Chelmsford – The Chelmsford Center for the Arts (CCA) and Chelmsford’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC) are thrilled to present a Jazz Brunch on February 18th, 2024 from noon to two. The event will take place at the CCA’s Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium and will feature live music alongside a full brunch. Tickets are $40.00 and include food, a live jazz band and an art display by local artists. Tickets can be purchased online at chelmsfordarts.org.
This Jazz Brunch will bring together some of our region’s finest artists to celebrate Black History Month: Steve Hunt (piano), Ron Mahdi (bass), John Ramsay (drums), Arthur Bakopolus (saxophone), and two guest speakers, Dr. Brent Smith and Fred Woodard The food is provided by Red’s Kitchen and Catering out of UTEC in Lowell. Local artist Jeff Higgs will have his sketches on display. The event aims to celebrate the richness of black culture past and present.
The featured artists have deep roots in jazz locally, nationally, and internationally.
Arthur Bakopolus, who is one of the most sought after woodwind players in the Boston area, brought together his quartet for the second year. As a jazz saxophonist he has performed all over the US with various bands. Steve Hunt, a Chelmsford resident, helped in the purchase of the Steinway piano housed at the CCA. Steve graduated from Berklee College and has performed at the Kennedy Center, The Circle Star Theatre in San Francisco, The Beacon Theatre in NY and more. Ron Mahdi has performed with Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Milt Jackson, Donald Brown, Kevin Eubanks, just to name a few. He has been on International and national tours. John Ramsy has performed with such luminaries as Art Blakey, Gregory Hines, Wynton Marsalis, James Williams, Wally Roney, James Moody and others. He is also a teacher.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Brent Smith, Dean of the School of Communication at Emerson College. He is an accomplished teacher, scholar, consultant, and practitioner with multi-faceted expertise in strategy, analytics, ethics and global business. In addition, Fred Woodard will speak. Fred is a graduate of Berklee College is a jazz performer and has received many awards for his excellence in performance.
FORE MORE INFORMATION and TICKETS GO TO: chelmsfordarts.org
