Vocalist Tiffany Gridiron learned to sing in the black gospel traditions of her family church. Since that time. her sultry vocals and playful approach have excited audiences in the United States, Japan, Finland and South Korea. Her foundational jazz influences are three of the greatest jazz singers: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, and her contemporary influences are Diane Reaves and Jill Scott. She has recorded five CDs released by SONY RECORDS in Japan that have featured such greats as pianists Hank Jones, Tadataka Unno, drummer Omar Hakim, and many others. Her abilities as a jazz singer were developed under the tutelage of famed jazz vocal performer and educator Sunny Wilkinson and trumpeter, producer, and educator Kris Johnson

Click here to get tickets: Tiffany Gridiron (ticketspice.com)

This Lansing, Michigan based Smooth Jazz/ R&B band was formed to deliver quality music on a professional level that will calm your soul and sooth your senses. The band members have a combined musical experience of more than a century with influences in Gospel, R&B, Rock and Smooth Jazz, Their talents have garnered them experiences with musicians like Ben Tankard, Horn and Holland , Yancy, Montrel Darrett and 496 West to name a few. Their tightly woven grooves and melodic tones will leave you ecstatic that you’ve had this experience.
Mr Wayne Terry (drummer) Mr Tony Bibbs (Bass Guitar) Mr Adrian James ( Lead Guitar) and Mr Roman Jefferson (Keyboard)

Doors at 5pm, show at 7:30pm
Tickets $15 Presales, $20 Doors, $10 Student with Student ID
https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/awd-jazz-band

This open mic night is family-friendly and provides an open platform that welcomes singers and musicians. Eat, drink, and listen to Lansing's fresh talent.

Happy Hour from 5-7

Every Wednesday at 6pm. No cover and all ages are welcome! Our Open Mic is first come, first serve.

Tomas has opened shows for Charlie Musselwhite, James Harman, and Harmonica Shah, and his band has served as a backing band for ex-Fleetwood Mac guitar great Jeremy Spencer. He performed at Bluesfest International in Windsor, Ontario, and at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, as well as at some of the most prominent blues clubs in Michigan.

Tomas has succeeded at the rare task of creating something original, using the building blocks of the traditional harmonica greats of the 1950s, all the while being true to himself and incorporating the music he heard as a child in Mexico City.

His passion for Chicago Blues, and his electrifying energy, have opened many listener's ears and eyes to the power of the Blues. Working his own band, the Tomas Esparza Blues Experience, or fronting Detroit area band the Boa Constrictors, few harmonica players can channel the energy and feeling of the greats, yet combine their own soul to create something so deep and individual. Tomas is a man who feels has found his true calling: "I really think I was born to play the Blues".

Doors at 5pm, show at 8pm. Dinner and full bar available (not included in ticket price) $15 General Admission, $5 Student with ID

Tickets https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/toms-esparza-blues-band

Join us Friday, May 24th, for “Walter Blanding Presents". This is the fifth in a series of concerts hosted by Walter Blanding, featuring local talent and invited guests from the jazz scene.

Each performance begins with a brief discussion between the audience and artists, using our imagination to take us on a journey of music together.

Join us for an action-packed, spectacular evening featuring special guest artist, Dwight Adams. This evening will feature the unique music of Dwight Adams, Walter Blanding, and the legendary Donald Byrd. We finish the evening with our organized open jam session after this evening’s performance, and you are invited to join in on the fun! Bring your instruments, or simply listen.

Our all-star lineup:

Dwight Adams: trumpet

Brandon Rose: bass

Jordan Anderson: piano

Randy Gellispie: drums

Walter Blanding: saxophones

Dwight Adams (trumpet) One blast from his trumpet, and it’s clear as day – Dwight Adams is the real deal. For more than two decades, he’s been playing stages worldwide with Motown legend Stevie Wonder, but for even longer than that, he’s been igniting audiences in the more intimate settings of Detroit’s greatest clubs. Dwight is a soul-inspired jazz trumpeter and one of the brightest stars on the Detroit jazz scene. In addition to his countless tours with Stevie Wonder, Dwight has also played and recorded with world-renowned jazz artists, including Marcus Belgrave, Rodney Whitaker, James Carter, Shawn Wallace, and Donald Walden. He’s also been a member of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Byron Stripling, since 2003. Dwight is also a respected educator. He has taught in the jazz studies programs at Michigan State University and Ohio State University and is currently part of the Wayne State University faculty.

