Join us at 6PM at the Jazz Showcase for a panel discussion with cornetist Ben LaMar Gay, trumpeters Kimberly Branch and Bobby Lewis, and trombonist Russ Phillips to discuss Louis Armstrong’s impact on jazz and his enduring legacy.
This will be followed by an 8PM concert presented by WDCB radio 90.9 FM of traditional jazz in the spirit of Louis Armstrong led by Bobby Lewis and Russ Phillips .
This is free and open to the public!
6PM Panel Discussion
8PM Concert
Bobby Lewis
Trumpet - Flugelhorn Instrumentalist, Vocalist, Composer, Arranger, Leader, Teacher
Bobby Lewis is one of country’s top top recording studio musician He’s performed on more than 7500 sessions including with artists ARAMSEY LEWIS; CURTIS MAYFIELD; JERRY BUTLER;
NATALE COLE; ALICE COOPER; THE BUCKINGHAMS; SINGERS UNLIMITED, Jazz Artists: JACK TEAGARDEN, JOE MORELLO, DUKES OF DIXIELAND, TEX BENEKE; LES HOOPER; SY ZENTNER; DAVE REMINGTON; AL HIRT
He was conductor, musical director and featured soloist with PEGGY LEE; First trumpet with TONY BENNETT in Chicago appearances for 15 year.
READ MORE about Bobby Lewis
RUSS PHILLIPS
Born in Denver, but grew up and studied in the Chicago area after his Father, Russ Phillips, Sr. left Louis Armstrong’s All Stars as trombonist for 1-1/2 years. Continuing in the tradition, Russ has become a well known, busy and respected performer around Chicago and on the jazz festival circuit.
Those festival appearances include The Chicago Jazz Festival, The Elkhart Jazz Festival, the Atlanta, San Diego and West Texas Jazz Parties, the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee and the Nuits Bleue’s Internationales De Jazz in Quebec City to name a few. At these festivals and in concerts, he has performed with Howard Alden, Doc Cheatham, Kenny Davern, the Four Freshmen, Bob Haggart, Lionel Hampton, Dick Hyman, Don Goldie, Bobby Lewis, Bucky Pizzarelli, Tom Saunders, Doc Severinsen, John Sheridan, Allan and Warren Vache and many others.
READ MORE about Russ Phillips
BEN LAMAR GAY
Ben LaMar Gay is a composer and cornetist who moves sound, color, and space through folkloric filters to produce electro-acoustic collages. His unification of various styles is always in service of the narrative and never solely a display of technique. A Chicago native, Ben’s true technique is giving life to an idea while exploring and expanding on the term “Americana.”
By being active in Chicago’s experimental music scene and having spent a three-year residency in Brazil, Ben has collaborated with several influential figures in the world of music, including Joshua Abrams, the Association of the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Bixiga 70, Black Monks of Mississippi, Celso Fonseca, George Lewis, Nicole Mitchell, Jeff Parker, Theo Parrish, Mike Reed, Tomeka Reid, and Itibere Zwarg.
READ MORE about Ben LaMar Gay
KIMBERLY BRANCH
Originally from Fort Lauderdale, FL, Kimberly Branch earned degrees in Music Education and Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University. She studied under the direction of Prof. Ron Carter, Prof. Art Davis, Fareed Haque, Dr. Ronnie Wooten, Prof. Reginald Thomas, Dr. Roosevelt Griffin, and many more. Ms. Branch has also toured with the Northern Illinois Jazz Ensemble with many world-renowned guest artists such as Wycliffe Gordon, Sean Jones, and Randy Brecker to name a few. Ms. Branch has worked with numerous elementary, middle, and high schools around Illinois, Florida, and Wisconsin as well as numerous jazz camps such as the Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Camp in Fort Lauderdale, FL and the Northern Illinois Jazz camp in DeKalb, IL.
Ms. Branch currently directs 6th, 7th, and 8th grade concert band as well as the EMS Jazz Ensemble 1 & 2, EMS Jazz combo 1 & 2, and the Bottenfield Elementary 5th grade band.