Spire Center to Host 3rd Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Fest, 5/27-29

Plymouth's Spire Center for Performing Arts proudly presents the third annual Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Fest throughout Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 27 through Sunday, May 29, at 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth. Jazz Fest 2016 is produced by Johnny Souza, through the generous sponsorship of Plymouth Rock Assurance Company and Eastern Bank. Special guest jazz radio host Eric Jackson serves as master of ceremonies for Friday and Saturday's events.

Jazz Fest Schedule of Events:

Friday, May 27, 7:30 pm
Donna Byrne and The Marshall Wood Trio

Masterful, sultry jazz singer Donna Wood brings her quintessential entertainer gift to the Spire stage. Wood has performed at top venues across the country, including Los Angeles' Jazz Baker, NYC's Tavern on the Green, The Blue Note, The Baltimore-Washington Jazz Festival and has performed with the Benny Goodman Tribute Orchestra. Her husband and bassist Marshall Wood leads up their world-class jazz trio with piano giant Tim Ray and Les Harris Jr. on drums, presenting a set of jazz standards, ballads and blues.

The Greg Abate Quintet

Jazz saxophonist, flutist and composer Greg Abate tours the globe 225 days a year as an international jazz recording artist. As an educator, he serves as adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College and is also a very active jazz clinician, conducting workshops and master classes stateside and abroad. He recently released a double album with legendary sax man Phil Woods and The Tim Ray Trio on Whaling City Sound Records. Greg's quintet features Greg Abate at the helm on woodwinds, Jeff Stout on trumpet, Kent Hewitt on piano, Todd Baker on bass and Gary Johnson on drums.

Saturday, May 28, 7:30 pm
The Rich Greenblatt Sextet

Boston-based jazz vibraphonist and bandleader Rich Greenblatt is a musician noted as performing with "dazzling speed and a truly magical touch" by John Blenn of Good Times Magazine. Greenblatt has recorded 4 albums as bandleader, and has performed in jazz and blues festivals around the world. He has recorded with renowned groups include The Be-Bop Guitars, The Jazz Composers' Alliance, Hide Tokunaga, The Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, The Paramount Brass Quintet, and R&B band Inspector Tuppence. Over the years he has played with such great artists as Kurt Elling, Billy Mitchell, Kevin Hayes, Valery Ponamarev, Bill Charlap, Greg Hutchinson, Dennis Irwin, Winard Harper, Joe Hunt, Teddy Charles and Oscar Castro-Neves. He currently serves as Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music. Rich's sextet brings the best in the business together on stage including: Rich Greenblatt on vibes, Greg Hopkins on trumpet, Rick DiMuzio on saxophones, Kevin Harris on piano, John Lockwood on bass and Austin McMahon on drums.

Eldar

Eldar Djangirov brings his world-class jazz trio to the Spire Center for Jazz Fest. The New York Times describes New York-based pianist and Grammy-nominated artist Eldar as "a blend of musical intelligence, organizational savvy, enthusiasm and prowess that was all the more impressive for seeming so casual... an ebullient impressionist." When Djangirov (pronounced john-'gear-ov) was signed to Sony Masterworks at age 17, the young Kansas City pianist was already recognized for his prodigious pyrotechnics and precocious knowledge of the bebop tradition. Along the way, he's worked with masters including Dr. Billy Taylor, Michael Brecker, Marian McPartland, Dave Brubeck, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, Nicholas Payton, Harvey Mason, Chris Botti, Joe Locke, Ron Carter, Pat Martino, Roy Hargrove and many others. Eldar continues to explore new composing and performing frontiers, enabling him to ultimately to realize his own musical vision. Praised as "a genius beyond most young people I've heard" by Dave Brubeck, the audience will witness greatness when Eldar performs on the Spire's new Yamaha C7 concert grand piano.

Sunday, May 29, 2 to 5 pm
All Star Open Jazz Jam

Musicians are welcome to take the stage with the house band during an All Star Jazz Jam. Host Trumpeter/Vocalist Johnny Souza leads the Spire House Jazz Band comprised of the area's finest jazz musicians. Attendees are welcome to perform or listen in from the audience. Use of a drum set, piano, bass amp and vocal microphones are available to all performers.

Tickets for Jazz Fest are $25 online in advance, $30 at the door per evening for Friday and Saturday's performances. Tickets for the All Star Open Jazz Jam Session are $10 for audience members or performers. Advance ticket purchases are recommended, seating is limited due to capacity. The Spire is handicap accessible, public parking is available street side, and in public lots in close proximity. For more information, to order tickets online, or to learn more about The Spire, please visit our website at www.spirecenter.org, or follow Spire Center for Performing Arts on Facebook.

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