The Kemah Boardwalk Jazz Fest will be Sept. 17 -19 on the Kemah Boardwalk, 215 Kipp Ave., Kemah, the University of Houston-Downtown co-sponsors the annual event that features local jazz musicians as well as musicians of note come from throughout the country.
The festival was started 13 years ago by UHD jazz-artist-in-residence Robert Wilson and Houston Professional Musicians Association (HPMA) Local 65-699 to show case local talent and has grown into a nationally-known jazz festival.
Other sponsors of the three-day events are the Kemah Boardwalk and the HPMA.
The Jazz Fest is dedicated this year to the memory of saxophonist Tony Campise, 67, a Houston native, who died last March. Campise toured many years with the Stan Kenton Orchestra and backed music greats Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan before settling into the Austin music scene.
UHD President Bill Flores will be on hand at 7 p.m. Saturday to present the annual Jazz Achievement Award.
“The Jazz Fest has become such a tradition thanks the hard work of Robert Wilson and the Houston Professional Musicians Association that it wouldn’t be fall in Houston, certainly not fall on the Kemah Boardwalk, without it,” Flores said. “Houston has a thriving music scene and UHD is delighted to support it.”
Wilson, a University of Houston-Downtown Arts and Humanities faculty member and director of UHD’s civic music program, served on the Texas Commission for the Arts for two terms and was nominated for the 2005 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master’s Fellowship – America’s highest jazz award. He joined UHD in 1991.
UHD’s Civic Jazz Orchestra is made up of professionals in the community. Young Sounds of Houston consists of talented high school musicians. The younger group was developed through the Civic Jazz Orchestra to create a high-quality jazz group featuring students from across the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. Young Sounds is also supported by HPMA Local 65-699 and is endorsed by the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada.
Students in the jazz orchestra benefit from intensive rehearsals and clinics. Many students continue their education at prestigious schools of music including the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and the Juilliard School in New York City.
Friday, Sept. 17
7 – 7:50 p.m. John Patrick Quintet
8:15 – 9:15 p.m. HPMA featuring Dennis Dotson
9:35 – 10-15 p.m. Carol Morgan Quintet
10:30 – 11:20 p.m. Solar Wind featuring Keith Vivens
Saturday, Sept. 18
1:05 – 1:55 p.m. Martha Frazier Quartet
2:10 – 3 p.m. Joel Fulgham and Monstrosity
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. UHD with Carol Morgan and Sharyl Cassity
4:50 – 5:45 p.m. Woody Witt Quartet
6:05 – 6:55 p.m. Julie Wilson and Alegria
7 – 7:25 Jazz p.m. Achievement Award
7:30 – 8:15 p.m. Chris Cortez Quartet
8:25 – 9:15 p.m. Sam Dinkins III featuring NBS Horns
Sunday, Sept. 19
1 – 1:50 p.m. Dan Karp
2:05 – 2:55 p.m. Young Sounds of Houston Jazz Orchestra
3:10 – 4 p.m. Bob Henshen
4:20 – 5:10 p.m. Kyle Turner
5:30 – 6:20 p.m. Latin Jazz Guitarist Mark Town
6:45 – 7:35 p.m. Althea Renee
