Jr. walks on stage—he walks in his father’s footsteps. Tito Jr. has wowed the jazz festivals faithful across the country, among them the New Haven Jazz Festival, Houston Jazz Festival, Harlem Jazz Festival, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Tito, Jr. has appeared as a guest of the Dallas Symphony Pops, and will join the San Antonio Symphony for 3 concerts in their upcoming season. His latest CD, “In My Father’s Shoes,” featuring the classic Puente favorites, was spun off into a television special tribute by BET Jazz.
www.titopuentejr.net