Walter Blanding (tenor and soprano saxophones): For over 30 years, Walter has been bringing the joy of music to people across the globe, from New York to China and everywhere in between. As a music educator, Walter states: “I find great satisfaction in helping students benefit from lessons in a way that extends beyond the scope of music and lasts for a lifetime.” Using some of his experiences has been a great way of sharing valuable insights when teaching, his career includes performances and recordings with some of the great artists of our times; Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Chick Corea, Dave Brubeck, Wayne Shorter, Willie Nelson, Dianna Ross, Count Basie Orchestra, Cab Calloway, Branford Marsalis, Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis Quintet, Roy Hargrove, Tony Bennet, Elton John, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Liza Minelli, Bobby McFerrin, Sister Sledge, Isaac Hayes, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Billy Eckstine, Isaack Pearlman, Natalie Merchant, Seiji Ozawa, Joshua Bell, the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Paris Radio Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and many others. Walter was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in New York City. His artistry began to impress critics and listeners alike in 1991, with his debut on Tough Young Tenors, acclaimed as one of the year’s best jazz albums. Since then, his musical and spiritual presence on this earth has continued to evolve. In 1999, a feature article in Newsweek International described Walter as the “Jazz Ambassador to Israel.” Walter lived in Israel for four years. He made a significant impact on the music scene, touring the country with his ensemble and with invited artists from the States. His presence and influence in the country have inspired the film “Caravan 841”, in which he was a featured actor. Walter also taught music in several Israeli schools and opened his private school in Tel Aviv. With his dedication to enriching lives by using the arts as a cultural exchange, Walter served as the Jazz Ambassador in Shanghai, China, for Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai from 2018 to 2020. In addition, he has been an artist in residence in Maine during the winter and spring season of 2022. Walter is currently the Professor of Jazz Saxophone at Michigan State University.

$25 General Admission, $10 Student
https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/blanding-dwight-adams

Off the Couch is a diverse group of musicians with a diverse taste in music spanning decades of rock, blues, country, R & B, and Hip Hop.

The use of covers and originals with an arrangement that reflects an organic collaboration of different tastes and talents, Off the Couch offers a dynamic and ever changing display of tempo and tone resulting in a performance showcasing numerous vocalists and musicians.

Doors open at 5pm, show starts at 7pm. Your $10 cover charge goes to support MICA in Old Town.

Tickets > $10 cover

*Online presales end at 5 pm the day of the event; however, you can still get tickets at the door.

https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/off-the-couch-band

This open mic night is family-friendly and provides an open platform that welcomes singers and musicians. Eat, drink, and listen to Lansing's fresh talent.

Happy Hour from 5-7

Every Wednesday at 6pm. No cover and all ages are welcome! Our Open Mic is first come, first serve.

Join DJ Lipgloss for Gloss Monday's Open Floor! This event is dedicated to providing a platform for aspiring drag performers to showcase their talent, as well as providing a great night of cocktails and drag performances for those who prefer to enjoy the show.

If you're a performer, make sure to check-in one hour before showtime.

Cover charge is only $5 and it's open to all ages until 9pm, and 18+ all night long. Show starts at 8pm

Don't miss out on the fun, spread the word and come join us for an amazing night of performances!

Get ready to celebrate the amazing local talent in our community at Community Music Night! They'll be paying tribute to the legendary Bob Dylan with an evening of incredible music. This free event is open to all ages.

Doors open at 5pm, show starts at 6pm.

The Collective is a band of experienced Lansing musicians who share a love for the Motown sound and R&B. The amazing lineup of musicians are bass man “Sam I Am” Warren holding down the bottom. JD Detweiler is kickin’ it and stickin’ it on his kit. Hard rockin’ lead guitarist David Snell sings it like he means it. Keyboardist Richard Wolfolk floats the melodies beautifully. Laurie Wrage DeBruin’s contralto vocals are driving and intentional. Singer Hedda Doyle is a harmony goddess.

Doors open at 5pm, showtime at 7:30pm. Full bar and dinner menu available (not included in ticket price)

Tickets $15 ADV, $20 Doors, $10 Student
https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/the-collective-motown

*Online presales end at 5 pm the day of the event; however, you can still get tickets at the door.

