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Exciting Lakeland Jazz Festival Coming Up - Friday March 16 - Sunday March 18

Nighttown by Nighttown / Jim Wadsworth Productions

Hi Folks.

Once again, we're working with the Lakeland Jazz Festival to bring some great talent to this year's46th annual festival. This year's festival runs from Friday March 16 through Sunday March 18. Itwill be a fantastic weekend.

This year we're excited to be bringing The Donald HarrisonQuartet on Friday March 16. Donald is one of the legends ofthe jazz scene, having played with Art Blakey and The JazzMessengers, and having developed his own signature soundincorporating New Orleans rhythms and straight-ahead andcontemporary jazz - "Nouveau Swing". For this performance,Donald is bringing his own full quartet, featuring Zachai Curtis onpiano, who is a young phenom garnering huge attention. It willbe a cohesive and hard hitting group.

We're also excited about the Madd for Tadd™ program on Saturdaynight. This program is a tribute to the famous Cleveland nativecomposer, Tadd Dameron, whose music you'll want to get to knowbetter. The program will feature an all-star group of jazz professorsfrom numerous universities, so the level of artistry will be fantastic.

Then on Sunday, it's the festival's famous Big Band Matineefeaturing two big bands - the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra and theYoungstown State University Jazz Ensemble.

And as always, on Friday and Saturday morning and afternoon,high school bands from all over the state will be performing and willbe judged by some of the top professors in the industry. It's alwaysgreat to hear the next generation and to see and hear the great workthat our primary schools are developing.

Read below for more details.

We hope you can join us at this year's 46th Annual Lakeland Jazz Festival.

Jim WadsworthJim Wadsworth Productions

46th Annual Lakeland Jazz Festival

The Donald Harrison Quintet

Madd for Tadd™ A Tribute to Tadd Dameron Featuring the East Central Jazz Educators All Star Big Band

Big Band Matinee

Middle and High School Performances for Adjudication

March 16 - 18, 2018Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center (D-Building)

Lakeland Community College

Select here for tickets or call 440-525-7134

Friday, March 16

8:30 a.m. - 4:30p.m. Middle and High School Performances & AdjudicationFree and open to the publicSelect here for a list of performing schools

Select here for a list of performing schoolsAdjudicators:Dominick Farinacci (Tri-C)Mark Mauldin (Tri-C, Howard University)Aidan Plank (Kent State)Kent Engelhardt (Youngstown State)Jeff Bush (Duquesne)

8 p.m. The Donald Harrison Quintet featuring Donald Harrison - sax/vocalsZaccai Curtis - piano (NYC)Darryl Staves - drums (Boston)Jasen Weaver - bass (New Orleans)

$30 general admission; $15 students

Donald Harrison was born in NewOrleans in 1960 and grew up in ahome environment saturated with thecity’s traditional brass bands, afro-new Orleans culture, modern jazz,R&B, funk, classical, world and dancemusic. His connection to NewOrleans’ roots was deepened by hisfather, a Big Chief, in a newAmerican style of African culturedeveloped in New Orleans. Theculture is an offshoot culture ofCongo Square, one of the only knownplaces in North America whereAfricans openly participated in theirculture in the 18th and 19th centuriesand still participate in it throughout

the city. Donald became the Big Chief of The Congo Square Nation Afro-New Orleans cultural group in1999 and coined the term Afro-New Orleans to describe his culture. He designed and built NewOrleans’ first cultural attire to merge African designs with Afro-New Orleans style cultural designs.

Harrison created “Nouveau Swing,” a style off jazz that merges it with modern dance music like R&B,Hip-Hop, Soul and Rock. Over twenty years ago, he also combined jazz with Afro-New Orleanstraditional music on his critically acclaimed and influential albums “Indian Blues” in 1991 and “Spiritsof Congo Square” in 2000. These records deepened his commitment to maintaining the offshoot rituals,call and response chants and drumming as well as his determination to keep traditional to modern jazzmusic alive for the next generation.

