The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) invites you to join us for Jazz at the Kramer! A music series in partnership with Paul Carr’s Jazz Academy of Music presenting a free evening of jazz at the Betty Mae Kramer Gallery & Music Room on the second Wednesday of every month.
Admission is FREE but advanced registration is required due to limited capacity. Kindly be aware that reservations are limited to 2 tickets per person. For group reservations, feel free to contact us directly at publicart@creativemoco.com.
** Please Note: Outside food and beverages are not permitted in the gallery with the exception of water.
Second Wednesdays: Jazz at the Kramer featuring Vocalist Lavenia Nesmith and Pianist Allyn Johnson
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Second Wednesdays: Jazz at the Kramer featuring Bhagwan Khalsa on Bass + Eric Byrd on Piano and Chris Latona on Piano + Andrew Latona on Guitar.
Jazz at the Kramer
Event Listing
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
6 p.m. at the Betty Mae Kramer Gallery and Music Room
Join us for a night of jazz featuring U.S. Army Blues members: vocalist Melinda Rose and saxophonist Dan Andrews! Click here to RSVP!
September Musicians
Melinda Rose
Melinda Rose Rodriguez discovered her passion for music at a remarkably young age. Her early journey began with the vibrant world of pop music, however, her musical exploration took a significant turn during middle school when she was introduced to the classical repertoire. Melinda pursued classical training diligently yet, despite her technical prowess, she found that neither popular nor classical music truly resonated with her.
By serendipity, Melinda encountered the captivating sounds of the 1940s and 1950s, leading her to a profound admiration for modern jazz. Influenced by the legendary works of Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, and Betty Carter, she immersed herself in these genres, shaping her unique artistic voice.
Throughout high school, Melinda distinguished herself through various competitions and music programs. Upon graduating high school, Melinda was accepted into seven prestigious jazz vocal performance programs and proudly completed her undergraduate studies in Jazz Voice, Music Education and Jazz Bass at Florida International University under the direction of Dr. Lisanne Lyons.
Melinda’s musical journey has taken her to international stages, from Bermuda, Japan and Puerto Rico where she has performed at various festivals and collaborated with esteemed artists such as Michael Feinstein, Cyrille Aimee, and Jane Monheit. She has also worked extensively with jazz greats like Kevin Mahogany. Melinda has graced stages at renowned jazz festivals, including the Benny Golson Jazz Festival, the Litchfield Jazz Festival, The Rochester Jazz Festival and the Miami Downtown Jazz Festival. Currently, she contributes her expertise as a vocal instructor at The Litchfield Jazz Summer Camp, which precedes the festival each year. In early 2019, she won first place in the International Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition held in Washington, D.C., and made her debut with the legendary Count Basie Big Band.
From 2018 to 2020, Melinda served as a teaching artist at The University of Illinois, Millikin University, and Illinois Wesleyan University and during this period, she performed at iconic venues such as Birdland Jazz Club in New York City and Andy’s Jazz Club in Chicago. She was also awarded the Ben Tucker Jazz Award and the Johnny Mercer Award at the American Traditions Vocal Competition in Savannah, GA. Melinda recently appeared as a contestant on Season 17 of NBC’s “The Voice,” where she worked closely with Kelly Clarkson.
Emerging from the post-COVID landscape, Melinda earned the People’s Choice Award at the 2022 American Traditions Vocal Competition and debuted with The Asheville Symphony Orchestra in April 2022. As of 2023, she has made history as the first ever commercial vocalist of the US Army Blues Big Band in Washington, D.C. In June 2023, Melinda released her debut album, I’m On My Way, featuring both original compositions and classic repertoire. The album, which premiered in July 2024, has garnered widespread acclaim.
Visit Melinda’s Website: https://www.melindarosemusic.com/
Follow Melinda on Social Media: Instagram
Dan Andrews
Dan Andrews is an accomplished saxophonist and composer of all genres. He began his career as a classical pianist and saxophonist. In high school, Andrews placed in several concerto competitions and was awarded 1st chair alto saxophone in Bands of America’s Honor Band before deciding to switch his focus to jazz. Coming out of high school, Andrews won the saxophone spot in the inaugural Stamps Quintet of University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. The Stamps Quintet was the school’s premier ensemble and its members received a full scholarship to the school along with many special opportunities. Through the Stamps program, Andrews won an outstanding soloist award at the Monterey jazz festival, was a part of several downbeat awards, and performed with guest artists such as Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Matt Wilson, Carl Allen, and Gary Burton. Andrews played in many pop, jazz, funk, and rock bands after graduating and also put a large portion of his time into teaching private students and directing student ensembles before joining the Army Blues.
Visit the U.S. Army Band’s Website: https://usarmyband.com/ | Check out Dan’s profile HERE
Follow the U.S. Army Band on Social Media: Instagram