A weekend of jazz begins Thursday in Elkhart

Jun. 19—ELKHART — The 36th annual Elkhart Jazz Festival starts Thursday.

Join regional jazz artists Thursday through Sunday for a weekend full of music.

Headliners for this year's festival include Connie Han Trio, Keb' Mo', Bria Skonberg, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra with guest vocalist Carmen Bradford, David Hilliker's Jazz, and Truth in Jazz with special guest Dave Bennett.

Entry is free, but some performances require special purchase tickets or passes.

Fireworks are daily at 10:15 p.m.

HEADLINER: CONNIE HAN TRIO

Thursday's headliner, Connie Han Trio, will kick off the weekend at The Lerner Theatre from 7-8:30 p.m. The concert is free.

Hailed as "The Jazz Warrior-Goddess" in a full feature artist profile by Downbeat Magazine, Connie Han possesses "a skill and ferocity unmatched by all but the most accomplished of pianists."

Weaving in and out of the tradition, Han pays tribute to McCoy Tyner, Mulgrew Miller, and Kenny Kirkland with her own unique edge and fire at the piano.

STEVEN PERRY QUARTET

Thursday's festivities continue with the Wellfield Botanic Gardens' Groovin' in the Garden series. Steven Perry Quartet will take the stage at 7 p.m. followed by Dave Bennett until 10 p.m. Tickets are $15.

FREE FRIDAY

Free concerts at Central Park include Jazz Assemblage at 5 p.m. Adam Hawley takes the stage at 7 p.m., and The Nth Power ends the evening at 9.

Another stage will be at South Main Street featuring more free music. At 5:30 p.m., Scott Allen will perform, the Dave Bennett Quartet will perform at 7:30 p.m., and Couch at 9:30 p.m.

FRIDAY PASSES

In the Crystal Ballroom, Rebecca Jade will perform at 6:15 p.m., and Kate Dunton Band will perform at 8:30.

At the Library Atrium, Generations Trio performs at 5 p.m., Eric Jacobson at 7 p.m., and Isabella Sherwood at 9 p.m.

The Friday Day Pass includes access to Rebecca Jade, Kait Dunton Band, Eric Jacobson, Isabella Isherwood, Adam Hawley, The Nth Power, Scott Allen, Dave Bennett, and Couch, starting at $40.50. Headliner Keb' Mo' remains a separate cost.

HEADLINER: KEB' MO'

At the Lerner Theatre, Friday's headliner Keb' Mo' takes the stage at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $39.50-$79.50.

In 1994, Kevin Moore introduced the world to Keb' Mo, with his self-titled album debut. Two years later, he garnered his first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album with Just Like You, with four more Grammy Awards following.

He's performed alongside Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, The Chicks, and Lyle Lovett been sampled by B.B. King, Zac Brown, and BTS; and been featured on TV shows like The Blues, Mike and Molly, and Can't You Hear The Wind Howl.

In 2021, Keb' Mo' received the Americana Music Association Award for Lifetime Achievement in Performance.

FREE SATURDAY

Free outdoor concerts on the Central Green stage include high school jazz bands from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., then VibeNation at 1:30 p.m., Julieta Eugenio at 3:30 p.m., Lucia Sarmiento at 5:30 p.m., New Breed Brass Band at 7:30 p.m., and Huntertones at 9:30 p.m.

Music on the free South Main Stage begins with The Frost Duo at 1:30 p.m., followed by Q Sonics at 3:30 p.m., Joe Marcinek Band at 5:30 p.m., Paul Decker & the Difference at 7:30 p.m., and Mr. Z Band at 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY PASSES

The Crystal Ballroom will showcase Emily Cavanagh at 1 p.m., Kris Brownlee at 3 p.m., Ilya Serov at 5 p.m., Reuben Gingerich Trio at 7 p.m., and Zac Zinger at 9 p.m.

Library Atrium will exhibit traditional vibes with Alex Anest Organ Trio at 1 p.m., Christopher Lucas Wilson Trio at 3 p.m., Bryan Eng Trio at 5 p.m., and Stella Cole at 7 p.m.

