W4 News - The Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz 2015 - 7/18/2015

• Report rights infringement
• published: 22 Jul 2015
• views: 243

Coverage of the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz from Saturday July 18, 2015 this is just a 2 hour taste of the day and features Eric Leone, Ed Fast and Conga Bop, Jackiem Joyner, Maysa, and Nick Colionne The Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz is a non-profit organization originally conceived by Paul Brown, noted Hartford jazz bassist and music educator. For 26 years, Paul had produced the Monday Night Jazz Concerts in Bushnell Park, drawing thousands of music lovers to Hartford’s Bushnell Park for picnics and world-class entertainment. That first Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, in July of 1992, was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of those wonderful summers. Paul gathered some friends to help plan that first festival, but ultimately turned the Festival over to a Board of Directors comprised of volunteers from the Central Connecticut area, who continued to fulfill his dream of a world-class jazz event in Hartford, while he concentrated on his professional career and the Monday Night Jazz Concerts. Now in its 24th year, this free-of-charge Festival is supported by small and medium-sized charitable gifts and donations from foundations, businesses and corporations as well as City of Hartford and State of Connecticut grants. The Festival is also generously supported by contributions from individual jazz lovers throughout the region. Eric Leone Eric Leone (a.k.a Eric Leone Pritchett) has virtually grown up surrounded by music. Inspired by his parents, Joseph Pritchett Sr., a self taught musician who also provides technical and logistical support, and Maggie Pritchett who teaches piano and gives spiritual support, he has thrived with his own musical career. Ed Fast and Conga Bop As the percussion playing leader of Conga-Bop, the hard-swinging Latin jazz ensemble, Ed Fast has become a celebrated figure in town through his band’s many well-received appearances in Hartford, including its soulful, sizzling sessions at The Firebox Restaurant. Jakiem Joyner As a young turk on the contemporary jazz scene, saxophonist Jackiem Joyner is far from complacent and staid in his sound and style. Not afraid to challenge the fan base that took him to No. 1 twice and Top 3 two more times on the Billboard chart, Joyner gets adventurous on his fifth album, “Evolve,” which will be released April 29th by Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Records. It’s his first on which he wrote and produced the entire set, including the first single going to radio in mid-March, “Generation Next,” an up-tempo urban-pop track with vibrant flashes of strings that provide a contrast to Joyner’s gentle melodic sax. Maysa Maysa is the kind of singer who takes hold of a song and enraptures her audience, as she delivers lyrics, phrases, melodies and harmonies in a way that only she can. Blessed with an instantly identifiable honey-toned mezzo-soprano and an undeniably brilliant and magnetic stage presence, Maysa’s alluring vocals, candor, humor and purity as an artist make her a rarity in this business. Having collaborated with everyone from Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan to Incognito and Angela Bofill, Maysa can hang with the best. It is no wonder the recipient of Soul Train’s “Soul Approved Underground Singer” was declared ‘WONDERful’ by the iconic Stevie Wonder. Nick Colionne Red-hot guitarist and vocalist Nick Colionne continues his blazing success into 2014. BET Jazz has described him as "one of the most exceptional performers to come along in a long time." His newest CD, "INFLUENCES" a musical journey of self re-discovery, offers a palate of moods and flavors born of life experiences, challenges, and the effect of the people past and present who have helped shape and mold his sound, and promises to give fans more of what they expect from the talented Colionne.