Dallas Museum of Art’s Jazz Under the Stars debuts Thursday, May 22

by PegNews wire

Opening the series will be David "Fathead" Newman, a longtime soloist for the original Ray Charles Band.

The Dallas Museum of Art announces a hot new lineup for the 25th annual series of free outdoor concerts – Chase Presents Jazz Under the Stars. The 2008 series hosts a diverse schedule of performances from Dixieland and swing to mainstream jazz.

The free concerts begin Thursday, May 22, continuing on consecutive Thursdays through June 26 on the Museum’s Ross Avenue Plaza. The music gets underway at 8 p.m., and the schedule for this year is:

May 22: David “Fathead” Newman

Legendary Texas tenor David “Fathead” Newman kicks off a star-studded 2008 season of Jazz Under the Stars. A longtime soloist for the original Ray Charles Band, Newman has also performed with such legendary artists as Herbie Mann, Aretha Franklin, and Aaron Neville.

May 29: Trella Hart Sings Cole Porter

Trella Hart, one of Dallas’s finest song stylists, sings the music of Cole Porter inspired by the upcoming exhibition Making It New: The Art and Style of Sara and Gerald Murphy.

June 5: The Texas Gypsies

The Dallas-based Texas Gypsies combine the Parisian cafe sound of “Le Jazz Hot” with the energy and attitude of Texas swing.

June 12: The Jon Topy Dixieland Ensemble

Legendary Louisville trombone player Jon Topy presents Chicago-style jazz of the 1920s and 30s.

June 19: Daybreak Express: The Music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn

Dave Zoller and Shelley Carrol co-lead this six-piece ensemble featuring the music of legends Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

June 26: Vicho Vicencio and the New Casino Band featuring Nancy Fisher

Chilean-born saxophonist Vicho Vicencio leads an all-star lineup presenting Brazilian and Afro-Cuban jazz.

The extremely popular concerts attract as many as 7,000 listeners to the Dallas Arts District each Thursday night, and this is the twelfth year Chase has sponsored the jazz series.

Source: Dallas Museum of Art