This open mic night is family-friendly and provides an open platform that welcomes singers and musicians. Eat, drink, and listen to Lansing's fresh talent.

Happy Hour from 5-7

Every Wednesday at 6pm. No cover and all ages are welcome! Our Open Mic is first come, first serve.

Ritmo Director, Michael Eyia, was inspired to create the band because of his Cuban heritage. Eyia, born in Cuba, wanted to introduce and entertain the American public in the electrifying genre of latin music. The band was formed in the late 70’s as a smaller group plus a dance troupe to participate in the US Bicentennial Celebration. In the mid 80’s it became the ten piece group that currently performs. They have opened for a number of national and international acts, including such artists as salsa great Oscar D’Leon, recording artists Los Lobos,The Bangles, and Pete Escovído, and Wycliff Gordon at the E. Lansing Summer Solstice Jazz Festival among others. The band has also garnered a number of accolades including a Special Tribute from the Michigan Legislature for promoting the Cuban culture in the Mid-Michigan area. Currently, the band has been performing at casinos, festivals and corporate functions all over the state and parts of the midwest.

Doors at 5pm, show at 8pm

Tickets > $15 Presales, $20 Door, Student $10 with Student ID

*Online presales end at 5 pm the day of the event; however, you can still get tickets at the door.
https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/the-ritmo-project-may

Atomic Annie was born in February 2016 when two strangers - a really tall guy with a guitar and a really short girl with a voice - walked into Phil’s studio to audition for a rock band. Though their aspirations were unknown, they knew this group of musicians was going to be something special. Over the past 7 years, this group has grown from strangers to family, spreading fun with their upbeat music, and making new fans and friends all over the Mid-Michigan area.

Doors at 5pm, show at 7pm

Tickets $10 ADV, $15 Doors
https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/atomic-annie

Full bar and dinner menu available for additional cost

Adam Bronstein is a guitar player from Buffalo, NY known for his clever songwriting and playful improvisation. Focusing on guitar at the forefront of its sound, the trio’s music is instrumental with influences ranging from jazz through hip hop, r&b & psychedelia.

Adam has released 2 studio albums in the past two years: Intention/Invention (2022), and most recently ABtrio (Dec. 2023); as well as a live release “Live at Black Dots” (Feb 2024) & in 2023 took his trio on a 15-date North-east tour across five states, playing clubs including BLU+ jazz (Akron, OH), Blue (Portland, ME), The Lilypad (Cam-bridge, MA), Williamsburg Music Center (Brooklyn, NY); and played at the 2023 Northwest Jazz Festival.

Adam was nominated “BEST JAZZ GUITARIST” and ABtrio nominated “BEST JAZZ RELEASE” in the 2023 Jazz Buffalo Readers Poll and Adam has shared bills with Samara Joy, Pasquale Grasso, Charlie Balentine Ghost Note, Paris Monster, Lespecial & more.

Former Buffalo News music critic Jeff Miers calls Adam “one of our scene’s finest jazz guitarists and composers” and says “..the soloing is inventive and melodic in equal measure” calling the music “laid back, soulful and fueled by astute interplay”

With The Pickle Mafia's drummer Marco Cirigliano

Doors at 6:30pm, show at 8pm

Tickets $20 ADV, $25 Doors, $15 Student
https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/adam-bronstein

This open mic night is family-friendly and provides an open platform that welcomes singers and musicians. Eat, drink, and listen to Lansing's fresh talent.

Happy Hour from 5-7

Every Wednesday at 6pm. No cover and all ages are welcome! Our Open Mic is first come, first serve.

Join DJ Lipgloss for Gloss Monday's Open Floor! This event is dedicated to providing a platform for aspiring drag performers to showcase their talent, as well as providing a great night of cocktails and drag performances for those who prefer to enjoy the show.

If you're a performer, make sure to check-in one hour before showtime.

Cover charge is only $5 and it's open to all ages until 9pm, and 18+ all night long. Show starts at 8pm

Don't miss out on the fun, spread the word and come join us for an amazing night of performances!

Please note we'll be closed today (May 4th, 2024) for a private event. Interested in renting our space? Check out urbanbeatevents.com for more info. ✨

Jackalope entertains Lansing audiences at area pubs and private events with its signature style of Americana originals and eclectic blend of crowd-pleasing covers. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Charlie Richardson joins bassist/vocalist Mike Lawrence, drummer David Stowe, Jerry Wickman, keyboards. and vocalist Diana Farmer in crafting a delightful array of musical stories, ballads and memorabilia that traverses the vast landscape of American music…with a little Reggae and Beatles thrown in.