Over three decades playing as a professional artist has placed Harrison on stage and on recordingswith some of the most influential artists of the 21st century. He has performed and recorded with anillustrious list of distinguished musicians in Jazz, R & B, Funk, Classical and other music genres. ArtBlakey, Roy Haynes, The Cookers, McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Lena Horne, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham,Eddie Palmieri, Jennifer Holiday, Dr. John, Guru’s Jazzmatazz, McCoy Tyner, Dr. Lonnie Smith, DigablePlanets, Notorious BIG, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestraare just a few of the artists and ensembles he has performed with.

As an actual evacuee/survivor of Hurricane Katrina, Harrison had a prominent role in Spike Lee’s HBOdocumentary, “When the Levees Broke.” He also appeared as himself and co-wrote the sound track forAcademy Award winning Director Jonathan Demme’s feature film, “Rachel’s Getting Married,” starringAnne Hathaway and Debra Winger. Aspects of Harrison’s life and music are chronicled with twocharacters in David Simon’s ground breaking HBO series, Treme. He was a character consultant andappeared as himself in eleven episodes in the series.

Harrison recorded “Quantum Leap” in 2012, which musicians and critics agree is a next step for realjazz and is an amalgamation of his life’s experiences and years playing with jazz masters. Withquantum jazz, Donald has opened up new areas for time, harmony, and melody. The recording hasanother component where it melds cutting edge jazz with New Orleans funk, connecting the past withthe present with jazz music that transcends boundaries. His upcoming jazz recording will feature, Dr.Lonnie Smith, Christian Scott, Max Moran, Detroit Brooks, Joe Dyson and others. The recording hasDonald Harrison playing sax, singing, rapping, chanting, playing percussion, piano, keyboards,drumming and producing.

Zaccai Curtis / pianoAfter graduating from New England Conservatory in 2005, Zaccai Curtis moved to New York City wherehe performs regularly with artists such as: Donald Harrison, Cindy Blackman Santana, Eddie Palmieri,Christian Scott, Ralph Peterson, T.K. Blue, Brian Lynch, Ray Vega, and Eric Person amongst others. Curtis composes and arranges for his own quartet, trio, Big-Band and more. In 2003 he was chosen asa winner of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer’s competition and each year consecutively through 2006.

Darryl Staves / drumsDarryl Staves was a member of the Grammy Band in 2013 and has studied at Berklee College ofMusic.

Jasen Weaver - bassJasen Weaver began playing the double bass at the age of 11. He first received training at a programcalled the New Orleans String Project and was accepted into the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra(GNOYO). At the age of 13, he joined the jazz band at his middle school and began what would becomea full time interest in the music. By age 14, he was accepted into the prestigious New Orleans Centerfor Creative Arts (NOCCA) as a member of the Jazz program.

Since then he has been privileged to play with many great musicians including Dee Dee Bridgewater,Herlin Riley, Wes Anderson, Donald Harrison, Ellis Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, AdonisRose, Los Hombres Calientes, Stephanie Jordan and many others. He has also recorded with Dr. John,the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (feat. Dee Dee Bridgewater), Jason Marsalis, The Session, Cliff Hines,Sasha Masakowski, and saxophonist Stephen Richard.

Jasen graduated from the University of New Orleans in May 2012, as a Jazz Studies major, and is anactive member of the New Orleans music scene.

Donald Harrison Live

Donald Harison Quantum Leap Band playing "Watermelon Man"

HBO's "Treme" and Donald Harrison article (pdf)

Saturday, March 17

8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Middle and High School Performances & AdjudicationFree and open to the publicSelect here for a list of performing schoolsAdjudicators: Kent Engelhardt ( Youngstown State)Jeff Bush (Duquesne)Dave Morgan (Youngstown State)Phil Degreg (Univ. of Cincinnati)Alan Barnes (from the United Kingdom) http://www.alanbarnesjazz.com/

8 p.m. Madd for Tadd™ A Tribute to Tadd DameronFeaturing the East Central Jazz Educators All-Star Big Band

$15 general admission; $7 students

Madd for Tadd™ celebrates the greatpianist/composer/arranger Tadd Dameron, whose rootswere originally from Cleveland, and who went on to becomeone of the greatest composer/arrangers of his era. Hewrote and arranged for The Count Basie Orchestra, DizzyGillespie, Artie Shaw and Sarah Vaughan to name a few. His compositions have become part of the Great AmericanSongbook.

