– CAN’T MISS ARTISTS AT JAS JUNE –
2025 SCHEDULE
This is an impossible task as it’s inevitable that most attendees WILL MISS some “can’t miss” shows for the simple reason that you will be caught in a mesmerizing show that you cannot tear yourself away from… hence missing that artist you were determined to see & hear. But to help you navigate this weekend, I’m organizing my list according to your tastes & preferences.
Here we go:
If rockin’ Blues is your thing, we’ve got (2) young, generational talents: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, born & raised in Clarksdale, MS., in the Delta, is the new, defining Blues Guitarist/Vocalist voice of his generation. Period. Samantha Fish is turning heads across the globe with her blistering guitar fretwork & vocals, and, her soulful story-telling.
If powerhouse, soulful vocalists lift your spirits to new heights, you can’t do better than Morgan James, whose blistering, soulful jazz will grab your heart, and Shayna Steele, whose R ‘n B driven sound will force you to your feet.
If you dig sublime, acoustic jazz, you cannot miss our tributes to Guitarist Russell Malone and piano legend Oscar Peterson, with our longtime JAS Academy Artistic Dir., the multi-Grammy winning bassist Christian McBride, along with pianists Benny Green & Dan Paterson. A hidden gem to savor in the intimate confines of the Wheeler Vault, is the superb vocalist Calabria Foti, whose voice is even more gorgeous than her name!
In the “Artists beyond category” category, even in a festival where artists routinely embrace different genres of music, these (3) Artists will generate big buzz: Tank & The Bangas blend of Poetry, Gospel, R ‘n B & Pop is a high energy show that has dazzled audiences world-wide from Glastonbury to Coachella. The hidden gem is Japanese trumpeter Takuya Kuroda, whose blends soulful jazz, funk, post-bop, fusion and yes hip-hop into a musical mélange unlike anything the author has ever heard. Parlor Greens: Fantastic “Organ Trio” blending blistering soul-jazz and deep funk. Sitting is impossible with this band.
If world music and Afro-Beat moves you, make sure to check out both Olatuja & Salin.
If mesmerizing guitarist/vocalists move you to tears, prepare to weep at the nearby shows of the brilliant and hypnotic artists Raul Midon & Alex Cuba.
My last suggestion is the following: IF at any point during the evening if you look down at the floor where you are sitting and your feet are NOT moving in time with the music, you are probably suffering from a strange condition and should call your doctor immediately!
With apologies to the handful of Artists whom I did not highlight here, you really cannot go wrong at the June JAS Experience 2025. Have a blast!
Jim Horowitz
Founder
Pres. & CEO