Jazz and Blues Festival Scheduled for June
The Cass County Arts Alliance is presenting the 3rd annual Med Flory Jazz and Blues Festival June 4, 5, and 6 at Little Turtle Waterway in Logansport. Major event producers are Security Federal Savings Bank, corporate sponsor, the Cass County Community Foundation, stage sponsor, and performer sponsors The Andersons, The Care Group, the Cass County Roosters Association, the Cass County Visitors Bureau, and Consolidated Union.
The event starts at 5:30 pm Friday June 4 with a New Orleans' style parade. Parade walkers meet at 5:30 pm at LMU Park at the corner of 6th and E. Market Street. The parade will be led by grand marshal and music educator Al Rodriguez, Logansport Fire Chief Bob McMinn, and members of the Tuxedo Junction Wind Band. The parade lasts approximately ten minutes and moves through the downtown along E. Broadway entering the festival grounds at 6 pm. Once the grand marshal is seated, the band on the stage begins to play.
Friday's line up begins at 6 pm and includes the Jerome Mills Blues Band, blues man Gordon Bonham, and headliner Jennie Devoe. Devoe is a singer songwriter with a national following and has opened for performers such as Bonnie Rait, Joe Cocker, and Lucinda Williams. Friday night ends with Bluezapalooza performers, the Rusty Wright Blues Band.
Saturday opens with free music workshops from 11 am to 1 pm at two locations. At Logansport High School's band room, Erick Storckman conducts a jazz improvisation session followed by Rob Dixon's saxophone workshop. On the festival stage at Little Turtle, Rusty Wright presents techniques for slide and blues guitar at 11 am, followed by Laurie LaCrosee-Wright with a bass guitar clinic, and jazz vocals with Cheressa Lawson. Workshop sponsors are Tyson, Owl Studios, and Wilkinson Heating and Plumbing.
Visual artist Teri Partridge creates a design on canvas Saturday afternoon during the festival. Teri is donating the piece for a raffle to benefit the event. Raffle tickets will be sold through 8 pm Saturday evening with the a drawing soon afterwards.
Saturday's line-up showcases a variety of jazz influenced music and starts at 2 pm with Pioneer Pride, an alumni jazz band from Pioneer High School. Next RudeBarb and the Beggars take the stage with a hybrid of blues and jazz called twisted torch music. Kokomo's vocal powerhouse Cheressa Lawson performs jazz classics and closes the session at 5 pm.
Saturday evening's session starts at 6 pm with the Tuxedo Junction Wind Band presenting jazz standards from the American songbook. Next Los Blancos performs original and classic Latin jazz compositions. The evening's headline entertainment is Erick Storckman and the Tim Miller Quintet. A saxophone player, Storckman is a Logansport native and has been performing and recording in New York City for a number of years. He has recorded and toured with many great jazz musicians. Tim Miller is an award winning music director and has been performing a variety of musical genres with several bands. Saturday evening closes with Rob Dixon and Triology. Dixon is a bebop style saxophonist and has often performed Med Flory's music. Performing with Dixon are former Herbie Hancock drummer Mike Clark, Mel Rhyne on Hammond B-3 organ, and Fareed Haque on guitar.
Musicians and vocalists are invited to a jam session on the festival stage after Saturday evening's session. The Tim Miller Quintet will be the backing band.
Sunday's line up starts at 12 pm with regional favorite Treated and Released. From 1 pm to 4 pm, Duke Tumatoe and the Power Trio play the blues, original tunes, and rock-a-billy hits.
The Cass County Arts Alliance and its arts partner members are selling a variety of upscale festival food at affordable prices. The alliance's menu includes entree's, appetizers, desserts and non-alcoholic beverages. The Cass County Roosters Association is selling beer and wine.
Festival patrons are encouraged to wear 1920's style clothing, This was introduced in 2009 and was embraced by several people who donned fedoras, flapper dresses, wide legged pants, and long beaded necklaces. Modern clothing is fine, also.
With the local economy and unemployment rate in mind, the arts alliance developed several ways to make the event affordable.
Advance tickets sales are available through June 3 and are discounted from the gate price. Groups of ten or more may purchase tickets in advance for half price. For group ticket sales, call the alliance office at 574-735-ARTS. Graduating high school seniors with valid student identification are admitted free to the festival and all other students may purchase a session ticket for $5. Parade walkers receive $5 off a session ticket and $10 off a weekend ticket. Discounted parade tickets may be purchased at LMU Park just prior to the start of the parade. An adult 9:30 pm late pass may be purchased at the gate both Friday and Saturday evenings.
The public is encouraged to purchase tickets on-line at floryfest.org. On-line tickets sales reduce the arts alliance's ticket printing expense. Tickets may also be purchased at Security Federal Savings Bank, Minglin Jewelers, and Susan's Corner Cupboard.
Event volunteers who work a three hour shift receive a free session ticket. Volunteers are needed to work at the admission table, the food booths, and the musician's tent. People interested in finding out more about volunteering may attend one of two meetings at the Depot Museum in Logansport, either May 11 at 5:30 pm or May 12 at 5:30 pm. For information about the event, call 574-727-5482.