The East Central Jazz Educators All Star Big Band ismade up of some of the best musicians and educators fromuniversities throughout the NE Ohio area and beyond. Thisall-star line up includes:

Saxophones:**Kent Englehardt - Youngstown State UniversityAlan Barnes - United Kingdom (Great Britain)Dave Kana - Youngstown State UniversityTom Reed - Ashland University

Trumpets: Steve Hawk - Slippery Rock UniversityJoe Badaczewski - Duquesne University Dominick Farinacci - Tri-C Jazz Studies Program**Steve Enos - Tri-C Jazz Studies Program

Trombones:Jeff Bush - Duquesne UniversityJay Ashby - Oberlin Conservatory

French Horn:Stacie Mickens - Youngstown State University

Rhythm Section:Piano: Phil DeGreg - University of Cincinnati Bass: Dave Morgan - Youngstown State UniversityDrums: Jim Rupp - Tri-C / Ohio State University

** Co-Directors

When Kent J. Engelhardt, Ph.D. was rewarded a YSUResearch Professorship for the 2016-2017 school year, hehad no idea that his project would garner the attention it isnow receiving. Engelhardt’s project, “Tadd Dameron: TheMagic Touch” is a recreation of the music on Tadd Dameron’slast album recorded in 1962 and includes “On A Misty Night,”“Fontainbleau,” “Just Plain Talkin’,” “Our Delight,” “Dial B ForBeauty,” “Look, Stop And Listen,” “Bevan’s Birthday,” and“Swift As The Wind,” “You’re A Joy,” and “If You Could SeeMe Now.”

Madd For Tadd™ was formed to celebrate Dameron’s centennial during 2017, and this past May theyrecorded at the Tommy LiPuma Studios at TRI-C, and a CD is forthcoming. Madd For Tadd™ is a groupof some of the best jazz musicians/educators from the region that represent numerous universities.

Sunday, March 18

4 p.m. Big Band MatineeFeaturing the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Dave Sterner and theYoungstown State University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Quintet under the direction of KentEnglehardt.Tickets $10 general admission, $7 students

The Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra is under thedirection of Dave Sterner and will feature musicby Charles Mingus, Sammy Nestico, CountBasie, among others and an originalcomposition by retired Lakeland Faculty BobBrown. Bob will be playing piano on theconcert.

The Youngstown State University Jazz Ensembleand Jazz Quintet, under the direction of KentEnglehardt, will feature music composed andarranged by Youngstown State jazz students:Alex Miller, Justin Randall, Emma Donkin, NickFrank, Ian Kinnaman and Tommy Starr.

Select here for tickets or call 440-525-7134

Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center (Building D)Lakeland Community College

Campus DirectionsCampus Map (pdf)

Jazz Festival Web SiteLakeland Community College Music Department

Arts at Lakeland

AcknowledgmentsDr. Morris Beverage Jr., President, Lakeland Community CollegeDr. Constance Edwards, Associate Dean, Arts and Sciences DivisionDr. Matthew Saunders, Department Chair, MusicJeri Lynn Pilarczyk, Senior Secretary, Arts and Sciences Division

About the Lakeland Jazz FestivalFestival CoordinatorsDave Sterner Stephen Stanziano, Ph.D.

The 46th Annual Lakeland Jazz Festival, is a presentation of the Arts and Sciences Division. TheLakeland Jazz Festival was founded by retired professor and music department Chair Charles M. Frank.Lakeland's Jazz Festival has remained true to its original mission of instilling the excitement and magicof jazz education to the younger generation of musicians. Over 30,000 middle and high schoolmusicians from throughout the state have participated in the festival in celebration of this uniquelyAmerican art form, jazz.

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