Jazz Concert Series @ Berry Hill Inn

INN AT BERRY HILL “FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ” ARTISTS:

Rex Richardson
Rex Richardson has become one of the busiest crossover trumpet artists in the world. Since 1995, he has recorded and toured around the globe with the critically acclaimed Rhythm & Brass, an ensemble with a reputation as one of the finest brass groups in North America. Richardson also toured North America and Japan as a member of the late jazz legend Joe Henderson’s Quintet and Sextet, and Europe with William Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble. He has worked with such artists as Benny Carter, Ray Charles, Kurt Elling, Carl Fontana, Nnenna Freelon, Aretha Franklin, Wycliffe Gordon, and has appeared as a guest artist with dozens of important ensembles throughout the world. Downbeat magazine has printed that he “has an impressive touch: a sure command of tone and a gift for creating fetching modern harmonies,” awarded his CD Pandora’s Pocket three-and-a-half stars, and honored him in their International Critic’s Poll as one of the top ten trumpeters deserving wider recognition. www.rextrumpet.com

Stephanie Nakasian & Hod O’Brien Quartet
Stephanie Nakasian is listed in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz as one of the world’s leading jazz singers. She first came to international attention when she sang and toured with the vocal jazz master Jon Hendricks and Company. Since then, she has toured and recorded as a leader and with her partner and internationally acclaimed jazz pianist Hod O’Brien. Ms. Nakasian has been actively recording since 1980 and has just won an award for the "top 8 vocal jazz CDs of 2006.” www.stephanienakasian.com
Hod O’Brien has just completed a tour of Japan with pianists Kenny Barron, Cyrus Chestnut, Cedar Walton and others as part of the prestigious 100 Golden Fingers tour. He burst upon the scene in the late 50s when he came to New York City from his home in Northwest Connecticut. He soon became part of the “loft scene” jamming with other bop-influenced players like Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Oscar Pettiford and Stan Getz. He became an active part of the NY scene playing at Birdland, the Continental, the Cork and Bib, the Black Pearl and Small’s Paradise. In 1980, O’Brien teamed up with singer Stephanie Nakasian. Since then, they have toured together all over the world, appeared on television and radio in the U.S., Europe, Japan, won various awards, and appeared at major jazz festivals worldwide. www.hodobrien.com

Freeman Ledbetter Quartet

 

Royce Campbell Trio
Royce is guitarist for the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. His earliest influence was his uncle, Carroll DeCamp, a renowned arranger/pianist/guitarist. In 1973 Royce was asked to tour with vocalist Marvin Gaye. Two years later, Royce was hired by a local music contractor to do three concerts with Henry Mancini in Indianapolis. Mancini was so impressed by Royce's abilities that he asked him to become his regular touring guitarist, and Royce worked with Mancini for 19 years until Mancini's death in 1994. 

Royce has been on the cover of the two main jazz guitar magazines String Jazz and Just Jazz Guitar. He has been featured in profiles in Jazz Times, Down Beat, Guitar Player Magazine, and Vintage Guitar. Royce has toured in Europe seven times and toured Japan ten times as a soloist. Royce has also performed with many jazz greats such as Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughn, Ray Brown, Dave Brubeck, Joe Williams, Cleo Laine, Eddie Daniels, Eddie Harris, Frank Morgan and Mose Allison. www.roycecampbell.com

Juanita Williams Group
Juanita Williams, a Grammy nominated vocalist has spent the past 20 years as lead singer for the Airmen of Note, a prestigious Air Force Big Band originally founded by Glenn Miller. She began by singing in church, but her secular influences by performers such as Etta James and Aretha Franklin eventually stole her heart. In fact, the comparisons to Aretha Franklin are inevitable but Williams’ voice and passion are her own. Lead singer with the rock group, Spectrum, in the 1980s led her to the Airman of Note, where she embraced Jazz, Blues and Gospel music. She has performed at the White House, Kennedy Center and major venues worldwide. In her performances she pulls out all the stops, and her soulful, aggressive style has thrilled fans from Beijing to Brazil.

Joe Robinson Quartet
Joe Robinson has enamored audiences with his music for 40 years. Recognized as a musical pioneer, Robinson is striving to keep jazz vibrant and thriving. He began playing the trumpet at the age of thirteen, and his influences were Miles Davis and Chet Baker. Early in his career he contributed to the sounds of Gore and The Upsetters, The Eliminators, and The Bill Bright Quintet. He has worked with a myriad of jazz greats including Donald Byrd, Danny Richmond, The Betty Carter Group, and Lou Donaldson. With recent appearances at "The East Coast Jazz Festival" in Rockville, Maryland and "The Jazz Extension Concert" in Saint Croix, Joe continues to reach new heights.

Dixie Bee-Liners
With a cult following reaching far beyond their southwestern Virginia stomping grounds, and a debut album voted one of the "Best of 2006" by Bluegrass Now, the Dixie Bee-Liners are creating quite a buzz. Known for their high-octane harmonies and stunningly beautiful original songs, the band has appeared live on BBC Radio Scotland, NPR, the Food Network , and radio playlists across the country and world-wide, including regular rotation on Sirius and XM satellite radio. Their self-titled CD debuted on the Roots Music Report bluegrass chart at no. 14, going on to spend 53 weeks on the chart, with 9 of those weeks in the Top 10.
“The Dixie Bee Liners are pure to the bluegrass tradition and the vocal performances are beyond words. They are profoundly talented and the sound is their own.” (Robert Bartosh, Roots Music Report) www.dixiebeeliners.com

Jazz Concert Series @ Berry Hill Inn

Jazz Concert Series

July 6 - Rex Richardson Group, featuring Rex on trumpet

July 13 - Stephanie Nakasian with Hod O'Brien Quartet

July 20 - Freeman Ledbetter Quartet

July 27 - NO CONCERT - Cantelope Festival

August 17 - NO CONCERT - Big Band at Prizery on August 18

August 24 - Royce Campbell Trio featuring Roy on guitar

September 2 - Juanita Williams Group

September 14 - Joe Robinson Quartet, featuring Joe on trumpet

September 21 - DIXIE BEE LINERS

College Fairs in 2007

July 20 – College Fair, Homeschoolers, Richmond, VA

FALL SEMESTER 2007

Sept.
     6 – Move-in Day on Campus
     7 – New Student Orientation
     9 – Opening Ceremony and Convocation
     10 – Classes begin
     27 – Thursdays at Founders Lecture/Performing Arts Series – Inaugural Event

Oct.
     25 – Thursday at Founders
     26 – Parent’s Weekend

Nov.
     15 – Thursday at Founders
     21 – Last day of class for Thanksgiving Holiday
     26 – Classes resume

Dec.
     13 – Thursdays at Founders
     17 – First semester exams begin
     21 – Final day of classes for holiday break Dec. 22 through Jan.13
     College closes until Jan. 14, 2008
     28 – Grades due

SPRING SEMESTER 2008

Jan.
     14 – College opens, classes resume
     31 – Thursday at Founders

Feb.
     21 – Thursdays at Founders
     Online registration for Summer Courses - Feb. 19 through March 2

March
     7 – Last day of classes for spring break
     Spring break March 8 through16
     17 – Classes resume
     20 – Last day of classes for Easter break March 21 through 24
     27 – Thursdays at Founders

April
     1 – Classes resume
     21 – Finals begin
     22 – Finals finish
     22 – Semester ends
     30 – Grades due to post on line