The 15th Season of the Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Concert Series at Penn’s Landing celebrates women in music with an illustrious all female lineup that will leave you awestruck and enthralled. An evening summer breeze, the sultry sounds of horns, smooth vocals, and heart pounding percussions will certainly give credence to the Smooth Jazz Summer Night Concert Series being a summertime must-do event.
This season’s power-packed lineup of female artist will grace the RiverStage on the Delaware River Waterfront every Friday night in August beginning at 7:30 pm. This Friday night concert series is absolutely FREE and will be followed by followed by landside fireworks at every Friday night at 9:15pm. Smooth Jazz Summer Nights is sponsored in part by WDAS-FM, along with CW Philly 57 and CBS 3.
Maysa will highlight the 15th season of Smooth Jazz Summer Nights on Friday, August 3rd. Maysa’s extensive discography includes “Metamorphasis” (2008) and “A Woman in Love” (2010) both of which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Album Charts during the same year they were released. Maysa’s current CD on the Shanachie label, titled “Motions in Love,” marks her 21st year in the music business. Maysa has performed with Stevie Wonder as part of his backing group Wonderlove as well as on the Oprah Winfrey Show and The Tonight Show.
Philly’s very own Carol Riddick will heat-up the waterfront with her sultry, sensual vocals and mesmerizing performance on Friday, August 3rd. This South Philadelphia native has lent her distinct vocals on records by Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff, Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott, and Musiq Soulchild, and this performance will be Carol’s time to shine in the spotlight as a featured solo artist.
On Friday, August 10th, prepare yourself for the hip and grooving sounds of trumpet player and winner of two Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards, Cindy Bradley. After earning a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Ithaca College, and attending the New England Conservatory, Cindy immediately headed to New York and immersed herself in the pulsating jazz scene and realized her passion for straight ahead be-bop, contemporary jazz, funk, and jazz fusion all of which influence her unique sound. Unscripted is the title of Cindy’s current CD and second release.
The celebration of women in music on Friday, August 17th features Multi-Grammy nominated artist Patrice Rushen who is a true musical trailblazer as the first woman to serve as Musical Director for the 46th, 47th & 48th Annual Grammy Awards; the first woman in 43 years to serve as Head Composer/Musical Director for the Emmy Awards; and the first woman Musical Director of the NAACP Image Awards for 12 consecutive years. In addition to her success as a recording artist and musical director, Rushen is also an accomplished composer who has provided musical scores for Emmy-nominated television programs and feature films and she has written an award-winning symphony. As one of the music industry’s most versatile and sought after artists, Rushen has performed with Philharmonic Orchestras and has produced for such esteemed artists as Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Prince, Carlos Santana, Boys II Men, Tom Jones, Nancy Wilson, and Michael Jackson. Rushen also works with NARAS “Grammy In The Schools” and other organizations dedicated to establishing music education and mentorship programs for inner-city youth. Patrice Rushen will perform with Ndugu Chancler as 1+One during this Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Concert Series on August 17th.
Ndugu Chancler is well-known as a world-class drummer, percussionist, producer, composer, music clinician, teacher, and a three-time Grammy nominee who has performed and recorded with Miles Davis, George Duke, Tina Turner, Frank Sinatra, Weather Report, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Thelonious Monk, and John Lee Hooker. Chancler was the drummer on the biggest selling pop album by Michael Jackson, Thriller, and provided the beat on “Billie Jean.”
Four-time Grammy nominated recording artist Oleta Adams will perform as part of the Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Concert Series on Friday, August 24th. Oleta’s melodic vocal style draws upon her church roots and intertwines R&B, soul, and adult contemporary pop music with a graceful ease. Oleta Adams has sold nearly three million records and has toured internationally with Tears for Fears, Phil Collins, Michael Bolton, and Luther Vandross. She has also recorded duets with Al Jarreau, David Sanborn, and gospel great Shirley Ceasar to name a few. Oleta’s music has been featured in commercials and Hollywood movies such as Sleeping With the Enemy and How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Ms. Adams’ 1990 debut platinum-selling album Circle of One included the heartfelt and timeless hit single “Get Here” which would go on to become the unofficial anthem of the 1991 Gulf War. Her current CD titled Let’s Stay Here is her ninth release.
Sheila Escovedo, a.k.a. Sheila E., will turn up the heat on the waterfront RiverStage with her explosive percussion performance on the Friday, August 31st finale of the series. Sheila E., the daughter of percussionist Pete Escovedo and the goddaughter of the late Tito Puente, has collaborated and performed with industry giants such as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Billy Cobham, Cecilia Cruz, Miles Davis, Gloria Estefan, Patti Labelle, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, and Ringo Starr. Some of Shelia’s most notable works were with Prince, including the ’80s classics The Glamorous Life and A Love Bizarre. Sheila further expanded her musical talents as a writer and musician while performing with Prince on many of his recordings and was the musical director for his band, New Power Generation. This year, Sheila collaborated with Hans Zimmer on music for the upcoming film Madagascar 3 and the music production for the 2012 Academy Awards show.
WDAS FM, CBS 3, and the CW Philly are proud media partners for this series. Their on-air personalities will introduce performers and have promotional giveaways. (KYW-TV) and The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) are part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation. WDAS FM is part of Clear Channel Worldwide the largest independent radio group with six stations in Philadelphia – WDAS FM, Power 99 FM (WUSL), Q-102 (WIOQ), My106.1 (WISX), WDAS AM and Radio 1045 (WRFF). Public Programming at Penn’s Landing would not be possible without the continued support of corporate partners such as PECO, Verizon, Pennsylvania Lottery, Coca-Cola Refreshments of Philadelphia, and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, all of whom are committed to serving the Greater Philadelphia community.
The 2012 Summer Program of Free Events at Penn’s Landing is funded and produced by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC). All events produced by DRWC are FREE to the public on the RiverStage on the Great Plaza, the heart of Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia’s premier Delaware River waterfront entertainment destination. The DRWC is a nonprofit corporation created in January 2009, exclusively for the benefit of the City of Philadelphia and its citizens. The fundamental purpose of DRWC is to design, develop, and manage the central Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia. DRWC is transforming the waterfront into a vibrant destination location for recreational, cultural, and commercial activities for the residents and visitors of Philadelphia. For more information and event details, please call (215) 922-2FUN or visit http://www.delawareriverevents.com . This website is a virtual resource for the waterfront which can help visitors plan to easily park, play and stay all day at Penn’s Landing.
Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Blvd at Chestnut St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
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