Lansing Symphony Big Band

The 2008 JazzFest, now in its 14th year, is free and features national, regional and local acts presented to an audience of approximately 15,000 people at the intersection of Turner St. and Grand River Ave. in Old Town, Lansing Michigan. JazzFest truly is living music, history in the making – each artist at the festival is asked to play an original composition, something that hasn't been played at any other festival.

The 2008 JazzFest features one of Motown’s finest jazz horn players, a trio of jazz greats that have played Hollywood, the Halls of Higher Learning and everywhere in between – plus a blend of local favorites guaranteed to please any jazz enthusiast.

Jazz trumpeter extraordinaire Rayse Biggs is one of this year’s headliners. In his early years, Biggs traveled with the Motown Review and backed up the biggest names in Barry Gordy’s stable of entertainers. Later on, his talents afforded him the luxury of sharing the stage with such blues greats as B.B. King and Sonny Stitt. His talent also allowed him to travel the world to Africa, Europe, Australia, Japan and other wonderful places. Rayse's skills as an exceptional trumpeter continue to be recognized. He has received local and national commendations and proclamations for his contribution to music, especially to jazz.

Sharing headliner honors with Rayse Biggs at this year’s JazzFest is the Johnny O’Neal Trio, featuring Johnny O'Neal, Rodney Whittaker and Sean Dobbins. Anyone who has seen the 2004 Academy Award Winning film “Ray” has also heard Johnny O’Neal play some amazing piano. The trio’s bass player, Rodney Whitaker, was nominated for the Juno Award, Canada's equivalent to a Grammy, for his work on "Let Me Tell You About My Day," produced by Alma Records. Sean Dobbins, the group’s drummer, got his start as a sought-after Detroit area jazz sideman at a young age, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith. As Sean's career progressed, he found himself the recipient of many awards and accolades including the "Woody Herman Jazz Award," an award for outstanding musicianship, as well as the Louis Armstrong Scholarship.

Pericles Gomes, a native of Curitiba, Brazil, grew up valuing rhythm, dynamics, and expression in his Latin percussion and cello performances. Pericles’ Latin beats may sound familiar because he appeared at the 1997 Old Town JazzFest. He has also traveled extensively, playing cello with the MSU Symphony Orchestra. “Being a pioneer of the JazzFest in Lansing is indeed an honor,” says Pericles. “In 1997, we had a Brazilian band playing samba, batucada, lambada, and other kinds of wild rhythms, and Terry Terry was crazy enough to invite us to perform at the JazzFest. I am absolutely loving the idea that I’ll be back to play again.”

Filipino musician Consuelo Campbell will be joining her sweet vocals with this eclectic group in singing the JazzFest theme tune, “The Look of Love.”

The 2008 JazzFest, now in its 14th year, is free and features national, regional and local acts to an audience of approximately 15,000 people at the intersection of Turner St. and Grand River Ave. in Old Town. JazzFest's truly is living music, history in the making. Each artist at the festival is asked to play an original composition, something that hasn't been played at any other festival.

For more information, further details and updates regarding the 2008 JazzFest, visit the Web site at www.jazzlansing.com or call 517-371-4600. 

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