The Litchfield Jazz Festival and Kent Lions Club present the second annual “Afternoon of Music.” This year’s concert, “An Afternoon of Classics & Jazz,” celebrates the music of Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and others. Held at Kent School’s Mattison Auditorium on Saturday, February 6th from 4-6 PM, it features Kent’s own celebrated pianist Dolph Traymon, and professionals and outstanding young talents from Litchfield Jazz Camp. Organized as the Kent Lions Club’s winter fundraiser, the proceeds from the concert will benefit the Kent Lions charitable giving and support scholarships to one or more Kent students to attend Litchfield Jazz Camp this summer.
LISTEN TO AN INTERVIEW ON WHDD RADIO with pianist, Dolph Traymon, Kent Lions Club’s president, Mark Hamilton, and Litchfield Jazz Festival’s Lindsey Turner. Click here to listen now. Aired live January 27, 2010.
Following Dolph Traymon’s performance of classic jazz standards the Litchfield Jazz ensemble takes the stage. Band members, most of whom had their start at Litchfield Jazz Camp as youngsters, include Zaccai Curtis on piano, Andrew Lipow on guitar, Albert Rivera on tenor saxophone, Nick Roseboro on trumpet, Andrew Hadro on baritone saxophone, Zwe La-Pere on bass and Nicole Zuraitis on vocals. The awards they have garnered already include the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer’s Competition, the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism’s Artist Fellowship, DownBeat Awards and First Place at the NATS Vocal Competition. The two youngest members, Robin Baytas on drums and Dakota Austin on alto saxophone, are current Litchfield Jazz Camp students. At 17, Robin has been chosen among students across America to be a member of the 2010 GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles. Dakota had the honor of being the youngest person ever to appear on the Litchfield Jazz Festival Main Stage where he was invited to perform “Take Five,” with the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 2008 when he was just 12 years old.
Kent Lions Club has been serving the Kent community for 31 years. With over 50 members, the club consists of concerned individuals who enjoy raising money to donate to worthy causes in Kent. A partial list of Lion’s Club charitable giving includes the Kent Food Bank, Kent Veterans Memorial, Kent Social Services and two annual educational scholarships. Membership is open to the general public and the club meets at Bulls Bridge Inn on the third Wednesday of each month between September and June. All meetings are open to the public.
Litchfield Performing Arts, the non-profit parent organization of Litchfield Jazz Camp and Litchfield Jazz Festival, celebrates 29 seasons in 2010 — The Festival 15 years and The Camp 14 years. The Festival has been called “one of the best straight-ahead jazz festivals on the map,” (allaboutjazz.com) and “a model jazz line-up,” by the New York Times. The Camp, called “one of the premier jazz camps in the world,” annually awards over $90,000 in scholarships to students in financial need. Litchfield Jazz Festival and Camp made Kent School and the town of Kent their new home in 2009 and return in July and August, 2010.
“An Afternoon of Classics and Jazz,” includes intermission refreshments for all ticket holders – A Taste of Kent with food generously donated by Bull’s Bridge Inn, Doc’s Trattoria, Fife & Drum, Kent Coffee & Chocolate, Kent Pizza Garden, North End Trattoria and the Villager Restaurant. A $40 Patron Ticket includes seating in the first ten rows, acknowledgement in the program, a $5 discount to the After Party at the Fife, and a $20 donation to the Litchfield Jazz Camp Scholarship fund. A $20 Reserved Ticket includes seating in rows 10-20 and a $10 donation to the Jazz Camp Scholarship fund. General Admission tickets are $10.
Tickets will be on sale on Friday, January 8th at the Fife ‘n Drum, House of Books, Kent Memorial Library, Kent Wine & Sprits, Kent Coffee & Chocolate and the Villager Restaurant. In addition tickets are available immediately by check made payable to the Kent Lions Club, P.O. Box 298, Kent, CT 06754, or by calling Mark Hamilton at 860-672-1098. Ticket will also be available at the door.
Immediately after the concert, at 6:30 PM, concert goers are welcome to continue the party at the Fife ‘n Drum restaurant, 53 Main Street, Kent, CT, for a three course meal. A $30 pre-fix three course meal will be served by the Fife, called “tired and true,” by Connecticut Magazine. Call 860-927-3509 for reservations which are strongly suggested as space is limited.