Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/692049
JUNE 15-21, 2016 UCW 13 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Michelle's Jazz & Comedy Entertainment, LLC is bringing its much anticipated Jazz Showcase to town on Saturday, June 18 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Metropolitan Room in downtown Fayetteville. "When I moved here two years ago, there was no jazz at all," said Michelle Ingram, promoter and owner of Michelle's Jazz & Comedy Enter- tainment, LLC. "I've been doing this for a while in California, Florida and Denver, and basically I decided that I would start bringing jazz here to see how it goes along with the city." Ingram added that this is the first show in a series consisting of two comedy shows, a Latin Jazz Explosion and a Jazzy Christmas special. The showcase features Grammy Award win- ner Norman Connors and the Starship Orchestra, Theo Valentin, Mike Eley, Pete Everett and the Total Package Band, Sam Rucker, Willie Bradley and Kwabena Dinizulu. "Norman Connors does his shows and he sings the songs that he wrote and produced for art- ists," said Ingram. "He discovered Phyllis Hyman so Theo Valentin will sing most of the songs that Connors wrote for her." Ingram added that they will play all kinds of Jazz as well as instrumental music and it will be a cool show. "I have classic hits that we always play which are 'Betcha By Golly Wow', 'Valentine Love', 'This Is Your Life and You Are My Starship',"said Connors, drum- mer, composer and producer. "I have 30 albums and I am celebrating my 43rd year as a recording artist." Connors added that the audience should expect some dynamic singing from his vocalist Theo Valen- tin and dynamic playing from his band, The Starship Orchestra. Connors has been playing music since the tender age of 3. He met Miles Davis at the age of 13. Davis treated Norman like a son. "I met all these great people before I even started record- ing," said Connors. "Miles Davis is my mentor, and I used to go to his house every day." Connors added that he had a great education from a classical standpoint at Juilliard School of Music, the streets and from knowing some of the greatest musicians in the world that took a liking to him. Connors has discovered and produced Jean Carne, Angela Bofill, Phyllis Hyman, Norman Brown, Glenn Jones and many others. He is currently working on an album with 16 discs, which is his 40-plus year anniversary CD. "I have been working on this album for four years and we will finish it July 18," said Connors. "Hope- fully, the album will come out in September." Tickets are $60 in advance and $65 at the door, which includes complimentary appetizers and one drink. The Metropolitan Room is located at 109 Green Street. For more information, call 302-8809. Fayetteville's Jazz Showcase Premiers at Metropolitan Room by DR. SHANESSA FENNER EVENTS Jazz legend Norman Connors is set to perform at Fayetteville's Jazz Showcase on June 18. DR. SHANESSA FENNER, Principal, WT Brown Elementary School, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910.484.6200 REGISTER FOR FALL CLASSES A military friendly school o ering more than 200 programs. Many are 100% available online. Visit www.faytechcc.edu/academics/online-programs - (910) 678-8400 REGISTER FOR FALL CLASSES Fa l l c l a s s e s b e g i n A u g u s t 1 5 . Registration locations: Fayetteville Campus • Tony Rand Student Center Spring Lake Campus • 171 Laketree Boulevard Fort Bragg Campus • Fort Bragg Training & Education Center