SOUTHBEND’S JAZZ FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR THE 2nd YEAR!!
Magnuson Grand Hotel, Bud Light, Wvpe Radio, Key Bank and WSBT TV are proud to announce the 2nd annual South Bend Jazz Festival, Saturday, August 17th from 4:00 p.m till 11:00 p.m; at Jon Hunt Plaza, Morris Performing Arts Center. Free to the Public!
Featuring Six national acts from a Variety of Jazz genres.
Performing are South African bassist and composer, Jimmy Mngwandi; Yellow Jackets drum sensation Marcus Baylor ; Critically acclaimed Jazz singer Martha Lorin; Twin Cities-South Bend Jazz Festival Big Band; Delois Massey Nkosi and her Jazz/Gospel Choir and saxophonist Danny Lerman with strings.
During this festival we are proud to announce our first, South Bend Jazz Festival scholarship recipients as of last year, The Music Village.
BIOS
Marcus Baylor
Marcus, a native of St. Louis, began playing the drums at two years old. He was awarded a scholarship to attend the Mannes School of Music, NY. His professional career started with some of the top artists in jazz music, including Cassandra Wilson, Kenny Garrett, John Scofield, Christian McBride and Joshua Redman. Eventually he landed the main drummer gig with the highly popular contemporary jazz group, the Yellow Jackets. He appeared on their LPs, “Mint Jam,” “Times Squared,” “Peace ‘Round: A Christmas Celebration” and “25” celebrating the groups’ 25th year anniversary. 2010 marked a new beginning for Marcus as he started a solo career, as he delves into several music and business ventures including his solo debut recording, music production company “The Baylor’s” with wife Jean Baylor and managing their company, Be A Light.
Martha Lorin
Heavily influenced by the late, great Ruth Etting, Martha Lorin has said that jazz is the only music field that allows her to openly express her feelings and gives her a platform to grow technically and vocally. She is constantly exploring the jazz landscape with a spirit of lifting and broadening her musical acumen. Martha has worked with a wide range of world class musicians: Richard Wyands, Harvie S., Eddie Marshall, Monty Budwig, Leon Joyce, Butch Miles, Mark Isham. New York’s Birdland and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall are among the many nightclubs across the country where Ms. Lorin has appeared. Martha’s recordings include “Don’t Slam That Door”, “Blues over Broadway” and the duet CD with Paul Smith, Celebrating the music of Ella Fitzgerald.
Jimmy Mngwandi
Jimmy Mngwandi got his musical start at age 11 playing bass on the streets of Bophelong Township in South Africa to help his single mother. Mngwandi made his way to Johannesburg where today, he is among South Africa’s most sought after bassists, writers and producers, He has performed with legends like Mirium Makeba, Hugh Masekela, saxophonist David Murray, flutist Yusef Lateef, bassist Rufus Reid, Jamaican Guitarist Ernest Ranglin and Sbongile Khumalo. and written and recorded platinum CDs for Sony/South Africa and Bongo Maffin. Mngwandi has also recorded his own album, with the EMI/South Africa group Bezwaan. His new CD recorded in Chicago and South Bend, features Marquis Hill on trumpet and Jimmy’s dynamic African Jazz compositions.
Delois Massey Nkosi and Gospel/Jazz Choir
Delios Massey Nkosi is the Arranger/Vocalist of the Gospel choir, which is being assembled specifically for SBJF. The choir features members of both “Nations of Praise” & “The One Voice Praise Community Choir”. Songs included will be of the world music, jazz and gospel genres with vocals and arrangements by Ms. Nkosi. Personal appearances include on stage work with Lady Tramaine Hawkins, Lamar Campbell, Vashawn Mitchell and Marvin Sapp.
Twin Cities-South Bend Jazz Festival Big Band
Leader of the Twin-Cities-South Bend Jazz Festival Big Band, Bassist Darrel Tidaback, teaches as an associate faculty member at the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University South Bend. Besides being a soloist with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the South Bend Chamber Singers. Darrel has also appeared with jazz luminaries Rosemary Clooney, Bucky Pizzarelli, Chris and Dan Brubeck, Bob Hope, Dionne Warwick and Spider Saloff, while also performing at Fiesta Jazz Festival. For the past twenty years Mr. Tidaback has been an arranger and performer with the contemporary chamber ensemble Musical Offerings. The big band, made of some of Michiana’s finest musicians will feature original songs and arrangements by Darrel Tidaback and Don Lerman.
Danny Lerman
A chance meeting with the station manager for Cape Town’s Jazz FM moved Danny Lerman’s CD, Danny’s Island, to the top of their playlist and earned him an invite to perform at the Cape Town Standard Bank Jazz festival. There, Danny met Jimmy Mngwandi and they appeared at Johannesburg’s legendary jazz club, Kippies. It was there, amid growling fretless bass lines and joyous African vocal harmonies that their musical collaboration was forged. Lerman will be performing new music from his anticipated new CD, written and recorded with Jimmy Mngwandi. Featuring a string quartet, horns and vocals, Danny’s lush and lyrical ascent in African jazz will take you there!
Sponsored by Wvpe, Wsbt Radio, LA Sax, Wells Fargo, Michiana Radio, Merrill Lynch, Motion Industries, Ludwig Drums, Merriman’s Pianos, Premier Prints, Trio’s Jazz Club, Peacock and Company, Downtown South Bend, Inc; and Lampkin Music Group.
CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION
WWW.SOUTHBENDJAZZFESTIVAL.COM
For Interviews please contact: Ralph Lampkin, Jr, at Ralphlmg@aol.com.