FOR RELEASE TUESDAY, NOV. 8, 2018                                                        

PRESS CONTACT: ANDREA BEARD – [email protected]

Jazz Aspen Snowmass Announces Diverse JAS Café Winter Series
with Shows Taking Place Downstairs at
The Little Nell & Cooking School of Aspen

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Aspen, CO, November 8, 2018 – Jazz Aspen Snowmass has just announced their full JAS Café Winter series line-up with shows taking place Downstairs at The Little Nell (TLN) and at the Cooking School of Aspen (CSA). Tickets for the series go on-sale tomorrow, Friday, November 9 at 10am mst and can be purchased at 970.920.4996 or at jazzaspensnowmass.org. Individual show tickets range from $45-$75 while a series pass to the five shows of your choice is available at a $50 discount. This winter, JAS is adding a series of four apres shows that will start at 5pm.

The winter series kicks-off at the TLN on December 21-22 with vocalist Sweet Lu Olutosin. Jazz Times says “Olutosin is masterful, filled with ideas within his phrasing, and deeply rooted in blues. The soulfulness of his well-rounded masculine voice is a beacon in the male jazz vocal idiom.” Sweet Lu will be performing swinging holiday classics and more.

In a special holiday performance two-time Grammy winning Hammond B-3 organ, piano wizard, and vocalist Cory Henry will return to the Café, this time with his deep groove band the Funk Apostles. The group will perform at the CSA Dec. 28-29 with a mix of Funk, Gospel, Jazz and soul.

Overlapping Winterskol weekend in Aspen on January 11-12 will be a performance at TLN featuring the joyful retro jazz group Sammy Miller & the Congregation. From New Orleans second line to swing – Miller and crew play music that feels good, entertains, enriches, but most of all uplifts.

Cuban pianist Chuchito Valdes returns to the Café at TLN for the first time in six years on Feb. 1-2. The son of Afro-Cuban jazz master pianist Chucho Valdes, Chuchito’s influences draw from Caribbean rhythms and Latin jazz to create an exciting blend of spicy music.

On Feb. 16-17 JAS will present Robin McKelle & her Band in her Café debut. Pianist, powerhouse vocalist and songwriter, McKelle performs an inspiring “melodic canvas” of jazz, r ‘n b, soul and gospel.  A Boston native who has found major success in recent years in France and throughout Europe, Robin is a dazzling artist in live performances. 

Also in February, 5-time Grammy nominated jazz pianist, arranger and Dean of Frost School of Music at University of Miami, Shelly Bergwill perform with his Trio and special guest vocalists Veronica Swift andBilly Valentine. Shows are Feb. 22-23 at CSA.

Nigerian born, London based, vocalist Ola Onabule will be at TLN on March 1-2. Onabule writes and performs music that crosses international boundaries uniting jazz, soul and world music influences in a unique and mesmerizing, yet highly identifiable style.

Vocalist Niki Haris, who performed with JAS President James Horowitz last winter, returns to the CSA March 15-16 with her hard swinging, funky, bluesy band for a foot-stomping celebration of jazz and American roots music. An irresistible entertainer, Haris is a knock-out!

The winter series will conclude on March 29-30 with Deva Mahal, daughter of blues legend Taj Mahal. Deva is a genre-defying artist, powerhouse vocalist and astute songwriter. Her unique sound is forged by growing her blues roots through the fertile soil of modern R&B, indie-pop, soul, rock and gospel.

Many of this winter’s Café shows will feature JAS Listen Up! pre-concert artist discussions, in which performing artists share stories and insight on the music they’ll perform and what to listen for. Currently scheduled Listen Up! talks include Sammy Miller, Robin McKelle, Shelly Berg, Ola Onabule, Niki Haris and Deva Mahal.

For a full listing of showtimes, Listen Up dates, dinner offerings and more, please visit jazzaspensnowmass.org.