Nine programs and five days of jazz in Hot Springs

The 20th Annual Hot Springs JazzFest, September 13 thru 18, includes nine programs five full days of jazz music. Something for every jazz lover is planned with special selections designed to entice new jazz lovers, both young and old. The festival opens with Joy of Jazz: Vegas in the 60’s, a gala style event in the Arlington Hotel’s Conference room. Quickly becoming a jazz festival favorite, the Joy of Jazz is the festival’s most elaborate concert and fundraiser designed to assure the out-door concert on Saturday remains free for all. Tickets are only $60 each and will include banquet service for the first time this year.

Some of Hot Springs top pianists will offer a set to dazzle the audience with their solo concert work — pure piano at its best. Co-hosted with the Garland County's Ouachita Area Chapter of American Red Cross, Piano-Rama features pianists John Puckett, Tony Nardi, Chuck Dodson, Phyllis Emery, Dr. Ron Hall and Clyde Pound. Piano-Rama is a new JazzFest presentation — and sure to be one of its most popular events.

Shirley Chauvin’s S’Wonderful will present special guest Saxophone play Gerry Heidel at the Quapaw Baths & Spa. Heidel is presently living in Sarasota FL and has performed with the Sarasota Jazz Project.

Four skilled jazz musicians will present workshops on trumpet, saxophone, guitar and drums Friday afternoon at Big Event Music. Free for any music student or lover, the clinics require only a love for jazz with your reservation to attend.

Friday night’s concert will feature the favored Air Force Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble at Oaklawn Magnet school. We are honored to host these 18 professional enlisted men and women whose repertoire ranges from traditional big band jazz, to bebop and swing, to modern jazz. At one of their concerts, you are just as likely to hear the music of contemporary composers as you would the classic sounds of Count Basie or Glenn Miller. Several of the band's members are also gifted composers and arrangers, and their compositions are often featured in concert.

The traditional outdoor concert on Saturday “Jazz In The Streets” begins at 11am under the Broadway Sky-bridge with Craig O’Neill of Today’s THV returns as guest emcee with his special style of humor. Remaining free and presenting a remarkable selection of jazz groups the day begins with a special performance from the winners of this year’s Summer Jazz Camp Scholarship Winners under the direction of John Jordan, Band Director of Hot Springs High School. Saturdays talent includes the Latin groove of Calle Soul, the inspiring work of the award winning UAM Jazz Ensemble, the big band sounds of the Fayetteville Jazz Collective, Nu-Fusion from Henderson State University (a festival favorite), an encore performance from the Air Force Shades of Blue, and our own ATM (Anything That Moves) with special guests Bob Montgomery on Trumpet and Al Hermann on Trombone.

Out of the most musical city in the United States comes New Orleans’ very own unique, progressive, contemporary jazz band, Nova NOLA who will perform on Saturday evening at the Ray Lynn Theater. Nova NOLA is a band that fuses together the intoxicating rhythms and music of Brazil as well as the soulful struts and beats of New Orleans in an exotic and captivating blend of original music and timeless standards.

A Jazz Mass at St. Lukes Episcopal Church and a toe tapping dance concert by Stardust Big Band in the Arlington Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom close the festival on Sunday. For further information go to www.hotspringsjazzfest.org or call 501-767-0211.