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My Cousin Toné

PHOTOS: A 'Taste of Jazz' previews Lewiston festival, reveals headliners

Mon, Apr 1st 2019 10:20 am

Brickyard Brewing Company patrons on Sunday got a taste of summer, a taste of barbecue, and a taste of what's to come this summer in Lewiston.

The Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston, NY, board of directors and festival staff hosted the annual “A Taste of Jazz” fundraiser at the BBC. The event included a buffet dinner, a basket raffle and performances from local jazz artists, including eight-piece ensemble My Cousin Toné, JazzBuffalo Poll Male Vocalist of the Year Zach Carr, and Buffalo act Carolyn Lansom and Dozo My Lady.

As part of the celebration, the Jazz Festival staff announced the lineup of main stage headliners and performers for the 2019 Jazz Festival, set for Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24, on Center Street. Artists include:

•Friday

  • Penn & Teller pianist Mike Jones presents “The Show Before The Show”
  • Two-time Grammy Award nominee and jazz vocalist Roberta Gambarini

•Saturday

  • Jazz vocalist and Alvin Ailey dancer Lucia Jackson with jazz guitarist Ron Jackson
  • Jazz vocalist Aimée Allen presents her highly acclaimed “Wings Uncaged” music album
  • Six-time Juno Award nominee, jazz vocalist and pianist Carol Welsman with award-winning bassist and vocalist Nicki Parrott
  • Monty Alexander presents The Harlem-Kingston Express

Jazz Festival organizers said the lineup represents the most ambitious presentation of jazz artists on the main stage in the event’s 18 years.

The lineup is curated by music director Tony Zambito, who said, “We’re all very excited about the lineup for this year’s festival. The main stage and headliner jazz artists represent legends, Grammy and Juno nominees, and up-and-coming dynamic artists.

"To be able to present a legend of jazz in Monty Alexander and his Harlem-Kingston Express is an enormous development for the festival. In addition, the appearance by one of the most dynamic headlining singers in jazz today, Roberta Gambarini, will be a not-to-miss event. On top of these two international stars, we have such special performers as pianist Mike Jones from Penn & Teller fame in Las Vegas, six-time Juno Awards nominee pianist/vocalist Carol Welsman with the award-winning bassist/vocalist Nick Parrot.

Opening up the Saturday portion of the festival are two very gifted up-and-coming jazz vocalists today, based in New York City, Aimée Allen and Lucia Jackson.”

At "A Taste of Jazz"

Tony Zambito and the BBC's Bianca.

“A Taste of Jazz” helps offset some of the costs of producing the outdoor Jazz Festival.

“The festival has grown to be the largest of its kind in the region. Our board of directors and staff work year-round to present the best in jazz music, and while keeping the event primarily free. Our annual fundraiser is one of the important ways we raise money to produce the festival and to be able to bring in such jazz artists as Monty Alexander,” said George Osborne, Jazz Festival president and chairman.

The Village of Lewiston is host to the region’s most popular, free, two-day jazz festival, which features nonstop performances on five stages, plus an abundance of culinary delights and samples from Niagara Region wineries.

For more information, visit www.LewistonJazz.com.

'A TASTE OF JAZZ' PHOTOS:

Carolyn Lansom and Dozo My Lady.

Bob and Mayor Anne Welch.

David Hobba and Carol Calato.

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