This weekend, international jazz sensation T.S. Monk will present the culminating concert of the Geneva Music Festival’s (GMF) “Music, Poetry, and Perspectives: A Celebration of African American Culture.”
On June 9, Monk, son of jazz legend Thelonious Monk, will present a centennial celebration of his father. Monk will lead a riveting night of jazz from the drum set, accompanied by Theo Hill (piano), Willie Williams (tenor sax), Patience Higgins (alto sax), Randall Haywood (trumpet), April May Webb (vocals) and Chris Berger (bass). Broadway and television star, Syndee Winters, and Suite Assembly open for Monk. Sponsored by Lyons National Bank, the concert will also feature Geneva’s MLK Choir. This concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Smith Opera House.
Prior to Monk’s concert, on Friday, June 8, Winters introduces GMF to her one-woman show, “LENA: A Moment with a Lady.” Accompanied by a jazz quintet of Allen Mednard (drums), Michael Eckroth (piano), Jason Ennis (guitar) and Edward Perez (bass), Winters will perform many of Lena Horne’s most popular tunes. The show uses powerful vocals and a rich story line to share the most pivotal moments in Horne’s life. The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m., at the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts.
Tickets to each concert are $25, free for children ages 18 and younger. A full schedule including concert details and locations, artist biographies and tickets are available on our website.