2016 Jazz Heritage Series Announced

Published Aug. 26, 2016
By Chief Master Sgt. Bob Kamholz

Washington, D.C. -- The Airmen of Note's Jazz Heritage Series, presented by The United States Air Force Band, provides a wonderful opportunity for the public to experience the U.S Air Force's high level of professionalism through concerts featuring masters of the only American-born art form--jazz.

This year's concert series includes critically-acclaimed trombonist Steve Turre on Friday, Sept. 30, legendary pianist Cyrus Chestnut on Friday, Oct. 21 and GRAMMY award winning trumpeter Terell Stafford on Friday, Nov. 11. All concerts take place at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center in Alexandria, VA. Each free performance begins at 8 p.m. and is open to the general public. The events are not ticketed.

One of the world's preeminent jazz innovators, trombonist and seashellist Steve Turre, has consistently won both the Readers' and Critics' polls in JazzTimes, Downbeat and Jazziz for Best Trombone and for Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist (shells). Turre was born to Mexican-American parents and grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, where he absorbed daily doses of mariachi, blues and jazz. While attending Sacramento State University, he joined the Escovedo Brothers salsa band, which began his career-long involvement in that genre.

In addition to performing as a member of the Saturday Night Live Band since 1984, Turre leads several different ensembles. When it comes to his distinct brand of jazz, he always keeps one foot in the past and one in the future.

Soulful jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut might just be proof positive of the impact that music has on babies in the womb. Either that, or a life in music was simply in his blood. Chestnut's father, a postal employee and son of a church minister, was the official organist for their local church in Baltimore, Maryland. His home was filled with the sounds of the gospel music his church-going parents played in their home, along with jazz records by artists such as Thelonius Monk and Jimmy Smith. Chestnut has said that the roots of his love of music began there; and, to this day, Chestnut's ties to the gospel church remain constant.

Chestnut continually tours with his trio, playing live at jazz festivals around the world as well as clubs and concert halls. His leadership and prowess as a soloist has also led him to be a first call for the piano chair in many big bands including the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band.

Terell Stafford, an acclaimed trumpet player based in New York, has been hailed as "one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player" by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Stafford is recognized as an incredibly gifted and versatile player, he combines a deep love of melody with his own brand of spirited and adventurous lyricism. Stafford's exceptionally expressive and well defined musical talent allows him to dance in and around the rich trumpet tradition of his predecessors while making his own inroads.

Stafford was born in Miami and raised in Chicago and Silver Spring, Maryland. Currently, he is the Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University, founder and band leader of the Terell Stafford Quintet, and Managing and Artistic Director of the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia. Stafford is renowned in the jazz world as an educator, performer and leader along with countless award nominations, accolades and associated acts.

The Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the U.S. Air Force, regularly performs and records with the leading artists in the jazz world. In 1990, the Note started its popular Jazz Heritage Series. These concerts featured internationally acclaimed jazz musicians joining forces with one of the best big bands in America--the Airmen of Note.

Terrell Stafford