The North Arkansas Jazz Society and Walton Arts Center announce the 14th season of the KUAF Summer Jazz Concert Series at Walton Arts Center.

Tickets are available at www.waltonartscenter.org or 479-443-5600.

For more information: www.digjazz.com, or call 479-225-2306.

Walton Arts Center’s Starr Theater will be the home for this year’s three events. The 165-seat theater provides the ideal setting for an intimate jazz club experience.

 

Saturday, June 30, at 8 p.m.
in Starr Theater

The Aaron Goldberg Trio from NYC

Cabaret Table seats: $30 for non-NAJS members; $25 members

General Admission: $25 nonmembers; $20 members; $15 students

Aaron Goldberg is a pianist and composer performing at the vanguard of jazz music. His working band comprises two of the premier voices of his generation, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland. In addition to heading his trio, Aaron has spent the last 10 years touring with many of the most brilliant voices in jazz including Joshua Redman, Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter, and Madeleine Peyroux among others.

With an eye always tuned to his sociopolitical environment, he hopes his trio will have an increasing impact not limited to the jazz world. “Jazz, a language like any other, is open to Creole forms — indeed, like America it was born to mixed parents,” he says. Jazz attempts to prove that song is cross-cultural currency. All music is social, emerging out of a womb of trust, empathy, and a common goal. Our world is now many … may we learn also to be one.”

 

Saturday, July 28,
at 8 p.m. in Starr Theater

The Composer’s Showcase: The Compositions of Dr. James Greeson

Cabaret Table seats: $25 non-NAJS members; $20 members

General Admission: $20 nonmembers; $15 members; $10 students

This jazz variety show presents the stalwarts of the regional jazz scene performing original compositions of jazz guitarist and bassist James Greeson. Greeson is a professor of composition and music theory in the Department of Music at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Greeson’s compositions will be performed by a variety of regional ensembles from the Claudia Burson Trio to the 18 piece Fayetteville Jazz Collective. The Composer’s Showcase is a rare opportunity to witness the art of jazz composition and performance by our resident artists honoring Northwest Arkansas’ own jazz treasure, Dr. James Greeson. Musical director for this event is Ben Harris.

 

SATURDAY, Aug. 11,
8 p.m. in Starr Theater

Vic Juris, with James Greeson,
bass and Darren Novotny, drums. 

Cabaret Table seats: $30 non-NAJS members; $25 members

General Admission: $25 nonmembers; $20 members; $15 students

From the wilds of Manhattan to the shores of Japan, jazz guitarist Vic Juris has covered an impressive range of territory, musically as well as geographically. Inspired by rock and roll legend Chuck Berry, the Jersey City native first picked up a guitar at the age of 10.

Vic Juris is also one of the leading jazz educators throughout the world. He has written two books published by Mel Bay, “Vic Juris Inside/Outside: Original Play-Along Modern Jazz Guitar Solos” and “Modern Chords: Advanced Harmony for Guitar.” Both books are highly regarded by up-and-coming guitarists.

The North Arkansas Jazz Society was founded in 1993 in Fayetteville as a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to presenting, preserving, and promoting jazz music in all of its forms. The NAJS has been a community leader in presenting world class jazz in a variety of venues in
Northwest Arkansas.

Proceeds from the Summer Jazz Concert series help fund the NAJS scholarship program, which awards grants to high school and college students who wish to further their studies of jazz music.

For more information about becoming a member go to www.digjazz.com or call 479-225-2306. Membership fees are tax deductible plus members save up to $5 a ticket.