A few months ago, I wrote about the Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz returning this year.
Now, I’m excited to write about some of the entertainment slated for June 6-8 in Downtown Wilkes-Barre.
The headliner is Endea Owens, who is known as one of jazz’s most vibrant emerging artists. She’s a recording artist, bassist and composer, also known as part of “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert house band, Stay Human.
A graduate of The Juilliard School, she has won an Emmy, a Grammy and a George Foster Peabody Award, and her work has appeared on Jon Batiste’s Grammy-winning album “We Are,” in the Oscar-nominated film “Judas and the Black Messiah,” and as part of H.E.R.’s Super Bowl LV performance.
Wow. She’s been busy.
And now, we’re so thrilled she’ll bring her band, Endea Owens and the Cookout, to the F.M. Kirby Center on Saturday, June 7.
Tickets and more information are available at wilkesbarrecavalcadeofjazz.org.
Also, that Friday night, June 6, another impressive jazz performer will take the stage at The River Street Jazz Café.
Cindy Bradley was signed to the Trippin’ N’ Rhythm record label in 2009 and, since then, has been a powerful presence on radio and the contemporary jazz festival circuit. She has performed all over, from the Seabreeze Jazz Festival to the Dubai Jazz Fest.
A graduate of Ithaca College, she studied at the New England Conservatory and was influenced by jazz greats John McNeil, Bob Brookmeyer, Jerry Bergonzi, George Russell and Steve Lacy.
Like Endea, she has quite a background, and we’re sure her sounds will delight jazz music lovers locally.
While these are two ticketed performances, others shows such as the Cavalcade’s opening ceremony at 5 p.m. Friday, June 6 at the F.M. Kirby Center, are open to anyone. So, too, is the Friday Night Jazz Walk at various downtown restaurants.
On Saturday, June 7, Jazz and Java at Abide Coffeehouse is free to attend at 10 a.m., as is a 2:30 p.m. concert with the Joe Michaels Trio at Circle Centre for the Arts that day.
I encourage everyone to visit the website at wilkesbarrecavalcadeofjazz.org to see which performances fit your fancy.
As for me, I’m looking forward to the whole weekend – to hearing the music, seeing the people, feeling a bustling downtown and taking it all in.
Remember, the Cavalcade is of historical significance because Wilkes-Barre is considered home to the first jazz festival in the country, thanks to a 1951 festival with eight bands at two downtown hotels.
You’ve got to love a little history, along with a good time.
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