Sammons Center for the Arts

Opening Group: Bobby Sparks Quartet – Bobby Sparks kicks off the Sammons Jazz Spring Season with the lush sounds of the Hammond B-3 organ. He is joined by Shelley Carrol on saxophone, Todd Parsnow on guitar, and Brannen Temple on drums.

Second Set: Black Red Black led by Red Young – Red lays out his Hammond B-3 chops in the second set. He is joined by Ephraim Owens on trumpet and Brannen Temple on drums.

This very special tribute concert in memory of Sammons Jazz favorite Leigh Tomlinson features two up-and-coming young vocalists:

Opening Group: Emma Cager Band – Emma Cager shows off her vocal talent and proves that she is a chip off the old block, having learned to sing at the knee of proud papa, Victor Cager. She will be backed up by Dallas legend Roger Boykin on piano, Joel Cross on guitar, Kyp Green on bass, and Andrew Griffith on drums.

Second Set: Heather Paterson and Straight Ahead – Heather possesses a voice of pure crystalline perfection. She fronts a great quintet that includes the famed Neil Slater on piano, Walter Pearson on saxophone, Bill Seitz on bass, and Henry Okstel on drums.

Opening Group: The New Collection led by Paris Rutherford – Legendary vocal teacher Paris Rutherford debuts his new vocal ensemble featuring some of the most talented singers ever. His UNT vocal ensembles were famous, and he brings that same virtuosity to his new group.

Second Set: Jisun Choi Quartet – Armed with degrees from Berklee College of Music and UNT, this master of the keyboards teaches by day and performs by night. With Jisun on the piano, she is joined by Noel Johnston on guitar, Gavin Kelso on bass, and Steve Pruitt on drums.

“Artistic Director’s Concert – Music from the Heart” Homage to Ellington and Strayhorn

First Set: Arlington Jones featuring Braylon Lacy & Stockton Helbing with Duke Ellington Trio Music – We are proud to present Sammons Jazz Artistic Director and Steinway Artist Arlington Jones interpreting the music of the great Duke Ellington. He will feature Braylon Lacy on bass and Stockton Helbing on drums in this truly inspirational show.

Featured Artist: James Gilyard Ensemble – Sammons Jazz former Artistic Director and renowned bassist James Gilyard leads his ensemble in a tribute to Billy Strayhorn. He is joined by vocalist Simone Jackson-Rodgers, Kelly Durbin on piano, Karl Lampman on saxophone and flute, and Andrew Griffith on drums.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

All of our Sammons Jazz Series performances are at the Sammons Center for the Arts at 3630 Harry Hines at Oak Lawn. Ticket prices are regular $40.00 and $35.00 for members with open seating for all. Ticket prices include complimentary wine, beer, soft drinks, coffee, a light meal, and valet parking. The doors for the regular series open at 7:00 p.m. with the performance beginning approximately at 7:30 p.m. Each performance features two performance sets of about an hour each with an intermission between. The dress is casual; many people come from work in business attire, but most wear casual, comfortable clothing. Tickets may be ordered through the Sammons Center by calling 214/520-7789 and may be charged on VISA, Master Card, American Express or Discover. For additional information on the Sammons Jazz series of the Sammons Center for the Arts, call 214/520-7789 or visit our website at www.sammonsartcenter.org .
All artists and programs subject to change.

SAMMONS CABARET SERIES

Following the successful formula that has been enchanting audiences for over twenty years, the Sammons Center is now starting a new concert series - Sammons CABARET. The concerts will be in the traditional cabaret style with a singer accompanied by a pianist, and will feature standard cabaret repertoire including music from the Great American Song Book, Broadway tunes, torch songs and vocal standards. Performances will be held in the intimate setting of Kurth Recital Hall at the Sammons Center for the Arts to a limited audience.

Thursday, February 16, 2012
8:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Aubree-Anna
Accompanied by Erskine Hawkins

Thursday, March 15, 2012
8:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Carolyn Lee Jones
Accompanied by Brad Williams

Thursday, April 19, 2012
8:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Tatiana Mayfield
Accompanied by Sean Giddings

Thursday, May 17, 2012
8:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Heather Paterson
Accompanied by Neil Slater

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

All of our Sammons CABARET Series performances are in Kurth Hall, at the Sammons Center for the Arts at 3630 Harry Hines at Oak Lawn. Ticket prices are regular $40.00 and $35.00 for members with open seating. Ticket prices include complimentary wine, beer, soft drinks, coffee, light appetizers, and valet parking. The doors for the CABARET series open at 7:30 p.m. with the performance beginning approximately at 8 p.m. Each performance features two performance sets of about 45 minutes each with an intermission between. These concerts are a little more dressed up and styled than our usual Sammons Jazz series; feel free to wear a snazzy suit or a dazzling dress! Tickets may be ordered through the Sammons Center by calling 214/520-7789 and may be charged on VISA, Master Card, American Express or Discover. For additional information on the CABARET series at the Sammons Center for the Arts, call 214/520-7789 or visit our website at www.sammonsartcenter.org .
All artists and programs subject to change.

