Blues in the Church

Juilliard Jazz Ensemble

February 11th, 2012, 7:30pm at First Baptist Church.

The Juilliard Jazz Ensemble presents a programme of jazz arrangements inspired by hymns and well known gospel pieces definitive of the rich history of the US South, and specifically the Mississippi Delta.

From suffering and struggle to triumph and rejoicing, this music will take you on a journey that demonstrates the power of blues and its connection to religion. Special guests will be the University College of Cayman Islands Choir.

Rodney Jones leads the Ensemble for this performance. Jones has been hailed by guitar master George Benson as “a legend among musicians,” and has worked with many of the world’s Pop, R and B, Blues and Jazz legends, including Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Kahn, James Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, and The Manhattan Transfer. He is on faculty  at The Juilliard School teaching jazz guitar.

On saxophone, Jordan Pettay, has won five “Downbeat Student Music Awards” since 2007, has shared the stage with Terence Blanchard and Benny Golson and has performed at prestigious jazz venues, such as the Blue Note in New York.

The winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition in 2011, pianist Kris Bowers has performed for notables including Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and President Barack Obama, and has recorded and performed alongside an extensive list of pre-eminent artists.

Bassist David Baron has also performed or recorded with numerous jazz greats, was a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition, and has toured Russia with vocalist Carla Cook and saxophonist Bill Evans. He has studied with many great jazz artists, and with renowned classical bassist James VanDemark.

Currently a drum student of Carl Allen at the Juilliard School, James Macbride is the recipient of a long list of prestigious awards and scholarships, and has featured in a numerous jazz festivals across North America. He will shortly appear alongside Wynton Marsalis at the Monterey Jazz Festival.