Saturday Day Passes include Bria Skongberg, Emily Cavanagh, Kris Brownlee, Ilya Serov, Kinga Glyk, Zac Zinger. Alex Anest Organ Trio, Christopher Lucas Wilson Trio, Bryan Eng Trio,, Stella Cole, and all free concerts starting at $60.50. Tickets for Count Basie Orchestra are sold separately.

HEADLINER: BRIA SKONBERG

On Saturday, prepare for even more jazz, featuring the day's first headliner Bria Skonberg at 2 p.m. at The Lerner Theater.

Skonberg has been described as one of the "most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation" by the Wall Street Journal. In the last year, she has sung the music of Aretha Franklin alongside Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child), played with U2 at the Apollo, sat in with the Dave Matthews band, was a featured guest with Jon Batiste, and sang the Star Spangled Banner at Madison Square Garden for a NY Rangers game. The 2017 Juno Award Winner for Best Vocal Jazz Album and 2018 Juno nominee has garnered over 6 million streams on Spotify, made the Top 5 on Billboard jazz charts, was voted No. 2 Rising Star by Downbeat Magazine, and has organically earned over 25K online followers.

HEADLINER: COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA

The Count Basie Orchestra will be the day's second headliner at The Lerner Theatre at 8:30 p.m. Guest vocalist will be Carmen Bradford,. Tickets start at $29.

Winner of the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for its Basie Swings The Blues, the Count Basie Orchestra is directed by Scotty Barhhart, and has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once. They've won 19 Grammy Awards, performed for royalty, appeared in TV shows and movies, and played at every major jazz festival and major concert hall in the world.

FREE SUNDAY

Entry to Sunday's Jazz Festival is free, aside from the brunch. The Lerner Theatre will host headliners David Hilliker's Jazz Tribute at 1 p.m., and Truth in Jazz with special guest Dave Bennett at 3 p.m.

The Central Stage will start music at 12:30 p.m. with Third Shore Collective, Cohen-Rutkowski Project featuring Sandy Lomax at 2 p.m., and Emma Hendrick at 3:30 p.m.

HEADLINER: DAVID HILLIKER'S JAZZ TRIBUTE

Having performed all around the Midwest, David Hilliker also had opportunity to play with jazz artists such as Melvin Rhyne, Joey DeFrancesco, Bill Heid, Pat Bianchi, Dave Stryker, John Clayton, Benny Green, Joe Beck, Ali Ryerson, and legendary tenor saxophonists George Coleman and Von Freeman. His attitude toward the music and the role of the drum chair is to "lay down the groove, swing hard, stay out of the way and make the rest of the band sound better".

HEADLINER: TRUTH IN JAZZ WITH SPECIAL GUEST DAVE BENNETT

Truth in Jazz big-band, sponsored by Horizon Transport, brings together local professional musicians who share a deep love for big-band jazz. The 18-piece group has performed with Jiggs Whigham, Eddie Severn, Harry Waters, Mike Smith, Todd Williams, Victor Haskins, Patrick Hession, Jay Jehl, and many more. Truth in Jazz continues in the big-band tradition and adds new arrangements based on jazz standards. Truth in Jazz is led by Steve Allen and features vocalist Erica Kinsman.

JAZZ BRUNCH

The Jazz Brunch takes place Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Lerner Crystal Ballroom. The Rafael Chavez Trio at 10:30 a.m. and The Deans List at 11:30 a.m. will provide the music for the event. Tickets are required, at $45.50

PASSES AND VIP

A weekend pass is $94.50, with headliners and the brunch sold separately.

VIP tickets for the weekend are $400 per person and provide entry to the Thursday night show at Wellfield; one ticket to Keb Mo at The Lerner Theatre; one Count Basie Orchestra ticket; one Jazz Brunch ticket; weekend pass; and Top Brass weekend access upon purchase of a Top Brass Pass. The Lerner Box Office will make contact to pick preferred seating.

VIP passes and weekend passes may be picked up beginning noon Thursday at the Jazz Fest Will Call in The Lerner lobby.

For more information on each of the artists or to purchase tickets, visit https://elkhartjazzfestival.com.

Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at [email protected] or at 574-538-2065.