We hire LOCAL acts from the Dallas Fort-Worth area, in a variety of jazz styles. To be considered as a performer for the Sammons Jazz Series, please forward your bio and photo (or electronic press kit), music sample and contact information to arlington@sammonsartcenter.org. You may also send your materials to: Arlington Jones, Sammons Center for the Arts, 3630 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX 75219.

Sammons Jazz Program
The Sammons Jazz Program was founded in 1989 at the request of Vicho Vicencio, original Artistic Director of the series, and several local jazz artists concerned about the dearth of jazz performance opportunities in the Dallas area. It has developed from the original concert series into a multifaceted program which includes the original jazz concert series, community outreach collaborations, and a Youth Jazz Outreach program. The Sammons Jazz program is under the guidance of Artistic Director Arlington Jones.

Mission
The mission of the Sammons Jazz Program is:

2) To increase public awareness of jazz asana important and fulfilling American Art Form,
3) To showcase local jazz artists and provide opportunities for jazz artists of all ages to develop their craft,
4) To build a diverse audience for jazz in our community, and
5) To provide an opportunity for jazz enthusiasts to enjoy quality live jazz entertainment at nominal cost throughout our City.

Sammons Jazz Series
Sammons Jazz is the only regular ongoing jazz performance series in the Dallas-Fort Worth area featuring local artists. Since the Sammons Jazz series began in1989, we have presented more than 1000 artists to a combined audience of more than 10,000. Sammons Jazz is presented the first Wednesday of each month, February through May and September through December in the relaxed, noncommercial setting of Meadows Hall in the Sammons Center. We present two ensembles at each concert, and ticket prices include complimentary coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks, light appetizers and valet parking. A variety of jazz styles is presented by professional artists as well as jazz students from the University of North Texas and the Arts Magnet High School.

Jazz in the Park with Shakespeare Dallas
We have presented a number of free jazz concerts in conjunction with the Summer productions of Shakespeare Dallas in Samuel Grand Park in East Dallas. These outdoor concerts are presented prior to the start of their plays on Friday or Saturday evenings throughout run of the festival. This collaboration has been very successful for both organizations and enhances the artistic value of both performances. We will work together to maximize a joint marketing initiative to draw a more diverse audience to these wonderful community events and enhance the community outreach impact of both organizations.

Jazz Youth Program
We are expanding our youth jazz outreach program in partnership with the Dallas Area Boys and Girls Club which enables us to introduce youth, ages 6 to 12, to jazz as a unique American art form. We have events at the Sammons Center in conjunction with youth agencies such as Boys & Girls Clubs, Church Groups and Recreation Centers, that are interactive as well as educational and help expose these children to jazz music. We use established jazz musicians as well as young jazz musicians from the Arts Magnet High School to play for the children and to get them involved with interactive activities as participants in the concerts. These events are held in our facility throughout the school year as an after-school program that is both fun and educational. Snacks are provided to the children during an intermission and they are encouraged to ask questions and participate in the music. Concert etiquette is also addressed to help students understand appropriate behavior at public events.

Future Initiatives
The Sammons Center for the Arts intends to develop a new paradigm in the promotion and preservation of jazz as an original American art form through the development of an on-line jazz museum celebrating the rich artistic heritage of the jazz artists of Dallas and Texas. There is an abundant and rich history of the evolution of jazz in our region. Significant contributions have been made by a number of very talented artists,but that history is largely undocumented and unheralded. It is important to capture and disseminate this region's contributions to the development of jazz by utilizing the exciting new technologies that allow information to be gathered, organized, displayed and continually updated.

Equally important is the ability to make the information gathered within the On-line museum available instantly to people all over the United States and the world. We will be able to reach artists, students, educators, jazz enthusiasts, and others through the medium of the world wide web. The museum content would include: Archival photographs, discography, video interviews with jazz artists, artists' profiles, recorded music archive, excerpts from print media, bibliography, history and development of the jazz art form, jazz event calendar, jazz music store, artists resource/bulletin board, North Texas musician registry, jazz chat room with scheduled artist interface opportunities, and other content as developed. Additionally, we plan to develop a series of short films that will record the oral histories of some of our Texas Jazz pioneers like David “Fathead” Newman, Red Holloway,Claude Johnson and others who created the Texas Jazz style.

Funding
Thanks to our sponsors! Funding for the Sammons Jazz programs come from ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, a membership program and grants from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs,TACA, Target Stores, the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Frost Bank, and in-kind support from the Ben E. Keith Co.

SAMMONS JAZZ SPRING 2012 SCHEDULE

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

SAMMONS CABARET SERIES

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

SAMMONS JAZZ
SPRING 2012 SCHEDULE