Stream selections by Charlie Richardson & Jackalope on Spotify, Apple, iTunes, Amazon, etc.

Doors at 5pm, show at 7pm $5 General Admission

https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/jackalope

Embarking on a rhythmic journey that intertwines her West Indian roots with the vibrant heartbeat of Brooklyn, NY, emerges an artist who resonates far beyond soundwaves. Faith Quashie, a contemporary vocalist and a beacon of musical innovation.

Recipient of not just one, but two coveted DownBeat Magazine Awards, Faith stands as a testament to the transformative power of melody and lyric. Drawing inspiration from luminaries such as Cassandra Wilson's raw storytelling, Jill Scott's unapologetic authenticity, and the ethereal charm of Lianne La Havas, Faith's voice navigates the spectrum of human emotion with an unmatched finesse.

Guided by mentors who have left their indelible mark on the sonic tapestry of jazz - from the harmonious elegance of New York Voices to the boundary-defying creativity of säje, and the soulful musings of Carla Cook - Faith's artistic tapestry is woven from threads of wisdom and ingenuity.

A seasoned traveler across stages, Faith's presence is a magnetic force. Whether leading the ensemble as a bandleader or weaving sonic narratives as a sideman, her versatility and command over her craft are mesmerizing. Beyond the stage, Faith stands as a cornerstone within her community, a driving force in the movement to elevate women in music. Collaborating with luminaries like Cyrille Aimee, Candice Hoyes, and Sasha Berliner through the Women in Jazz Organization, Faith is not just a vocalist, but a catalyst for change.

A recent participant in The Woodshed Network Residency program alongside the legendary Dee Dee Bridgewater and an assembly of industry titans including Sheila E., Faith's trajectory is set to soar even higher. This program served as a launchpad, propelling her career into new dimensions through the alchemy of networking and transformative workshops.

Faith's musical philosophy transcends mere performance, delving into the realms of spiritual liberation. Her compositions are a conduit for catharsis, resonating across generations, intertwining the past, present, and future. As you embark on an auditory odyssey with Faith Quashie, you're not just listening to music - you're partaking in an experience that transcends time, a symphony of the soul that speaks to the very essence of our human journey.

Doors at 5pm, show at 7pm. Full bar and dinner menu available for an additional cost.

Tickets $10 ADV, $15 Doors
https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/faith-quashie

This open mic is family-friendly and provides an open platform that welcomes singers and musicians. Not performing? Come and see new and emerging artists while enjoying our full bar and kitchen. No cover and all ages welcome! Our Open Mic is first come, first serve.

Join DJ Lipgloss for Gloss Monday's Open Floor! This event is dedicated to providing a platform for aspiring drag performers to showcase their talent, as well as providing a great night of cocktails and drag performances for those who prefer to enjoy the show.

If you're a performer, make sure to check-in one hour before showtime.

Cover charge is only $5 and it's open to all ages until 9pm, and 18+ all night long. Show starts at 8pm

Don't miss out on the fun, spread the word and come join us for an amazing night of performances!

PURE AM GOLD

Your AM Radio CONCERT Experience!

Come enjoy this 8 piece horn band with impeccable vocals as they take you back to the GOLDEN age of 60s and 70s AM Radio with their fantastic song selections and remembrances of great days passed. Back to the days when wherever you turned the dial was another GREAT song...featuring hits by Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Neil Diamond, Artists of the British Invasion, One Hit Wonders and many others!

Doors at 5pm, show at 7pm. General Admission $20

Tickets > https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/pure-am-gold

Enjoy our dinner menu and full bar for an additional cost.

Join us Friday, April 26th, for “Walter Blanding Presents". This is the fourth in a series of concerts hosted by Walter Blanding, featuring local talent and invited guests from the jazz scene.

Each performance begins with a brief discussion between the audience and artists, using our imagination to take us on a journey of music together.