The Cass County Arts Alliance is presenting the 3rd annual Med Flory Jazz and Blues Festival June 4, 5, and 6 at Little Turtle Waterway in Logansport. Major event producers are Security Federal Savings Bank, corporate sponsor, the Cass County Community Foundation, stage sponsor, and performer sponsors The Andersons, The Care Group, the Cass County Roosters Association, the Cass County Visitors Bureau, and Consolidated Union.
The event starts at 5:30 pm Friday June 4 with a New Orleans' style parade. Parade walkers meet at 5:30 pm at LMU Park at the corner of 6th and E. Market Street. The parade will be led by grand marshal and music educator Al Rodriguez, Logansport Fire Chief Bob McMinn, and members of the Tuxedo Junction Wind Band. The parade lasts approximately ten minutes and moves through the downtown along E. Broadway entering the festival grounds at 6 pm. Once the grand marshal is seated, the band on the stage begins to play.
Friday's line up begins at 6 pm and includes the Jerome Mills Blues Band, blues man Gordon Bonham, and headliner Jennie Devoe. Devoe is a singer songwriter with a national following and has opened for performers such as Bonnie Rait, Joe Cocker, and Lucinda Williams. Friday night ends with Bluezapalooza performers, the Rusty Wright Blues Band.
Saturday opens with free music workshops from 11 am to 1 pm at two locations. At Logansport High School's band room, Erick Storckman conducts a jazz improvisation session followed by Rob Dixon's saxophone workshop. On the festival stage at Little Turtle, Rusty Wright presents techniques for slide and blues guitar at 11 am, followed by Laurie LaCrosee-Wright with a bass guitar clinic, and jazz vocals with Cheressa Lawson. Workshop sponsors are Tyson, Owl Studios, and Wilkinson Heating and Plumbing.
Visual artist Teri Partridge creates a design on canvas Saturday afternoon during the festival. Teri is donating the piece for a raffle to benefit the event. Raffle tickets will be sold through 8 pm Saturday evening with the a drawing soon afterwards.
Saturday's line-up showcases a variety of jazz influenced music and starts at 2 pm with Pioneer Pride, an alumni jazz band from Pioneer High School. Next RudeBarb and the Beggars take the stage with a hybrid of blues and jazz called twisted torch music. Kokomo's vocal powerhouse Cheressa Lawson performs jazz classics and closes the session at 5 pm.
Saturday evening's session starts at 6 pm with the Tuxedo Junction Wind Band presenting jazz standards from the American songbook. Next Los Blancos performs original and classic Latin jazz compositions. The evening's headline entertainment is Erick Storckman and the Tim Miller Quintet. A saxophone player, Storckman is a Logansport native and has been performing and recording in New York City for a number of years. He has recorded and toured with many great jazz musicians. Tim Miller is an award winning music director and has been performing a variety of musical genres with several bands. Saturday evening closes with Rob Dixon and Triology. Dixon is a bebop style saxophonist and has often performed Med Flory's music. Performing with Dixon are former Herbie Hancock drummer Mike Clark, Mel Rhyne on Hammond B-3 organ, and Fareed Haque on guitar.
Musicians and vocalists are invited to a jam session on the festival stage after Saturday evening's session. The Tim Miller Quintet will be the backing band.
Sunday's line up starts at 12 pm with regional favorite Treated and Released. From 1 pm to 4 pm, Duke Tumatoe and the Power Trio play the blues, original tunes, and rock-a-billy hits.
The Cass County Arts Alliance and its arts partner members are selling a variety of upscale festival food at affordable prices. The alliance's menu includes entree's, appetizers, desserts and non-alcoholic beverages. The Cass County Roosters Association is selling beer and wine.
Festival patrons are encouraged to wear 1920's style clothing, This was introduced in 2009 and was embraced by several people who donned fedoras, flapper dresses, wide legged pants, and long beaded necklaces. Modern clothing is fine, also.
With the local economy and unemployment rate in mind, the arts alliance developed several ways to make the event affordable.
Advance tickets sales are available through June 3 and are discounted from the gate price. Groups of ten or more may purchase tickets in advance for half price. For group ticket sales, call the alliance office at 574-735-ARTS. Graduating high school seniors with valid student identification are admitted free to the festival and all other students may purchase a session ticket for $5. Parade walkers receive $5 off a session ticket and $10 off a weekend ticket. Discounted parade tickets may be purchased at LMU Park just prior to the start of the parade. An adult 9:30 pm late pass may be purchased at the gate both Friday and Saturday evenings.
The public is encouraged to purchase tickets on-line at floryfest.org. On-line tickets sales reduce the arts alliance's ticket printing expense. Tickets may also be purchased at Security Federal Savings Bank, Minglin Jewelers, and Susan's Corner Cupboard.
Event volunteers who work a three hour shift receive a free session ticket. Volunteers are needed to work at the admission table, the food booths, and the musician's tent. People interested in finding out more about volunteering may attend one of two meetings at the Depot Museum in Logansport, either May 11 at 5:30 pm or May 12 at 5:30 pm. For information about the event, call 574-727-5482.
