The Freedom Affair’s live shows have proven to be soul-stirring, transformative events moving audiences both physically and emotionally to joy, tears, and elation. Crowds rave about the fireworks these folks bring to the stage. Run, don’t walk, to catch one of this band’s live shows.
Made not long before the fall of the Berlin wall, this stunning tapestry of sounds and images, shot in black and white and color by the legendary Henri Alekan, is movie poetry. And it forever made the name Wim Wenders synonymous with film art.
The award-winning Memphis Central High School Jazz Bandhas been in existence for many years and has produced many talented musicians such as pianist James Williams, saxophonist Gary Topper, pianist Dr. Ashley Davis.
Three of the most legendary women in jazz unite for one special performance, backed up by the Michael Shults Quartet.
Pianist and composer Charu Suri treads fearlessly between genres, pulling global influences that range from the mood-anchoring Indian ragas, Sufi music, to the trio. Her ground-breaking albums, The Book of Ragas, and its sequel, The Book of Ragas vol. 2 have often elicited the response, “I’ve never heard this type of sound before.”
Standard 4-Pack is led by Victor Sawyer and features Randy Ballard (trumpet), Victor Sawyer (trombone), Stephen Lee (piano), and Neal Bowen (bass), performing a selection of favorite jazz standards.
In Luis Buñuel’s deliciously satiric masterpiece, an upper-middle-class sextet sits down to a dinner that is continually delayed, their attempts to eat thwarted by vaudevillian events both actual and imagined, including terrorist attacks, military maneuvers, and ghostly apparitions.
Gritty City Bang Bang is the brainchild of guitarist Jonathan Bass. Original compositions by Bass are elevated by Memphis titans Mike Assad and Carl Caspersen. This trio delivers improvisation permeated with cinematic Americana vibes, bringing the funk when needed. Next to the likes of BBQ and Home Depot, there has never been a better destination for heavy lifting of the human soul.
Crosstown Concourse will celebrate MAR10 Day with a performance from Memphis’ own video game-themed band PXLS, old school arcade games, video game-themed mini golf, a portrait booth (perfect if you’re dressing up in video game-inspired attire!), video game-themed temporary tattoos, and more!
With a lineage that goes back to the late 1890s, the University of Mississippi’s jazz ensemble is one of the oldest in the nation. By 1927, the group adopted the name “The Mississippians,” which is still in use today by the premier ensemble of Ole Miss Jazz.
Deepstaria Enigmatica is a quintet of improvisers from Memphis, Tennessee, dedicated to creating otherworldly soundscapes. Named for a rarely seen, bell-shaped jellyfish discovered by Jacques Cousteau, the group's every note is inspired by that famous ocean explorer's sense of discovery. But don't assume the five veteran musicians create only chaos: they are as attuned to melodies and harmonies as they are to fine gradations of noise. What emerges with each extemporaneous performance can range from dark swirls of frenetic fury, to interplanetary hard bop, to sunlit, ambient dreamscapes punctuated with snatches of folk song.
The Central Atrium Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Show begins at 6 pm Tickets: Free Dave Spencer, trumpet Alvie Givhan, piano...
Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time he has participated in numerous recordings and performances with musicians from all generations.
Indie Memphis and Crosstown Arts are proud to present three films from A String of Pearls: The Films of Camille Billops and James Hatch. Newly restored, these three shorts, Take Your Bags, Older Women and Love, and Suzanne, Suzanne, highlight the longtime creative partnership of artists, writers, and filmmakers Camille Billops and James Hatch.
Under the direction of Dr. Michael Shults, University of Memphis Jazz Combo 1 is the top performing small group jazz ensemble at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. The all-star combo specializes in compositions by post-bop jazz masters including Wayne Shorter, Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett, and Memphis’s own James Williams.
While James Otis Sexton is widely known as a versatile drummer, having performed, toured, or recorded with several world renowned and Grammy-winning artists, he is least known as a composer. For this reason, “The Otis Mission” was created, and it will solely perform James’ original musical compositions.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, the jazz department at the Stax Music Academy will present a tribute to the pioneers and powerhouses that have blazed trails for women worldwide in jazz. The concert will feature SMA’s jazz vocal ensemble, Kind Of Blue, named after the iconic 1959 Miles Davis album. The vocalists will be accompanied by a band of instrumentalists from the SMA Jazz Department. This tribute includes nods to the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Nina Simone, and even contemporary artists like Esperanza Spalding and Jamila Woods.
Memphis-based jazz aficionado Michael Kelley presents his collection of photographs of jazz luminaries preserving the deep, rich history of the artform.
Iron & Wine’s music has captured the emotion and imagination of listeners with their distinctly cinematic songs. As the world continues to spin — so do Iron & Wine continue on their path of releasing new music and touring.
A concert of musical dedications: Mozart’s “Paris” Symphony headlines this concert, paired with works dedicated to him by two South American composers, Reynaldo Hahn and Heitor Villa-Lobos. Young composer and performer, D.J. Sparr brings his breathtaking electric guitar concerto, also dedicated to his musical inspiration: his grandmother, Violet Bond.
Red Bull Dance Your Style is returning to Memphis — challenging some of the best dancers in the US. Competitors will enter epic 1-on-1 battles, bringing improvisation to a new level. Unpredictable tunes, from mainstream hits to timeless classics, fire up the dance floor, allowing dancers to showcase their skills and wow the crowd!
Morgan James is a Juilliard trained singer, actress, songwriter and recording artist in New York City. She independently released her studio albums of original soul music, entitled Memphis Magnetic, and A Very Magnetic Christmas recorded to analog tape in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Crosstown Strictly Jazz Series, presented by Strictly Jazz Entertainment in collaboration with Crosstown Arts, is designed to salute classic jazz music as contemporary musicians perform the work of the legends.
Nathan Graybeal is a product of his time, growing up in the digital information age and utilizing his long history of videography by mixing it with his love for the saxophone. Within 4 years, he has accumulated over 20 million views on his YouTube channel known as “Saxologic.”
Makaya McCraven is a prolific drummer, composer, and producer. His newest album, In These Times, is the triumphant finale of a project seven-plus years in the making. It’s a preeminent addition to his already-acclaimed and extensive discography, and it’s the album he’s been trying to make since he started making records.
SpiralPhonics isn’t burdened by the long-cast shadows of guitar/sax/drum trios that have contributed to the lineage of creative music. In fact, with each twist and turn, these guys challenge your own lens of expectation.
Crosstown Arts presents The Bad Plus & Marc Ribot and the Jazz Bins at Crosstown Theater.
SHEENA, a show curated and performed by Nubia Yasin, begs the question “What would make the pain of transformation desirable?” With a blend of original poetry and music, Yasin tells the story of her own transition from girlhood to womanhood against a backdrop of deep rooted shame. By walking through her own shame, she aims to allow the audience a chance to shine a light into their darkest corners, and say to what lives there “I see you. I don’t hate you.”
