2023 Artists – Please check back for the full line-up.
Thursday, June 22 – Pre-Festival Performances (cover charges might apply)
kJ’s Hideaway 9:30PM Lucia Sarmiento
Lucia Sarmiento is a young Peruvian Saxophonist, with a huge sound and effervescent personality. Currently Lucia Sarmiento tours with international pop star Pitbull, has a single out called “Escape” and is working on her debut full length album coming out 2022. Tickets will be available at kj’s Hideaway shortly.
Friday, June 23
Jazz88 Main Stage in Mears Park
6PM Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Quartet
Camille Thurman is an accomplished composer, esteemed saxophonist, vocalist, and unique interpreter of the jazz tradition. She is known for her distinct musical approach to classic and original repertoire that highlights her chops as both a powerhouse singer and instrumentalist.
The New York City native was the first woman in 30 years to tour and perform full time internationally with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra as a saxophonist/woodwindist (2018-2020 season). A respected bandleader, she has headlined numerous notable concert venues and jazz festivals around the world including the Kennedy Center and Alice Tully Hall. She shares her talent around the globe as a selected U.S. Cultural Ambassador.
8:30 p.m. Paquito D’Rivera and the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience
Havana-born clarinet player, saxophonist and composer, Paquito D’Rivera, defies categorization. He has recorded more than 30 solo albums and is celebrated for his artistry in Latin jazz, rock, traditional Cuban, and classical music. Among his honors are 14 Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Carnegie Hall for his contributions to Latin music.
In 1988, he was a founding member of the United Nations Orchestra, a
15-piece ensemble organized by Dizzy Gillespie to showcase the fusion of Latin and Caribbean influences with jazz.
Saturday, June 24
Jazz88 Main Stage in Mears Park
6PM Davina & the Vagabonds
Frontwoman, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, Davina Sowers, gave birth to her eponymous band, Davina and The Vagabonds, in 2004. Today, they are hometown heroes in the Twin Cities.
Their sound is described as a distillation of bluesy barroom baritone and bravado, graveyard jazz grooves, and noir-ish confessional lyricism backed by boisterous piano, guitar, and strings.
To date, the internationally acclaimed group has performed in 45 states, 12 European countries, and two Canadian provinces. They play nearly 200 gigs annually, including events such as Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and now the Twin Cities Film Festival.
8:30PM Christian McBride
Christian McBride is an eight-time Grammy Award winning bassist, composer, and bandleader. McBride is the Artistic Director of the historic Newport Jazz Festival, New Jersey Performing Arts center (NJPAC) and the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
McBride is also a respected educator and advocate as the Artistic Director of Jazz House KiDS, and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions.
In addition to consistent touring, McBride hosts NPR’s “Jazz Night in America” and “The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian” on SiriusXM.
TPT Stage
8:30PM TRIBUTE TO BUTCH THOMPSON
Butch Thompson brough his own voice to the classic jazz repertoire of blues, stomps, ragtime and pop songs. From Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag to Duke Ellington’s Mood Indigo, from Jelly Roll Morton’s New Orleans jazz to the virtuosic stride piano of 1920s Harlem, Butch has played his personal style from Cairo to Kansas City
The Butch Thompson Trio was known across the nation as the house band for “A Prairie Home Companion” hosted by Garrison Keillor. On the show, Thompson performed with all comers from acrobats to opera singers, from nationally known jazz performers to country and bluegrass artists.
For 25 years Thompson hosted a weekly jazz history show on Twin Cities’ own Jazz 88 radio. He devoted his “Jazz Originals” program to sharing his collection of early jazz records with listeners, including the back stories about the recording sessions, sidemen and arrangers.
The Southside Aces will host this tribute along with guest performers.
*Schedule subject to change.
