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| Summer ends on a smooth note For most people, Labor Day weekend marks the end of the summer. This is usually the last weekend to fire up the grill or the last chance for an out-of-town road trip. This year, Augustans will have a chance to try something different and make their way downtown as Garden City Jazz presents Uncommon Jazz. On Sunday, Sept. 5, Uncommon Jazz, a classical jazz festival, will be held in downtown Augusta in the Augusta Common. Gates open at 5 p.m., with the music and festivities starting at 6 p.m. The festival's goal is to celebrate music and the jazz scene of the Augusta area. This year's festival will be headlined by world-renowned artist Niki Haris. Her latest album, "I'm Glad This Is You, " was a collaboration with trombonist and Waynesboro, Ga.-native Wycliffe Gordon. Haris is best known for being a backup dancer and singer for Madonna during the Drowned world tours. Not Gaddy & the Jazz Savants will also perform and feature South Carolina's jazz ambassador Skipp Pearson, as well as Augusta native and Guggenheim staffer Ed Fuqua. For Fuqua, playing music in Augusta isn't new to him since his roots in the CSRA trace back to high school where he played at Westside. "I've been back a few times over the last few years and so I have maintained some close ties with musicians in the area, " he said, adding that Not Gaddy is also the owner of IDRUM2U Music School. Loot Smalls & the Groove will also be featured at the Uncommon Jazz Festival. They are a jam band comprised of active-duty service members stationed at Fort Gordon. In addition, musician Joel Cruz will lead a group of very talented high school and college students in a group known as Augusta's Young Lions. As an educational component to the festival, Not Gaddy will also have a free panel discussion at 4 p.m., held in the Common conference room. The panel discussion is about jazz education and is free to the public, but will close when the room reaches capacity. "We're excited to present a program of top-notch and varied performances." Karen Gordon, president of Garden City Jazz, said in a press release. "All performers in this festival grew up, attended school in Augusta, retired here or are considering relocation to this area." write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Jazz News :: home page |