Northwest Jazz Festival features Grammy-nominated headliners
Posted January 30, 2020
By NWC News DeskWith featured guest artists in concert and performance opportunities for vocal and instrumental jazz groups, it’s bound to be a musical day at the 37th annual Northwest Jazz Festival Feb. 25.
Throughout the event, high-quality assessment and instruction will be provided by respected jazz educators in a positive and constructive learning environment, which encourages young musicians and teachers to grow through camaraderie and musical exchange. The festival is free and open to the public during the day.
This year’s featured headliners include three-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist Bob Sheppard and Vocal Jazz Quartet säje.
For more than four decades, Sheppard has played on countless sessions with many jazz giants—among them Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Michael and Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Herbie Hancock, Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, Lyle Mays, John Beasley and Steps Ahead—and artists within several other genres. He’s also recorded and toured as a leader, contributed to hundreds of movie and TV soundtracks and served as an educator.
Born out of close friendship and deep admiration, four critically-acclaimed vocalists/musicians came together to form the Vocal Quartet säje and explore, create and celebrate the music that moves them. The quartet features Sara Gazarek, who was nominated for two Grammys this year, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick and Erin Bentlage.
As individuals, each artist has crafted their own notable career and are now delighted to bring their collective voices to this union, traversing a vast array of original material, contemporary re-imaginings and jazz standards.
The concert begins Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the Powell High School Auditorium. Concert tickets cost $15 for students and $30 each for the general public. They can be purchased by calling 307-754-6425 or .
The Northwest Jazz Festival is made possible in cooperation with the Park County Travel Council.
