JAS Café Summer Series to Include Six Nights of Performances Rooftop at the Aspen Art Museum
and a Special Night at the Hotel Jerome Ballroom
Tickets On-Sale Now
Aspen, CO, April 10, 2024 – Jazz Aspen Snowmass has announced the 2024 Summer Café Series featuring six diverse performances Rooftop at the Aspen Art Museum and an exciting night of music showcasing the JAS Academy Afro-Caribbean Big Band students with special guests at the Hotel Jerome Ballroom. Tickets for the series can be purchased here.
The series kicks-off on Friday, July 12 with one of JAS’ favorite artists, Grammy winning R&B/Soul artist Jamison Ross, whose music emanates from the intersection of R&B, Gospel, and Blues supported by modern production and contemporary Soul. Smokey voiced singer/songwriter and virtuoso contemporary jazz pianist Jarrod Lawson, making his JAS debut, will perform with his quartet on Saturday, July 13. Bria Skonberg, who the Wall Street Journal stated, “plays trumpet like a red hot devil and sings like a dream,” will be joined by fellow trumpeter & vocalist Benny Benack, III and her quartet for shows on Sunday, July 14. Expect a swinging, jazzy and joyous celebration from two rising stars who channel Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong’s legendary musical partnership
On Saturday, August 10 JAS will present a celebration of calypso and reggae at the Hotel Jerome Ballroom. Vocalist Rene Marie will join the twenty students selected for the JAS Academy Afro-Caribbean Big Band program for a musical celebration of the Caribbean-born legendary vocalist, Harry Belafonte. Led by Trinadad born composer and trumpeter Etienne Charles, this joyous night of music will transport attendees from the Hotel Jerome Ballroom straight to the Islands. Sharing the bill on Aug. 10 will be Jamaican born virtuoso pianist Monty Alexander with his high energy musical tribute to Reggae legends like Bob Marley, the Harlem-Kingston Express. Backed by the full JAS Academy Afro-Caribbean Big Band this performance is guaranteed to bring audiences to their happy feet!
The new vocal supergroup and 2024 Grammy winners Saje, hailed by Urban Music Scene as “one of the finest vocal tandems you will ever hear,” will perform at the Aspen Art Museum on Friday, August 16. Award-winning blues, soul and Americana singer, Shemekia Copeland, daughter of the legendary Chicago bluesman Jonny Copeland, brings her belting blues and sizzling band to perform on August 17. The series closes on Sunday, August 18 with a group of all-star contemporary jazz musicians, The Lao Tizer Trio and special guests Eric Marienthal on sax, Elliot Yamin (a previous American Idol finalist) on vocals and Karen Briggs on violin.
All Aspen Art Museum performances will take place at 6:30pm ($75) and 8:45pm ($55) each night. The Rene Marie/JAS Academy/Monty Alexader show at the Hotel Jerome will start at 7:30pm ($75/reserved seats $45/Gen. Adm/SRO).
Learn more about the series and artists by visiting us here.