Carmel Jazz Fest organizers continue to add big names and fresh sounds to the already explosive lineup of music for the inaugural event on Aug. 11 and 12.
The festival will feature more than 30 acts – including some of the best bands in the business, headlined by Spyro Gyra and featuring nationally celebrated talents such as Evelyn “Champagne” King, Dave Bennett Quartet, Freddie Fox, and Tim Cunningham.
Now you can add two more: The Danny Lerman Band and Michael Whitaker and The Bottom 40.
Festival passes will grant attendees access to multiple performances occurring at indoor and outdoor venues throughout Carmel – including Carmel Gazebo, the lawn at Carter Green, Midtown Plaza, The Tarkington Theater and Studio Theater.
Carmel Jazz Festival’s mission is to celebrate Indiana’s rich jazz music history, highlight national and international jazz, R&B and blues musicians and spotlight and educate emerging, upcoming artists.
Festival passes are on sale now. Friday pass: $29; Saturday pass: $39; Two-day pass: $54. You can add on Spyro Gyro tickets for their show at the Palladium starting at $25. Visit carmeljazzfest.org/tickets to order. You can also purchase add-on experiences at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael on Aug. 11 and 12. Click here to order.
Kids aged 12 and under are free. Carmel Jazz Fest is a family-friendly event and will include face painters and balloon sculptures.
Here are two more reasons to get your tickets today:
The Danny Lerman Band
Performing Friday night, Aug. 11, at the Gazebo Stage the Danny Lerman Band, step into the world of contemporary jazz with saxophonist, composer, and singer Danny Lerman.
Lerman’s CD Night Rider, released on Blujazz, has received international play from Australia and Indonesia to Canada and across the U.S. His just released single, “I Miss You” (Sax Version), is out now and being heard across the country.
Lerman is a riveting saxophonist and composer. He has studied with Junior Walker’s legendary teacher Charlie Atkins and at the University of North Texas music school and the Berklee School of Music as well as with Peter Ballin.
Lerman’s albums, including Danny’s Island/Chartmaker Jazz, Meow Baby/Lightyear/EMI, Do You Feel/Steel Warehouse, and World Jam/Steel Warehouse, earned stunning reviews, opening the door to international airplay, festivals and concerts in Finland, Venezuela, South Africa, Indonesia, The Netherlands, Turkey, Hong Kong, Mexico, Israel, and the U.S. Lerman has recorded/performed with Howard Hewett, CeCe Peniston, Danny Boy, Bobby Lyle, Norman Connors, Peabo Bryson, Kevin Mahogany, and Onder Focan, and recorded with Randy Brecker, Dave Valentin, and Hubert Laws. His compositions have been featured in movie soundtracks, Wedding Bell Blues, and Kill Me Later as well as commercials for JD Powers. Check out Danny’s original music and his new Album Night Rider on Blujazz on all online outlets.
Learn more about Danny Lerman and sample some of his hits here.
The Bottom 40
The Bottom 40, featuring Michael Whitaker, comes to Carmel from Nashville, Tenn., and is set to play the Gazebo Stage at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12. The Bottom 40 is a high-energy funk, jazz fusion band featuring some of Nashville’s finest musicians. The Bottom 40 reimagines and “funkifies” familiar covers. If you like Dirty Loops or Snarky Puppy or even bands like Earth Wind and Fire you will enjoy this experience!
Michael Whittaker is a unique hybrid of his diverse upbringing. Growing up in Los Angeles, he listened to a diverse culture of music. He began studying jazz and classical piano at a young age. By his early 20s, he had already begun to mold his own identifiable sound and was one of Los Angeles’ most sought-after sidemen.
After attending UCLA’s school of music and majoring in film scoring, Whitaker has used his classical training and knowledge of orchestration to compose more than 300 television episodes and TV movies including the popular Power Rangers. Currently, he is independently scoring and producing for companies like Disney, Sony, NBC and Lions Gate Films. In 2011 his theme was chosen as the main theme of the new Disney Family Movies channel. His orchestration and keyboard skills have won him many awards such as the Telly award for his score to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, Bank of America Musical Achievement award, International Association of Jazz Educators player excellence award, and the Clarence Brown Memorial scholarship for jazz.
Learn more about The Bottom 40 here.
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To learn more about Carmel Jazz Fest, visit carmeljazzfest.org or follow along on Facebook.