Robbie Fulks
June 26 at 7pm
Fulks’s richly emotional storytelling is illuminated by his instrumental prowess and emotional voice. Now in his 50s, he is philosophically reflective, writing “with clear eyes and a full heart” (Ken Tucker, NPR). His wit is still as quick as his picking, but it’s reflected through the lens of fatherhood, marriage, middle age, and the literary voices he is drawn to and draws from: Flannery O’Connor, Anton Chekhov, Mary Lavin, Frank O’Connor, Javier Marias, James Agee.
Chick Corea Trilogy Trio w/Christian McBride & Brian Blade
July 5 at 9pm
“Three of the most gifted instrumentalists in jazz, understanding and sparking each other perfectly in a musical brotherhood stronger than most real ones…One of the good jazz season’s major sets.” – Buffalo News
A DownBeat Hall of Famer, NEA Jazz Master, 22-time Grammy winner, and keyboard virtuoso, Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and an artistic output that is simply staggering. Chick is the fourth-most-nominated artist in the history of the Grammys, with 63 nominations. He’s also earned 3 Latin Grammy Awards, the most of any artist in the Best Instrumental Album category.
Bonerama
July 14 at 7pm
“Bonerama is one of the funkiest rock, soul, reggae, fusion, pop, jazz, brass, blues bands to ever come out of the Crescent City.” – All About Jazz
They can evoke vintage funk, classic rock and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same song. Bonerama has been repeatedly recognized by Rolling Stone, praised for their “crushing ensemble riffing, human-feedback shrieks and wah-wah growls” (2007). Bonerama carries the brass-band concept to places unknown; what other brass band could snag an honor for “Best Rock Band” (Big Easy Awards 2007)? As co-founder Mark Mullins puts it, “We thought we could expand what a New Orleans brass band could do. Bands like Dirty Dozen started the “anything goes” concept, bringing in the guitars and the drum kit and using the sousaphone like a bass guitar. We thought we could push things a little further.”
Janiva Magness
July 16 at 8pm
She is among the premier Blues and R&B singers in the world today. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty born from her life experience. Having released 10 albums thus far, Magness is a charismatic performer known for her electrifying live shows. A dynamic musical powerhouse, Janiva has received 22 Blues Music Award nominations to date, winning the coveted Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year (she is only the second woman to ever win this Award, Koko Taylor being the first). Additional wins include Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2013, as well as Song of the Year for her original composition “I Won’t Cry”, co-written with her Producer Dave Darling (Glen Campbell, Dominique Pruitt, Brian Setzer, Stray Cats, Def Leopard, Motley Crew, Meredith Brooks, Dan Hicks, John Waite).
Scythian
August 14 at 7pm
“When Rock Star Charisma Meets Celtic Dervish Fiddling” — Nashville’s Music City Roots
Named after Ukrainian nomads, Scythian (sith-ee-yin) plays immigrant rock with thunderous energy, technical prowess, and storytelling songwriting, beckoning crowds into a barn-dance rock concert experience. Celebrating 10 years of getting people dancing all night, Scythian released their new album, Jump at the Sun, this summer, with new songs debuting at album release shows across the country.
Mehmet Polat Trio
August 24 at 7pm
“The Middle East mixes with improvised jazz and African elements in a move to explore and dissolve borders, while at the same time effortlessly fusing the here and now into the crossovers” – Zinesters, NL
Mehmet Polat is an accomplished ud player, composer, ensemble leader and soloist who tours internationally. From Africa to India, Persia to the Balkans, contemporary to jazz, he has been combining various musical genres with his Alevi spiritual, Anatolian folk and Ottoman classical music background. Through his improvisations, compositions and his own take on a variety of musical styles, Mehmet is constantly searching for new musical paths and inspiration.