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DAY 1: Third Annual Emerging Artist Festival
November 20, 2020 @ 7:30 pm
TICKETS
Samara Joy McLendon, vocals
Friday, November 20, 2020
Vocalist Samara Joy won the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Contest in 2019. The 21-year-old singer has performed in many of New York’s prestigious jazz venues including Dizzy’s, The Blue Note, and Mezzrow accompanied by jazz luminaries such as Christian McBride, Jon Faddis, Kirk Lightsey, Cyrus Chestnut, and NEA Jazz Master Dr. Barry Harris.
Italian guitarist Pasquale Grasso has been lauded by Pat Metheny as “one of the best guitarists I’ve ever heard.” He was mentored by the legendary bebop pianist/educator Barry Harris, serving as his teaching assistant for the last ten years in workshops in Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Holland, and Slovenia. As a Jazz Ambassador for the US Embassy, Grasso toured Europe, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Grasso has performed with Charles Davis, Freddie Redd, Frank Wess, Leroy Williams, Ray Drummond, Steve Grossman, Tardo Hammer, Jimmy Wormworth, John Mosca, Chris Byars, Pizzarelli, Harry Allen Quartet, Grant Stewart and many others.
7:30 pm Pre-Concert Feature: Short Videos from High Schools & Colleges
- Keene State College – Steve Cady, Director: Medley: 500 Miles High/Up a Lazy River/Scrapple from the Apple
- Amherst College Combo –David Picchi and Carl Clements, Director: Nothing Personal (Don Grolnick)
- Vermont Jazz Center Youth Jazz Ensemble – Eugene Uman and Michael McKinney, Director: The Stalking of Darkness (Uman)
- Northfield, Mt. Hermon Honors Trio, Ron Smith, Director: Bags Groove – Milt Jackson/Spain – Chick Corea
8:00 pm Concert: Pasquale Grasso Trio feat. Samara Joy
Opening Video: Shania Smith, Dartmouth College: Where is the Love – Black Eyed Peas (arr. Shania Smith)
Pasquale Grasso Trio: Pasquale Grasso (guitar), Neal Miner (bass), Keith Balla (drums)
Featured Artist: Samara Joy – Winner of the 2019 Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition with Pasquale Grasso Trio
Pasquale Grasso: “One of the best guitarists I’ve ever heard” - Pat Metheny
—Samara Joy McLendon: "An immensely talented 20-year-old who took first place on Nov. 24 at the 8th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition" - Downbeat Magazine
