Friday February 15 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Kicks Off

I am getting really stroked about this year's Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival and have previously did a preview of it which appeared on January 15 and which is linked here. For me the highlight will finally be seeing Gregory Porter performing backed by the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Orchestra directed by Paul Carr. As a taste of what we might expect here is a clip of him with a big band led by Jools Holland doing a Louis Jordan classic that has become a standard done by the likes of B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Clifton Chenier and others, Let the Good Times Roll. This has become my favorite rendition of this song and I am hopeful that this might be included in the repertoire he sings that night.

Gregory Porter will be interviewed by Miyuki Williams at 6:00PM and his performance with the Orchestra is scheduled at 8:30PM. He is also teaching a Vocal Master Class at 11:30AM on Saturday as part of the Festival. As much as I would love to attend the interview, it is at the same time time as a performance by Elijah Jamal Balbed, one of the Washington area's most acclaimed young saxophonists.   He recently had a wonderful show at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History perforing the pre-Miles Davis music of Wayne Shorter. Here is a video clip of Elijah performing Wayne Shorter's Neferiti.

I am also really looking forward to seeing the terrific pianist Orrin Evans performing with a group featuring saxophonist Tim Warfield, and Paul Carr leading a terrific group with organist Pat Bianchi, guitarist Bobby Broom and drummer Byron Landham.  Others performing include vocalist Chad Carter.

As my preview indicated, one new aspect of this year's festival with be the Juke Joint with some of the DC area's finest blues talent in the MAJF Juke Joint. This night, David Cole and Main Street Blues will be performing. David has been performing with some of the DC area's most celebrated blues and rhythm talent for some time. When not leading Main Street Blues with his fleet guitar and soulful singing he might be heard backing the local legend, Little Royal.  Here is a clip of David Cole and Main Street Blues doing the Roy Hawkins classic most know from B.B. King's monster remake, The Thrill Is Gone.

Anyway it promises to be some incredible music and hope to see some of you there. It takes place at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. For more information visit http://www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org.