3-Day Jazz Festival Returns to Spire Center Memorial Day Weekend

Plymouth’s Spire Center for Performing Arts proudly presents their second annual Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Fest throughout Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24, at 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth. Jazz Fest 2015 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 emcee for Friday and Saturday’s events.

Jazz Fest Weekend Schedule of Events:

Friday, May 22, 7:00 pm

The Johnny Souza Quintet

New England’s own Trumpeter/Vocalist Johnny Souza leads his popular quintet through a program of Souza’s original music along with unique arrangements of favorite jazz standards. Johnny has three CD’s in circulation which have received airplay on jazz radio stations nationwide. The Johnny Souza Quintet features Jeff Galindo/Trombone, Michael Shea/Piano, Bruce Gertz/Bass and John DiSanto/Drums.

The Marshall Wood Quartet featuring Donna Byrne

Bassist and leader Marshall Wood along with piano giant Tim Ray, extraordinary drummer Dave Brophy, and superb jazz vocalist Donna Byrne present a set of jazz standards, ballads and blues. Each experienced musician has traveled the world honing their craft for years, resulting in straight-ahead jazz that is unforgettable!

The Harry Allen Quartet

Swing Bros. recording artist Harry Allen has over thirty recordings to his name, hitting the top ten list for favorite new releases in Swing Journal Magazine's reader's poll and Jazz Journal International's critic's poll. Allen has performed at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide, frequently touring the United States, Europe and Asia, with greats including Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown, Hank Jones, Scott Hamilton, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli, Terry Gibbs, Warren Vache, and has recorded with Tony Bennett, Johnny Mandel, Ray Brown, Tommy Flanagan, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Barron and Dave McKenna, among others.
Allen is featured on many of John Pizzarelli's recordings including the soundtrack and an on-screen cameo in the feature film The Out of Towners starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn, and is featured in a series of commercials for ESPN starring Robert Goulet.

Saturday, May 23, 7:00 pm

Yoron Israel & High Standards

Bandleader and percussion master Yoron Isreal heads up musicians Laszlo Gardony on piano, Lance Bryant on saxophone, Henry Lugo on bass and special guest Hendrik Meurkens on harmonica. Israel’s brilliant musicality, intensity and versatility are appreciated worldwide, with international reconition for performance and 100 major recordings as accompanist. Israel also serves as a percussion education author and the esteemed Assistant Chair and Professor of Percussion at Berklee College of Music.

Cassandre McKinley and the Paul Broadnax Trio

Cassandre McKinley is renowned for her powerhouse voice, stylistic versatility and spirited, emotional performances. Her release "Til Tomorrow - Remembering Marvin Gaye" was hailed by Jazz Times magazine as “a rich, sensual salute” and the album’s steady national and international success in straight-ahead and crossover markets has legitimized her career as a prominent jazz and soul artist.
Paul Broadnax has appeared with Clark Terry, Joe Williams and Lionel Hampton among many others. Known for his "King Thing" (Nat Cole's singing and playing) and the powerful influence of Joe Williams, he performs around New England and beyond. He's been twice nominated for the Boston Music Awards Jazz Singer of the Year and chosen in 2003 as Musician of the Year by the Boston Musicians' Union.

The Joey Calderazzo Trio

A natural artist of jazz improvisation from a very young age, Joey Calderazzo is inspire by artist greats McCoy Tyner and John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. Calderazzo visited friends at Berklee College of Music, growing close with then students Branford Marsalis, Wallace Roney, Donald Harrison, and Jeff “Tain” Watts. Calderazzo’s big break came after meeting and jamming with legendary saxophonist Michael Brecker at a clinic. Brecker was deeply impressed by the young pianist and offered him the piano chair in his touring quintet after Kenny Kirkland left the group in 1987. Just over ten years later, Calderazzo joined the Branford Marsalis Quartet, replacing Kirkland a second time after the pianist’s untimely passing.
Calderazzo’s work has been just as notable in the studio as on stages around the world. A two time Grammy winner, he has released several CDs and has toured extensively worldwide. His new cd titled “Going Home” on Sunnyside Records features his current trio with Orlando le Fleming-bass and Adam Cruz-drums.

Sunday, May 24, 2 to 5 pm

All Star Open Jazz Jam Session

Musicians are welcome to take the stage with the house band during an All Star Jazz Jam Session. Trumpeter/Vocalist Johnny Souza will host the event and also lead the house band which will be comprised of some of the area’s finest jazz musicians, including Michael Shea on piano and Gary Johnson on drums. 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 $30 per evening for Saturday and Sunday’s performances, or $50 for a Friday/Saturday combination ticket. 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.