Christian McBride, Arturo O’Farrill, Julian Lage, Chantae Cann and Julie Dexter headline Jazzanooga Festival 2016
Jazzanooga announced Moday that multi-Grammy winning artists Christian McBride and Arturo O’Farrill along with Chantae Cann, Julian Lage and Julie Dexter will headline the annual music festival, scheduled for April, 2016. Held during Jazz Appreciation Month, April, Jazzanooga Music Festival draws fans from all across the region for a month of great, intimate performances, educational opportunities and good times.
Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Octet, April 22, The Camp House.
Arturo O’Farril, pianist, composer, educator, and founder and Artistic Director of the nonprofit Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. His debut album with the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Una Noche Inolvidable, earned a first GRAMMY Award nomination in 2006. His next album Song for Chico, earned a GRAMMY Award for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2009. The 2015 release of The Offense of the Drum was yet another Grammy Award winner. Arturo was, in addition, the winner of the Latin Jazz USA Outstanding Achievement Award, and a Cubadisco Award for The Offense of the Drum in 2015. His newest album release (August 21, 2015) is Cuba: The Conversation Continues recently won a 2016 Grammy.
Christian McBride Trio and Chantae Cann, April 23, The Choo Choo Convention Center.
Five-time GRAMMY -winning jazz bassist Christian McBride can be likened to a force of nature, fusing the fire and fury of a virtuoso with the depth and grounding of a seasoned journeyman. Powered by a relentless energy and a boundless love of swing, McBride’s path has described a continuous positive arc since his arrival on the scene. With a career now blazing into its third decade, the Philadelphia native has become one of the most requested, most recorded, and most respected figures in the music world today.
Chantae Cann’s voice is the perfect combination of a warm Spring day, the fragrance just before it rains, and a sunset so breathtaking you can’t seem to capture it just right on camera. Her vocal delivery is soothing, sultry and more than just soulful, it’s soul fulfilling. Whether you find yourself listening to her live at a show or turning her up in your headphones, chances are you will have peace in your mind and a smile on your face. Chantae’s music blends the exploratory sounds of JAZZ with the feel good vibes of SOUL which makes for a mixture that is quite delicious.
Julian Lage and Julie Dexter, April 24, The Revelry Room.
Jazz guitarist Julian Lage is somewhat of a child prodigy -- playing his instrument at the age of five and performing in public a year later. Shortly thereafter, Lage began playing with such renowned artists as Carlos Santana (when he was only eight years old!), Pat Metheny, Kenny Werner, Toots Thielemans, Martin Taylor, and David Grisman, among others, resulting in Lage being the subject of the 1997 Academy Award-nominated documentary film Jules at Eight.
Julie Dexter, a world renowned, award winning, British singer, songwriter and producer considered by many to be one of the most influential female vocalists of our generation. Having shared the spotlight with a host of cutting-edge artists, including Mint Condition, Caron Wheeler, Jill Scott, Lalah Hathaway, Omar, Ledisi, Third World and Maxi Priest to name a few, Julie not only holds up her own with them but has been praised and respected by them too. Influenced by legends such as Nancy Wilson, Abbey Lincoln, and Bob Marley, as well as popular icons Omar and Sade, Julie takes classic soul to the heart of Artistry. Fans and critics across the globe have followed her journey through the circles of Jazz, Broken-Beat, Bossa-Nova, Reggae, Afro-Beat and Soul and she was recently honored at the Black Women in Jazz Awards with the Afro Caribbean Soul of Jazz Award.
The 2016 Jazzanooga Festival includes an exhibit on Chattanooga’s jazz history, a performance for youth and families, a week of jazz and blues at various MLK Boulevard venues and opportunities to mingle with regional jazz fanatics. More than 5,000 people of all ages came out to Jazzanooga events last year. A limited number of $100 Jazzanooga VIP Passes, which offer patrons, VIP access to all headliner shows and priority seating to all festival events and headline concerts, are available at www.jazzanooga.org.
Jazzanooga, started in 2011 as a one-day community festival and has grown to a month-long celebration that celebrates and promotes Chattanooga’s extraordinary jazz heritage. Jazzanooga is supported by the Benwood Foundation, the Lyndhurst Foundation, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Community Trust, EPB Fiber Optics, City of Chattanooga and SunTrust Bank.