Sarasota Jazz Festival presents dynamic saxophonist Grace Kelly Quartet and Wycliffe Gordon Quintet

Headlining the Sarasota Jazz Festival on March 21 is Wycliffe Gordon, “a versatile trombonist who can sound like a New Orleans jazz veteran, a plunger-mute specialist from the 1930s, a gospel player or a modern jazz improviser”, according to JazzTimes. Gordon is an American jazz trombonist, arranger, composer, band leader, and music educator at the collegiate-conservatory level. Gordon also sings and plays didgeridoo, trumpet, soprano trombone, tuba, and piano. He experiences an impressive career touring the world performing to great acclaim from audiences and critics alike. In 2022, the Jazz Journalists Association named him “Trombonist of the Year” for the record breaking 15th time, and he’s topped Downbeat Critics Poll for “Best Trombone” again for an unprecedented six times (2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012). He is a recipient of the “Louie Award”, the International Trombone Award and the Satchmo Award, among others. Wycliffe is a prolific recording artist and can be heard on hundreds of recordings, soundtracks, live DVD’s and documentaries. His arrangement of the theme song to NPR’s “All Things Considered” is heard daily across the globe. Gordon is also one of America’s most persuasive and committed music educators, and serves as Director of Jazz Studies at Augusta University in Augusta, GA. Grace Kelly “broad tone and tenacious flow on the alto saxophone, clearly in possession of virtuoso talents… impressive singing voice, flitting among a range of styles.” –  NY Times “Grace Kelly has an electric charisma onstage that instantly ignites the room”–  Jon Batiste An unequivocal musical prodigy, singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer and band leader Grace Kelly has rocked the jazz world with sold-out concerts, 14 acclaimed albums and a resume that includes performing at the Hollywood Bowl as well as being part of the house band for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” – all before reaching her mid-twenties. As of Oct 2022 she has become the youngest member of the Board of Trustees of Berklee College of Music. Touted for her scorching saxophone stylings and purring vocals, Kelly has performed and recorded with renowned artists including Lin Manuel- Miranda, Dave Brubeck, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Huey Lewis, Harry Connick Jr., Gloria Estefan, Questlove, and Wynton Marsalis. Kelly was named the winner of “Song of the Year” for her single “Feels Like Home” in the 2018 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and has been named nine times consecutively in the Annual Downbeat Magazines Critics Poll “Rising Star Alto Saxophone” from the age of 17 in 2009 and winning the poll in 2017. She has also won multiple ASCAP Composer Awards, Boston Music Awards, and International Songwriting Awards. She has also appeared as a featured performer in films and television, including acclaimed documentary “Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story”, Amazon’s Emmy-nominated original series “Bosch”, and featured in the 2017 Emmy-winning Yamaha production “The Right Note” Information, visit: https://www.sarasotajazzfestival.com. Tickets from $60, Jazz Club members receive a discount on tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sarasota-jazz-festival-wycliffe-gordon-grace-kelly-tickets-763051837587

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Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2278984-0

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