602 Arizona Magazine

JAZZ IN THE PINES Featuring Keiko Matsui & Kirk Whalum

Headliners: Kirk Whalum Grammy award winner Saxophonist is an American jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured with Whitney Houston for more than seven years and soloed on her hit single "I Will Always Love You", the best-selling single by a female artist in music history.

Kekio Matsui Grammy award winner - Keiko Matsui, is a Japanese keyboardist and composer, specializing in smooth jazz and New-age music known for her crossover mix of smooth jazz, fusion, and new-age music, Japan's Keiko Matsui is an internationally acclaimed pianist and composer and has played all over the world.

Neamen Lyles–

Every now and then, we’re given another opportunity to get to know a musical artist at a deeper level – to get a clearer glimpse of the creative force within, and the ways in which it’s manifested in the aural world.

Such is the case today with Neamen Lyles, the young saxophonist whose second album now makes its way into the marketplace of musical ideas. As you come to know this rising smooth jazz artist and hear his latest recorded output, you genuinely, deeply appreciate where he came from and where he’s headed. And, if you’re looking for validation of that appreciation, a glance at his record of accomplishments and associations over the past half dozen years provides it in ample measure. Accomplishments and associations: Recordings and performances with the likes of Jeff Lorber, Rick Braun, Mel Brown, and Mindi Abair. Shared concert billings with Dave Koz, Jay Soto, Greg Karrukas, and others. No slackers in those lists.

The Arsen Nalbandian Trio -

Many music mavens, jazz fans, or otherwise know of American jazz legends like Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, but a new generation of artists is bringing refreshing new talent to the genre. From the breakout success of artists like Emmet Chen and Robert, Glasoer to up-and-coming talents like pianist Arsen Nalbandian. Jazz pianist and

producer Arsen may not be your typical jazz musician, considering his fusion of styles like Oscar Peterson and Bill Evens, yet his deft merging of styles makes him stand out among his contemporaries.

WHO IS ARSEN?

Arsen Nalbandian is a self-taught jazz pianist, composer, and educator. Over the course of the past 5 years, he has worked with numerous figureheads of the jazz community in Arizona such as Mike Kocour, Andrew Gross, Eric Rasmussen, Ben Hedquist, and others. Through these experiences along with his devotion to studying and transcribing the masters of this music, such as Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson, he has developed a unique musical personality that is steeped in the tradition, while also adding a hint of modern elements.

Doors Open at noon / Show starts at 1pm

Event Schedule -
12pm: Doors Open
1 - 1:45pm: The Arsen Nalbandian Trio
2 - 2:45pm: Neamen Lyles
3pm - end of show: Keiko Matsui & Kirk Whalum

For Ticket information https://r-entertainment.com/ Producers by R-Entretainment

Co-International Jazz Day AZ Foundation

SCOTTSDALE JAZZ FESTIVAL WAS A HUGE SUCCESS

By: Max E Rumbugh Jr

The 2022 Scottsdale Jazz Festival on Saturday evening, April 30, brought a new kind of excitement to downtown Scottsdale. A variety of Jazz types from Latin, New Orleans, Blues, and other styles filled the outdoor air in the Scottsdale Civic Center. Such a successful outdoor Jazz event is new to Scottsdale. Highlighting the evening was Richard Elliot and Rick Braun, each seasoned showmen with their own individual signature sounds, who performed as RnR. They played off of one another extremely well and had the audience on their feet dancing. The electrifying voice of Nayo Jones of the Nayo Jones Experience from New Orleans provided vocal Jazz for the evening. And local Trumpeter, Jesse McGuire, enthralled the audience with his unique and nationally recognized rendition of the National Anthem.

Three incredible Mayors coming together to celebrate UNESCO’S 11th Annual International Jazz Day at the Scottsdale Jazz Festival

By Doc Jones

https://youtu.be/1g1NxO1RhVY

Mayor David Ortega of Scottsdale, Mayor Corey D. Woods of Tempe, and Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner of Paradise Valley have all united for the upcoming Scottsdale Jazz festival. The Arizona State legislature introduced a bill by representatives Bolding, Powers Hannley, and Rodriguez which would recognize April 30th as International Jazz Day, and proclaimed April as Jazz appreciation month in the state of Arizona. This yearly tradition honors the legendary work of Herbie Hancock and many other great Jazz musicians. The new law emphasizes that the Smithsonian Institution created Jazz Appreciation Month in 2011 as an opportunity for people to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz music for the entire month of April.

In 2013, William “Doc” Jones created the International Jazz Day AZ Festival and would go on to create the International Jazz Day AZ Foundation, which has been a 501-C3 nonprofit organization, since, 2015. Doc Jones has stated that the mission of Jazz Day AZ is to produce concerts and events that would bring attention to tourism in the state of Arizona and bring attention to the importance of arts in education. Funds from the event have gone on to sponsor smaller organizations like NextStudent Academy, Academy of Excellence, and the Onyx Summer music program. Due to the pandemic, they have added on the mission to build affordable housing for creative artists.

Richard Elliot, Braun & Nayo Jones Headlines International Jazz Day Scottsdale Jazz Festival April 30th 2022

Ticket Information scottsdalejazzfest.org

https://youtu.be/8puLGiEoXKg

Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, and Nayo Jones will be headling the Scottsdale Jazz Festival.

