Excellent Music in Atlanta: Last Week in Retrospect

Jazz 91.9FM WCLK led the way in to a full week of music events in Atlanta with its 39th Anniversary Benefit Concert featuring Gerald Albright and George Duke. Saxophonist Gerald Albright’s band featured Southwest Atlanta’s Phil Davis on keys. Keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer George Duke played with intense power and energy. His band was also stellar, and featured Atlanta’s (by way of Philly) Lil' John Roberts. When Duke played his famous song, “Sweet Baby” so passionately and tenderly, some people actually cried. Roberts did a drum solo that threatened to tear the roof off the Cobb Energy Centre for the Performing Arts.  

At Plaza Theatre on Thursday, Jason Orr screened the updated version of his music documentary, FunkJazz Kafe: Diary Of A Decade. One of the highlights of the evening was the attendance of one of the members of the S.O.S. Band, which was formed in Atlanta back in the 70’s. It was a real live connection between the history of Black music, FunkJazz Kafe’ and the impact FunkJazz Kafe made on Black music.

The Spelman College Department of Music presented the 4th Kenyetta Festival of Women beginning on Wednesday with the all-women, dance, percussion, and vocal ensemble Giwayen Mata at the Opening Ceremony. Rene Miller presented the Good Times Brass Band, at Live at Loew's Atlanta Hotel.

The Kenyetta Festival continued Friday with jazz musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer Cassandra Wilson. The free concert took place in Sister’s Chapel. Darryl Reeves performed at the Apache. 

The festival continued Saturday with The Spelman College Jazz Ensemble Reunion Concert. Joe Jennings, who is Director of the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble, will retire in May after 30 years of service at Spelman. On Saturday night, the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts presented the legendary South African jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer Hugh Masekela in concert.

Before the weekend was out, Lil' John Roberts posted the cutest photo on Facebook with his son, Jett. He told Essence and Ebony magazines to get their facts straight -- that he is an involved father to the son he has with Jill Scott. Jill Scott helped clarify the matter via Twitter.

Centennial Olympic Park was packed to capacity for the Final Four free concert series on Sunday, featuring Sting, and the Dave Matthews Band.  Meanwhile Alexandra Jackson, the youngest daughter of the late Mayor Maynard Jackson and Valerie Jackson, returned to Atlanta for a free in-store performance at Moods Music. The LA-based jazz/soul vocalist recently released her EP, From the Start.

Over the weekend The 36th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival (May 24 – 27) released its full schedule. The festival will feature Dionne Farris, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Jose James, and many others.  Pianist/ Composer Ramsey Lewis will headline the Clark Atlanta University Guild's 20th Annual Jazz Under the Stars Benefit Concert on May 4th. 

Southwest Atlanta's photogriot Susan Ross enjoyed a good many of these events for her birthday. She called it "The Musical Sue-sical Birthday week."

Also, Sunday was the birthday of the late great jazz vocalist Billie Holiday (born April 7, 1915). She would have dug our music scene.