Tommy Noble – Alto & soprano saxophones

Sequoia Snyder - piano

Laura-Simone Martin - bass

Walter Blanding – Tenor & soprano saxophones

Join us for another unique evening of spectacular music and stories about the 12-time Grammy Award winner Wayne Shorter. Wayne Shorter was one of the most influential jazz figures of the century. A saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, he has been an integral part of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the Miles Davis Quintet. Weather Report, and other landmark groups of modern music. He recorded more than 20 albums as a bandleader. Many of his compositions have become jazz standards. On this evening, we will explore some of them. We kick off our organized open jam session after this evening’s performance, and you are invited to join in on the fun! Bring your instruments, or simply listen.

Walter Blanding (tenor and soprano saxophones): For over 30 years, Walter has been bringing the joy of music to people across the globe, from New York to China and everywhere in between. As a music educator, Walter states: “I find great satisfaction in helping students benefit from lessons in a way that extends beyond the scope of music and lasts for a lifetime.” Using some of his experiences has been a great way of sharing valuable insights when teaching, his career includes performances and recordings with some of the great artists of our times; Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Chick Corea, Dave Brubeck, Wayne Shorter, Willie Nelson, Dianna Ross, Count Basie Orchestra, Cab Calloway, Branford Marsalis, Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis Quintet, Roy Hargrove, Tony Bennet, Elton John, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Liza Minelli, Bobby McFerrin, Sister Sledge, Isaac Hayes, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Billy Eckstine, Isaack Pearlman, Natalie Merchant, Seiji Ozawa, Joshua Bell, the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Paris Radio Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and many others. Walter was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in New York City. His artistry began to impress critics and listeners alike in 1991, with his debut on Tough Young Tenors, acclaimed as one of the year’s best jazz albums. Since then, his musical and spiritual presence on this earth has continued to evolve. In 1999, a feature article in Newsweek International described Walter as the “Jazz Ambassador to Israel.” Walter lived in Israel for four years. He made a significant impact on the music scene, touring the country with his ensemble and with invited artists from the States. His presence and influence in the country have inspired the film “Caravan 841”, in which he was a featured actor. Walter also taught music in several Israeli schools and opened his private school in Tel Aviv. With his dedication to enriching lives by using the arts as a cultural exchange, Walter served as the Jazz Ambassador in Shanghai, China, for Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai from 2018 to 2020. In addition, he has been an artist in residence in Maine during the winter and spring season of 2022. Walter is currently the Professor of Jazz Saxophone at Michigan State University.

$25 General Admission, $10 Student

Tickets https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/walter-blanding-april

BIOS:

HEADLINER - CHRIS YOUNG
Get ready to laugh your socks off because Chris is in the house! This guy is a comedy powerhouse, performing at comedy clubs, colleges, and casinos all over the country. He's even graced some of the biggest comedy festivals around, including the Gilda's Laughfest in Grand Rapids, MI, the Laughing Skull Festival, and the Canton Comedy Festival. 

 With a DryBar Special that's racked up millions of views, Chris has become a fan-favorite thanks to his hilarious and relatable material. He's won several comedy contests, including the TV20 Detroit "That's Funny" Comedy Contest on My Network, and was even a finalist in Dave Coulier's "Clean Guys of Comedy/Unbleepable Contest." 

 Chris is also a regular on radio stations all over the country, earning a reputation as one of the funniest comedians around. He's shared the stage with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Bob and Tom's Mike Armstrong, Larry Reeb, Heywood Banks, and Dave Coulier. 

SHEILA LOVELY - OPENER
Meet Sheila, the comedic sensation who has taken the Midwest by storm! With her sharp wit, sarcastic humor, and silly antics, Sheila has been entertaining audiences at comedy clubs all around the region, from Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle to One Night Stands and even over the border to Canada. This international funny lady has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Bobby Collins, Rob Little, and Derick Richards, and she's been featured on NBC's "So You Think You're Funny?" Sheila is a definite crowd-pleaser, and she's always willing to give back by performing at various benefits. So if you're looking for a good laugh, look no further than Sheila!

