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Geri Allen's Jazz Suite For the Healing of the Nations

A New Work for Jazz Orchestra, Vocalists, and Chorus

Saturday, October 20 at 8:00 PM
Price $36, $46, $62

In tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Walt Whitman Arts Center in Camden, NJ commissioned acclaimed pianist/composer Geri Allen to compose For the Healing of the Nations, a sacred jazz suite in two movements. Allen used the title song of her recently released “Timeless Portraits and Dreams” album as the inspiration for the new suite. Hailed as a jazz pianist who dares to follow the unmarked road and honored for her extensive music education and devotion to the swinging roots of jazz, Geri Allen has been contributing to the jazz genre for over 25 years. Allen respects the jazz tradition, but refuses to be bound by it. Her original works journey into constantly adventurous areas, such as this tribute suite, always seeking out new musical avenues.

www.geriallen.com

World Saxophone Quartet

Hamiet Bluiett, Oliver Lake, David Murray, & Greg Osby

Saturday, February 23 at 8:00 PM
Price $32, $42, $56

The World Saxophone Quartet is one of the finest and most unusual small combos in jazz today. The Quartet began performing as a unit in 1976, inspired by Ed Jordan from New Orleans. Jordan had been impressed by each of the artists individually and brought them together for one show, which led to many more, and finally an official group consisting of only four saxophones! The group includes David Murray, one of the most recorded jazz musicians in modern music history on the tenor saxophone; Oliver Lake with his expansive artistic vision on alto and soprano saxophones, Hamiet Bluiett, one of the most excellent baritone saxophonists to emerge in the 70s and beyond; and acclaimed special guest Greg Osby.

http://www.justin-time.com/authors/worldsaxophonequartet/

Angélique Kidjo

Grammy-award-winning vocalist from Africa

Saturday, March 1 at 8:00 PM
Price $36, $46, $62

Angelique Kidjo, whose work has garnered her four Grammy nominations, has cross-pollinated the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, as well as influences from Europe and Latin America. In the course of her successful career, Angelique Kidjo has spread her rhythmic Afro-funk fusion to the four corners of the globe. After touring this past year as the opening act for Josh Groban, she has recently released a new CD Djin Djin, featuring duets with Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, and more.The music of African-born songstress Angelique Kidjo brings to the Rialto her perspective that the world is much smaller than we think, and that no matter how far flung its peoples may be, subtle lines of interconnection span the globe, uniting its people.

www.kidjo.com

Jimmy Heath

with the Georgia State University Jazz Band

Friday, April 11 at 8:00 PM
Price $16, $26, $42

Jimmy Heath has been recognized as a brilliant instrumentalist and composer for over 50 years. During the course of his remarkable career, he has performed with nearly every jazz great of the 20th century—from Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis to John Coltrane and Wynton Marsalis. Much-lauded (and GRAMMY Award nominated), Heath has performed on over 100 recordings, written over 125 compositions, and distinguished himself as a leader in jazz education. Joining him at the Rialto will be the 20-piece University Jazz Band led by Gordon Vernick. The Band has previously backed such notables as Nicholas Payton, Kenny Garrett, Slide Hampton, and David Sanchez.

www.music.gsu.edu

Arturo O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Big Band

Afro-Latin Jazz

Saturday, May 17 at 8:00 PM

Price $36, $46, $62

Pianist Arturo O'Farrill’s Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, now known as the Afro-Cuban Big Band, brings together 18 prominent soloists from the Latin Jazz scene. In 1995, O’Farrill, who has performed with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, The Fort Apache Band, Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Belafonte, agreed to lead the band founded by his legendary father—Chico O’Farrill’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Then, in 2002, along with Marsalis, he created the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra at Lincoln Center. Their debut album Una Noche Inolvidable earned a GRAMMY Award nomination in 2006, and O’Farrill himself won the 2003 Latin Jazz USA “Outstanding Achievement Award.”