What: An Evening Of Smooth Jazz
Where: Shriners Auditorium, Phoenix, AZ
When: Friday, October 7
Enjoy an evening of Class and Jazz featuring Saxophonist Dee Lucas and his band with Keyboardist Gino Rosaria and Jazz Vocalist Kathy Kosins. Also performing is Guitarist Joel Del Rosario with The Franchise Band. The emcee for the evening is internationally known spoken word poet Harold "HB" Branch.
Seating is round tables seating 8 at each table. General admission/open seating. Full tables seating 8 in front of the house can be reserved for a discounted group rate. Food and drinks available. Price increases the day of the event. Free parking and doors open up at 6pm for the Mix and Mingle.
National recording artist and saxophonist Dee Lucas has been noted as the hardest working indie artist in contemporary jazz while steadily growing his brand and fan base beginning with Remembrance in 2004. Thereafter, it has been a steady showcase of unique stylings with Something to Ride 2 (2007), Standing Room Only (2010), Rebirth of the Smooth (2012), The Smooth Factor (2014), Going Deeper (2016), The Sweet Spot (2017), Going Left (2018), and the critically-acclaimed The Time Is Now (2020). “The Time Is Now” marked his 9th worldwide release and is arguably considered his best work to date. It has been positioned on several music charts including the Billboard Top 20 Smooth Jazz charts. It also was recently nominated for the Indie Soul Smooth Jazz Album of the Year award. Lucas recently released a new single titled ‘Hot Ice’ featuring keyboardist Gino Rosaria earlier in 2022 as a prelude to the upcoming 10th album to be released. It hit #1 on several smooth jazz charts and has become an instant fan favorite.
Detroit Vocalist and ASCAP Award Winning composer Kathy Kosins is thrilled to celebrate the four year-long success that her sixth studio album, Uncovered Soul has gained across commercial radio. The driving, funk-tinged track “Put the Voodoo on Me,” is Kosins’ 4th consecutive Top 20 Smooth Jazz Single and topped the Indie Soul Chart at #1. Her most recent single "From A2B" made #1 on the Indie Soul Chart, Kosins' forthcoming collaboration with Bob Baldwin " Let's Rewind” drops this August 2022.
Gino Rosaria, born and raised in Curaçao and now residing in Florida, has made his debut into the contemporary jazz scene with a billboard charting album “Still Waters Run Deep”. His CD release was a sold-out show which left the crowd asking for more! Gino released his next single “Road Trip” in January 2020. Gino has performed for years with artists such as Adam Hawley, Althea Rene, Karen Briggs, Kim Scott, Paula Atherton, and many more. Gino has won several competitions and awards such as the Akademia Music Award for best Funk/Fusion with his Groove Symphony project.
Guitarist and Producer, Joel Del Rosario’s follow up album “5” is the artist’s 5th release, featuring some of the hottest Contemporary Jazz performers and songwriters to date.
Born and raised in San Francisco, California, ‘JDR’ as he is commonly known has performed and recorded with many of the jazz greats. He has performed at various events including the San Diego Jazz Festival which annually features top recording legends: Richard Elliot, Peter White, and Jonathan Butler to perform alongside R&B singer and ‘New Jack City’ actor, Christopher Williams at the continually growing Stockton Jazz Festival. Always believing in the evolution of the jazz genre, ‘JDR’ on his latest album is pushing the limits to the definition of ‘Contemporary Jazz’. Adding the overdriven searing sounds of his electric guitar to smooth grooves, to layering funky wah solos over delicious melodies. JDR’ will be performing a few of his original tunes from his library of award nominated songs to billboard charting singles. And, along with powerhouse live band “The Franchise Band”, listeners will be in for an audio experience that will be talked about for months to come.
Harold "HB" Branch is an entrepreneur, business trainer and internationally recognized poet who performs spoken word around the world. As an artist, Branch has been featured on television and performed at global events including: the MTV documentary “Taking a Stand Against Violence: Warning Signs”; Woodstock ‘99; the Winter Olympics; touring with the Goo Goo Dolls and Sugar Ray; performing with Gladys Knight, Mos Def, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many more; as well as numerous seminars and performances at schools, churches and conferences across the U.S. and Canada. HB is also the creator and founder of HomeBase Poetry Open Mic which happens on the 4th Sunday of every month at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix (Downtown).