NICK PIZZUTI - HOST
Nick Pizzuti is an energetic Italian stand-up comedian. A Midwestern man who’s heart is bigger than his brain. He’s well known for his tell-all stories about the struggles & benefits of growing up as a special needs kid, his divorced life, and how bad he is at the bachelor life.
Pizzuti has performed on stage at the world famous Mark Ridley’s in Royal Oak Michigan. He is a regular at One Night Stan’s Comedy Club in Waterford Michigan, and has been performing there since 2019. He has also toured all over the Midwest from large scale public events to small private shows.
Pizzuti has performed with brilliant acts including Greg Hahn, Nick Griffin, and Detroit legend Coco.
Additionally, he is a Detroit to LA 2016 finalists, trained at Second City Detroit, and is the co-producer of The Unnamed Comedy Show.
At the end of the day Nick Pizzuti is just a fun loving D-bag (that could definitely use more fruit in his diet). Now’s let’s go clean the garage…

Tickets> $25 General Admission, 2 General Admission tickets for $40

Doors open at 6pm for dinner and drinks, followed by seating at 7pm. The show kicks off at 7:30pm.

Tickets https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/comedy-night-apr

This open mic is family-friendly and provides an open platform that welcomes singers and musicians. Not performing? Come and see new and emerging artists while enjoying our full bar and kitchen. No cover and all ages welcome! Our Open Mic is first come, first serve.

From 6pm-8pm we offer half off house wine.

Composer and pianist Adrienne Torf will appear in concert with Voices of the Revolution, a Lansing-based group of spoken word artists and gospel singers celebrating the quest for freedom and dignity through spoken word and song. The performance will take place Sunday, April 21 st .

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30pm.

The concert is a fundraiser. Torf, who is flying from California for the event, has invited “the Voices” to travel to Washington D.C. this spring to perform in the Theater Alliance production of Poetry for the People: the June Jordan Experience. This Helen Hayes Award-winning show is an intimate portrait of poet, essayist, activist and teacher June Jordan, told through her poetry, letters, interviews and conversations, including selections from her nineteen-year artistic collaboration with Torf. For one weekend run, Voices of the Revolution will join the cast of six and Torf in performances specially adapted to include them.

The UrbanBeat performance will include a mix of new and old: selections from Jordan’s and Torf’s award-winning album COLLABORATION, as well as newer work, both from Torf and VOTR.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $10 for students w/ ID.

Adrienne Torf is a composer and pianist. Her piano and synthesizer work appear on two solo albums, plus one in collaboration with her artistic collaborator, the great African American poet, essayist, and activist June Jordan, and more than a dozen commercial releases by other artists. Recent projects include the Theater Alliance / IN Series Washington DC, production of Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience, which was awarded the 2023 Helen Hayes Theater Award for “Outstanding New Play or Musical Adaptation,” and the September 2022 Sedona, AZ production of Torf’s original ensemble piece for instruments and spoken word, “The Awesome Difficult Work of Love.”

Voices of the Revolution is an eclectic group of feminist voices celebrating the quest for freedom and dignity through spoken word and song. Based primarily in Lansing, their work features their own poetry as well as poets such as June Jordan, Pat Parker, and Ntozake Shange. The group includes poets Kim Griffin, Susan Harris, Laurie Hollinger, Tari Muñiz, Lisa Sarno, Ruelaine Stokes and singers Shelia Burks and Rose Jangmi Cooper.

Tickets https://urbanbeat.ticketspice.com/adrienne-torf

Honoring: Al and Beth Cafagna
Sunday, April 21, 2024, 2:00 PM
UrbanBeat, 1213 Turner St. Old Town Lansing

Featuring: • The JAMM Scholarship Band • Arlene McDaniel/Jon Gewirtz/Ed Fedewa • Sunny Wilkinson/Ron Newman • Tiffany Gridiron • Randy (Uncle G) Gelispie • Carl Cafagna/Shannon Wade/Arlene McDaniel/Ian LeVine and more…

Doors Open: 1:30 pm 
Guaranteed reserved seating is determined by the ticket purchased date and sequence. 

Al and Beth Cafagna are the founders of the Summer Solstice Jazz Festival (SSJF) and founding members of JAMM.  They have worked tirelessly to help make the SSJF what it is today.  

They supported the festival financially and served on its Advisory Board from its inception in 2012. The Founder’s Stage of the festival has been named in their honor.

Al and Beth were also founding members of JAMM.  They have served on the Board of Directors since the beginning and Beth continues to serve on the Board.

Al is receiving this award posthumously because he, sadly, died in 2022.  Beth continues to pursue their efforts in support of SSJF, JAMM, and the preservation of live jazz performances.

For additional information contact: hatchepq@comcast.net 
Tickets https://jazzjamm.org/