Dallas Inaugural Riverfront Jazz Festival Lineup Announcement
The Black Academy of Arts and Letters announces its lineup of 35 national and international musical acts for the first Riverfront Jazz Festival in Downtown Dallas to be held on Labor Day Weekend, September 1-3, 2017. The artist and music are diverse, covering classical, smooth, R&B, neo-soul, soul and pop.
- Dallas, TX (1888PressRelease) November 21, 2016 - The Black Academy of Arts and Letters' Inc., (TBAAL) lineup for the Inaugural Riverfront Jazz Festival in Downtown Dallas will include more than 35 national and international musical acts performing jazz, blues, soul and pop, and dozens of promising young artists on three stages over the Labor Day weekend, September 1-3, 2017.
Honorary chairs for the event are Dallas's own multi-Grammy award winner Erykah Badu, who is also a TBAAL young artist alumni, soul balladeer Will Downing and jazz saxophonist and flautist Najee.
The acts and 2017 Festival lineup of nearly endless music on the three stages will include:
Oleta Adams, Erykah Badu, Alex Bugnon, Jonathan Butler, Divas of Jazz, Pop and Soul: Eloise Laws, Freda Payne and Mary Wilson, Will Downing, Rachelle Ferrell, Melanie Fiona, R.L. Griffin "The Reverend," Euge Grove, Roy Hargrove,* Wanda King, Jazz in Pink featuring Karen Briggs, Chuck Loeb, Jeff Lorber, Shaun Martin, Keiko Matsui, Maysa, Najee, Rahsaan Patterson, Lucky Peterson, Phil Perry, Pieces of a Dream, Tito Puente, Jr., Six Brothers on Sax: Keith Anderson, Tom Braxton, Mark Felton, Art Sherrod, Jr., Joseph Vincelli and Clay Pritchard, Jackie Scott and the House Wreckers, Jon Secada, Ruben Studdard, Tambourine Lady (Rosalie Washington) & The New Orleans Soul Band, Paul Taylor, The Funky Knuckles, Martha Wash, Kim Waters, Peter White, Yarbrough & Peoples
*To be confirmed
PROMISING YOUNG ARTISTS STAGE: This stage will present a diverse montage of music and young gifted artists from around the country. American Recording companies will assist in supplying young performers for this stage. The talent list is under development.
"Downtown Dallas is the perfect venue for this outdoor music festival and jam sessions that will feature some of the best and most well-known performers nationally and internationally," said TBAAL Founder and President Curtis King. "We've included something for nearly every taste: classical, contemporary, urban, instrumental and smooth jazz. The artists are diverse in their background, music and style. We have old favorites and up-and-coming pop, blues, soul and neo-soul. I spoke personally with all the artists who are eager to add Dallas to the national festival scene. We will have music floating through the air during the day and night concerts."
The Riverfront Jazz Festival proceeds will benefit TBAAL's sustainability operations effort and its Youth Arts-and-Education program.
"The weekend also will include educational workshops, comedy and of course, Dallas' unique brand of sumptuous food and cultural events," said King, who is the festival founder and producer.
Badu, who began performing at TBAAL as a teenager, said the festival's breadth of talent offers Dallas the opportunity to become a high-point on the national jazz and music festival touring scene.
"TBAAL is dear to me and to so many artists in Dallas and around the country and world," said Badu. "When I heard the lineup of artists who have already confirmed to come and support TBAAL, I said this is going to be a first for Dallas and I'm glad to be a part of it as a performer too!"
Both Downing and Najee perform in several national and international jazz festivals and they wanted to ensure that young people continue to have a place to train and showcase their talents.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for me to lend my name of support to TBAAL," Downing said. "I love what they do for young people. TBAAL is first class and Dallas is the perfect place for a festival of this type. It is a bonus that some of the proceeds will support the youth. This is my way of giving back to an institution that deserves so much support."
Najee said, "I had great mentors, and I know the importance of having a place like TBAAL to nurture a person's dreams as an artist and musician. My mentors encouraged me to believe that I could achieve all my desires. TBAAL showcases have been the starting point for many successful artists."
Tickets for the Festival will go on-sale February 1, 2017. Special Hotel Staycation and Out-of-Town Packages will be available February 1, 2017. For more Festival information, contact The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) at 214.743.2440 and visit the website at TBAALRiverfrontjazzfestival.org.
Background: Celebrating 40 seasons, The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc. (TBAAL) is a Dallas, TX-based not-for-profit multi-disciplined arts institution. TBAAL's mission is to create and enhance an awareness and understanding of artistic, cultural, and aesthetic differences utilizing the framework of African-American Arts and Letters and to promote, foster, cultivate, perpetuate and preserve the Arts and Letters of the African, Caribbean and African-American experience in the Fine, Literary, Visual, Performing and Cinematic Arts.
The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc. 2016-2017 40th Season programs are supported in part by the City of Dallas-Office of Cultural Affairs, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Dallas Weekly, Downtown Business News, CBS 11/TXA 21, Radio One-Dallas, I-MessengerNews.com, The Garland Journal, Texas Metro News, Dallas Gospel Connection.com, DFWBam.com, Black Business Directory, Southern Dallas Business & Living Magazine, Evans Engraving, The Design Factory, My Pocket App and an Anonymous Fund of The Dallas Foundation.
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