Tag Archives: Art Porter

FingerPrints Band with Candy Williams play tonight as part of 2015 “A Work of Art” Jazz Week

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2015 awoa fingerprintsAfter two days of daytime performances, the 2015 “A Work of Art” Jazz Weeks shifts to evening today.  Tonight at 7pm and 9pm FingerPrints Band featuring Candy Williams will perform at Cajuns Wharf.

“A Work of Art” is the primary fundraiser for the Art Porter Music Education scholarship program. All proceeds from the week-long fundraiser benefit the scholarship fund. “A Work of Art” concludes in early August in observance of the birth month of Art Porter, Jr. Attendees enjoy a week of unique educational experiences by an impressive group of local artists, music students and national recording artists.

Ticket information is available at www.artporter.org.

Tonight at South on Main – the Local Live concert features Nan Maureen

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llsom nanTonight at 7:30 PM join the Oxford American magazine for this week’s Local Live concert at South on Main, featuring jazz singer Nan Maureen!

As always, Local Live is free and open to the public. To guarantee a table/seat for this popular series, call ahead at (501) 244-9660. Local Live is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Ben and Jane Hunt Meade.

Nan Maureen is a jazz vocalist who has been performing for many years in the Arkansas area, giving a special vocal touch to all the old jazz standards that everyone enjoys. She has recorded several albums and currently is the female vocalist for the Swing Band Reunion. She has been privileged to sing with the backing of many notable jazz musicians such as Art Porter and Charles Thomas and for this performance she will be joined by Bob Boyd on keys. To learn more about her go to www.nanmaureen.com.

Minors in Music play at River Market today at noon as part of A Work of Art Jazz Week 2015

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minors-in-musicToday at noon at the River Market, the Art Porter Music Education “Minors in Music” will perform a free concert. This is part of the annual “A Work of Art” Jazz Week.

Minors in Music is a music education program that benefits musically gifted Arkansas students. The name is a spin-off from The Minor Key, a television show produced by Art Porter Sr. on AETN that showcased talented Arkansans. Minors in Music continues that legacy by providing the same opportunities for aspiring music students.

Under the direction of Dr. Danny Fletcher, the program combines workshops, musical and educational relationships with professional musicians and educators with a community service component to create a customized training program. The program emphasizes that the key to using music as a community-building tool is to ignite an early appreciation for community engagement within young musicians and give them the tools they need to become leaders and innovators. Music is transformative because it benefits students educationally and socially and connects a total population universally!  Minors in Music educates, encourages and empowers young people!

APME has a unique opportunity and responsibility to inspire the next generation of musicians, whether as educators, performers or producers, to explore non-traditional opportunities, and create interactive ways to inspire communities and future generations. It’s been said that true talent is often like a treasured family heirloom. As it’s passed down, each recipient polishes it, refinishes it, and makes it his own. Minors in Music are APME’s treasured family heirlooms. Their skills will be polished and refinished into their particular style and passed on to the next talented generation.

Jazz in the Park tonight: Walter Henderson and Chris Parker

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jazzinparkThe Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau continues Jazz in the Park tonight. The featured musicians are Walter Henderson and Chris Parker.

Walter Henderson is a trumpeter, flugelhornist, puccolist and vocalist.  Originally from Little Rock, he has developed his many musical skills from artists such as John Stubblefield, James Leary, York Wilborn, Donald E. Kramer, Pharaoh Sanders, Art Porter and Sylvia M. Clay.

He served with the 60th U.S. Army Band and studied music at Little Rock University and at Governors State University, where he gained popularity with the GSU Jazz Sextet. The group toured Europe, the Far East, and was twice winner of the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival.

Most notably, he is a 1987 Musicfest USA National Finals Winner in Chicago. He has performed for the Richard Muhal Richard Big Band, was leader of the Chicago band Inner Drive and also led The Raconteurs. He has been an active member of the Rocking Robins Rhythm Kings, and has performed with Leslie Gore, Little Anthony, Frankie Avalon, Dick Clark, Lou Christie, Bobby Lewis, and Del Shannon. Upon different occasions, he has appeared with Redd Foxx, Richard Boone, The Four Tops, Captain Jack McDuff, Buddy Guy, Ken Booth, and Lord Lara. He was a principal in the Little Rock Brazilian jazz-pop band, Circo Verde.

Chris Parker was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He first learned from local Arkansas musicians, most notably: Charles Thomas, Art Porter, Sr., Bob Steele, Lee Tomboulian, and Michael Bates. Chris moved to Memphis, TN in 1991. There he received his BA degree from the University of Memphis and learned from/ studied with musicians including Gene Rush, James Williams, Herman Green, Fred Ford, Calvin Newborn, Bill Mobley, Alvin Fielder, Kidd Jordan, Joe Jennings, and Vernel Fournier.

Chris also spent several years in New York City where he learned from masters including: Benny Powell, Chris Anderson, Walter Perkins, Sonelius Smith, Barry Harris, George Braith, Warren Smith, and Bill Fielder.

Chris has performed/worked with: Harold Ousley, Benny Powell, Frank Lacy, Michael Marcus, Warren Smith, Andy McCloud, Roy Campbell, Jr., Wendell Harrison, Kiane Zawadi, Frank Lowe, Alvin Fielder, Joe Jennings, Earl May, Fred Ford, and Herman Green. Also informally with: Rashied Ali, George Braith, Frank Grant, Talib Kibwe, and Sonny Simmons.

Chris is also active in educational activities. He has worked as a teacher/artist with organizations including: Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp (New Orleans, LA), Mind Builders Arts School (Bronx, NY), Memphis Black Arts Alliance (Memphis, TN), Memphis Arts Council (Memphis, TN)

Jazz in the Park takes place Wednesday night in June and July from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. They will take place in the History Pavilion in Riverfront Park (between the Junction Bridge and Peabody Park).

Beer & Wine will be available for sale – to benefit Sculpture at the River Market…so no coolers, please. Free to attend!