Jazz Eureka 2015 features Joey DeFrancesco, Beto and the Fairlanes
Jazz Eureka celebrates 30 years of jazz in Eureka Springs with a stellar line up featuring Joey DeFrancesco. Joey, a 2 time Grammy nominee, has played with Miles Davis and some of the biggest names in the music business. Considered the master of the jazz organ, Joey delights audiences with his powerful performances. Joey appears in concert at the Eureka Springs auditorium Sept 12. Show starts at 7:30. Tickets start at 20.00.
Opening the show is the Joe Cartwright Quintet featuring Molly Hammer. Dave Brubek said of Joe: “I am always flattered when a fellow musician decides to perform and record one of my tunes. My pleasure and amazement is enhanced when the artist is a imaginative and talented as pianist Joe Cartwright”. Molly Hammer has an eclectic vocal background drawing influences from Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughn, and many others.
30 years ago, Beto and the Fairlanes opened the 1st Eureka Springs Jazz Festival. The current Jazz Eureka organizer, Ron Sumner, was at that event in 1985 at the Basin Park Hotel and he remembers they had everyone up and dancing with their mix of original Jazz flavored salsa, big band and funk. They are back, vital as ever, to open the 2015 event, now called Jazz Eureka, with a free concert and dance party in Basin Park. This rare not to be missed appearance starts at 7pm Friday Sept 11 at Basin Spring Park in downtown Eureka Springs. It is free to the public.
Saturday Sept. 12 Free Music in Basin Spring Park feature stellar artists from the region. It begins with the 18 piece Fayetteville Jazz Collective. This is their 3rd straight year at Jazz Eureka. With over 2 centuries of combined jazz experience, this world class big band has been thirilling audiences all around the 4 state region. Their set begins at Noon.
Starting at 2pm is the Rodney Block Quartet. Block, a trumpeter born in Arkansas, has been featured internationally building a niche in the jazz and hip hop genres. He has shared the stage with Earth Wind and Fire, Kirk Whalhum, Ellis Marsalis, and many others. The band has been honored with the Aurora award and the Telly Award for its concert feature on the AETN television network. He was Runner up in Arkansas Times “Best Of Bands” category.
Closing the park on Saturday at 4pm is saxophonist Grady Nichols and his Quintet. Grady is an absolute pro and super talented musician. “Grady Nichols technical mastery of the saophone is only surpassed by his emotional mastery of his instrument. He can evoke just the right emotion for any of his songs without making you feel manipulated or that the feeling is contrived”.
Jazz Eureka features something for the casual as well as the seasoned jazz fan. In a beautiful setting, Come early and catch all the free talent in beautiful downtown Basin Park and get your tickets to see the Saturday show in the The Auditorium, a wonderful venue for jazz.
Tulsa Jazz 