Brian McKnight, Samantha Fish among acts announced for Wilmington's jazz and blues fests
The line-ups are out for Wilmington's major summertime music festivals and both the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival and the Riverfront Blues Festival will draw national talent t the city.
The biggest get is 16-time Grammy Award-nominated R&B singer Brian McKnight, who will headline Rodney Square on Friday, June 22 as part of the jazz festival.
The "Back at One Singer" will be joined by Cuban jazz icon Arturo Sandoval, who will return for the free festival's 40th anniversary, running June 17 to June 24.
For the annual blues festival, which is managed by the Diamond State Blues Society and will be held August 3-5, 29-year-old blues singer/guitarist Samantha Fish will headline on August 3. It will be held once again at the city's Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park.
The jazz festival's celebration of four decades of live jazz in the city's square will also include performances by Wilmington-born singer Sara Lazarus (June 23), the Los Angeles-based Lao Tizer Band featuring Chieli Minucci, Eric Marienthal and Karen Briggs (June 22) and the Afro-Cuban jazz of Jane Bunnett and Maqueque (June 21).
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Although the main headlining shows don't start until Sandoval's set on June 21, the festival starts on June 17 with The Best of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts at the Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew and Matthew (719 Shipley St.)
Festival events continue daily through Sunday, June 24, at sites throughout the city.
The festival is an annual tribute to the late Wilmington jazz artist Clifford Brown. Although the trumpeter died at 25 in a car accident, the left behind a vibrant legacy, whether through his influence on future jazz men or as one of the artists responsible for the hard-bop sound.
While the jazz festival is a little more than a month away, blues fans will have to wait three more months before the Riverfront park lights up with action.
Among the 2018 blue sacts: Chicago-born, France-based blues guitarist Bernard Allison, California harmonica boogie band Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers and Robert Kimbrough, Sr., son of the late Mississippi bluesman Junior Kimbrough.
In addition to the main stage, which kicks off Friday, August 3 with 27-year-old saxophonist/singer Vanessa Collier, there will be performances on a side stage.
It is there where you will find more local acts, such as Nothin But Trouble, Venom Blues, Judy Sings the Blues and Gary Allegretto.
A taste of the local scene will also make it to the main stage with an act dubbed The Future of the Blues featuring guitarist Jeffrey Attakorah of Newark's Blues Reincarnation Project, along with fellow fresh-faced performers Anna Mclaughlin; Jon Hay and Zach Lees.
Tickets are $25 (Friday), $40 (Saturday) and $30 (Sunday) via riverfrontbluesfestde.com. A weekend pass is $80.
CLIFFORD BROWN JAZZ FESTIVAL
Sunday, June 17
The Best of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts
The Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew and Matthew (719 Shipley St.), 7 p.m.
Monday, June 18
Community Concert
Clifford Brown Garden (16th and Clifford Brown Walk), 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 20
Matthew Whittaker, Laila Biali, Clifford Brown Tribute Big Band featuring Ernie Watts, under the direction of Gerald Chavis
Rodney Square Main Stage, 6 p.m.
Thursday, June 21
Miguel Zenon, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, Arturo Sandoval
Rodney Square Main Stage, 6 p.m.
Friday, June 22
Lao Tizer Band featuring Chieli Minucci, Eric Marienthal & Karen Briggs, Deva Mahal, Brian McKnight
Rodney Square Main Stage, 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 23
Noon: Newly Strung: Jazz String Compositions from the Next Generation
Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew and Matthew (719 Shipley St.)
2 p.m.: Sammy Miller and the Congregation, Sara Lazarus, Scott Tixier, Sidewalk Chalk
Rodney Square Main Stage
Sunday, June 24
Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency 2018 Graduates’ Concert
Queen Theater (5th and Market streets), 2 p.m.
RIVERFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL
Friday, August 3
5 p.m. – Vanessa Collier
6:45 p.m. – Tutu Jones
8:30 p.m. – Samantha Fish
Saturday, August 4
Noon – Future of the Blues, featuring Jeffrey Attakorah; Anna Mclaughlin; Jon Hay & Zach Lees
1:30 p.m. – Backtrack Blues Band
3:15 p.m. – Robert Kimbrough, Sr.
5 p.m. – Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers
6:45 p.m. – Johnny Sansone
8:30 p.m. – Bernard Allison
Sunday, August 5
12:30 p.m. – Zac Harmon
2:30 p.m. – Jon Cleary
4:30 p.m. – Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers
DELAWARE FESTIVALS
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Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).