COME CELEBRATE THE 11^TH ANNUAL “INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY” AT Scottsdale Civic Center Northeast Lawn of City Hall

The outdoor concert is one of UNESCO’s 196 global celebrations taking place on April 30^th, 2022 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM

THE SCOTTSDALE JAZZ FESTIVAL FEATURES THE BEST OF “REAL JAZZ” PRESENTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY FOUNDATION & MOLINA FINE JEWELERS

Downtown Scottsdale joins more than 196 global Jazz Day celebrations on April 30^th designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Herbie Hancock to celebrate jazz and the role it plays in uniting people around the world.

The Mayor's of Scottsdale, Tempe, and Paradise Valley has formed a Jazz Day AZ coalition to promote tourism in the state of Arizona.

Headliners: Richard Elliot- Richard Elliot is a Scottish-born American saxophonist. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards for Summer Horns. San Diego resident saxophonist Richard Elliot has already had an exemplary musical career that is second to none. Tower of Powers, Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson and the Temptations were already on his agenda at a young age. In 1986 he released his debut album Trolltown. Since this time he has recorded more than twenty albums. His new album Authentic Life (2021) is the current gauge of his development as a person and artist.

Rick Braun- is a dynamic Trumpeter Composer and Producer with over 20#1 Smooth Jazz Hits. Rick Braun has enjoyed a career longevity that is rare in this business. He has crafted his own distinctive sound and become a staple on contemporary jazz radio. He has produced No. 1 hits for David Benoit, Marc Antoine, and former Rod Stewart band sidekick, Jeff Golub. Braun achieved collaborative success on massive hits with Boney James, as a member of RnR with saxophonist Richard Elliot, and with BWB, a powerhouse trio completed by Grammy® winners Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown. He has made a mark staying true to his own musical voice and eclectic influences that have allowed him to collaborate across genres with some of the biggest names in music, including Tina Turner, Tom Petty, Sade, Natalie Cole and REO Speedwagon.

Nayo Jones – Award-nominated intentional artist was mentored by her father Doc Jones, jazz vocalist Nayo is a rising star who has opened for jazz greats such as Chris Botti, Otis, and The Temptations, The Whispers, and Lakeside, Kermit Ruffins.

FEATURED PERFORMERS:

The Molina’s 32st Jazz Band All-Star youth Jazz orchestra
Jesse McGuire (born August 29, 1958) is an American trumpeter from Phoenix, Arizona, famous for his execution of the Star Spangled Banner, which he has performed for three U.S. presidents, and at many major sporting events, most notably the 2000 Daytona 500

JALEO #1 Cuban Band in Arizona- Their multicultural musical heritage has rightly led Jaleo into the top leading performers in Arizona. Jaleo, the celebration the festivity and the commemoration, represents their melodic interpersonal motivation. With meritorious achievable performances, Jaleo has musically reproduced impressionistic geographical cadences in their work, offering Afro Cuban, Puerto Rican and Colombian rhythmical inspiration. Their Multicultural awareness is a musical interpretation of past and present joy.

WHEN / WHERE:

Sat, April 30^th, 2022 3:PM to 10:00 P.M

Scottsdale Civic Center park

3939 No. Drinkwater, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Scottsdale Jazz Festival Chairmen Alfredo Molina has been Named Executive Director of the Jazz Bowl During Super Bowl Weekend 2023

https://superbowlofjazz.com/

THE JAZZ BOWL FESTIVAL IN ARIZONA

The Jazz Bowl of Music Fest during Super Bowl 57 will be a five-day event organized to achieve jazz celebration and appreciation in the state of Arizona, say newly elected Executive Director Philanthropist Alfredo J Molina. Hence, with our experienced hands, we are sure to make this project accomplish greatness on its set date. Concerning the task at hand, we want the project to be a massive success in honor of the jazz culture and promote tourism during the shoulder period.

International Jazz Day AZ Foundation, a 501-C3, is the organization's name in charge of this project. The focus of
this program is to spread the awareness of jazz culture through the stables of a celebration festival to be tagged
Super Bowl of Jazz Music Festivals. It intends to guide jazz lovers to its importance, values, and use in
everyday life. Like the UNESCO and Herbie Hancocks International Jazz Day, which is held every year, we
want The Super Bowl LV11 (57) Jazz Festival Weekend 2023 to achieve the aims of getting jazz lovers
together to share in the creativity, power, and love of jazz music.

APRIL JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH WAS THE TURNING POINT

A sell-out crowd enjoyed the music of Mark Whitfiled, Nayo Jones, Jesse McGuire, and Neamen Lyles

Three Mayors from Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Tempe Join Forces

Three incredible Mayors coming together to celebrate UNESCO’S 11^th Annual International Jazz Day at the Scottsdale Jazz Festival

Scottsdale's Debut International Jazz Day Festival Was a Success

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of International Jazz Day, the Scottsdale Jazz Festival took place in Scottsdale Arizona, on April 30, at the Hotel Valley Ho with a global all-star lineup led by Mark Whitfield from New York, Nayo Jones from New Orleans, Jesse McGuire from Phoenix, and Neamen Lyles from Tucson. The Festival was hosted by the City of Scottsdale, Molina Fine Jewelers, and the International Jazz Day AZ Foundation with strong sponsorship support from Crescent Crown Distributing, Republic National Distributing Company, and the Arizona Office of Tourism.