JAZZ FOR THE SOUL: Beth Lederman & Jazz Con Alma

Sunday, September 25th, Jazz for the Soul Season Opener @ Jazzbird. LATIN JAZZ with Beth Lederman-piano, and features percussionist Frank Valdes, Mario Mendivil-bass, Emerson Laffey-drums, and Adam Roberts-tenor sax!

Beth Lederman is well-known for her sophisticated jazz and rhythmic Brazilian and Latin-jazz piano styles, not only in the Phoenix area, but throughout the Western U.S. from Canada to Mexico. She has been playing professionally for more than twenty years, leading several bands and playing with such well-known names as The Diamonds, Bobbie Vinton, and the Drifters, as well as with local artists such as Dave Cook, Pete Pancrazi, Alice Tatum, Dennis Rowland, Renee Patrick, Paul McDermand, and her own groups, Jazz Con Alma and Novo Mundo.

Her music is melodic, fun, fluid, passionate, innovative, heartfelt, rhythmic, eclectic, honest, artistic, humorous, spontaneous…and great! “Incredible piano diversity, inventive arrangements, and memorable originals.”

Frank Valdes is a 26-year veteran of music performance who performs and tours with the Machito Orchestra, The Richie Cecere Orchestra, The Shirelles, The Dalton Gang and Donna Summers.

Professional drummer and multi-pervussionist Emerson Laffey has performed with artists such as the CPR Orchestra, Mosaico, Sy Smith, Gustavo Angeles, Quetzal Guerrero, Ritmo Latino, Novo Mundo, and many more. Currently,  Emerson is playing in a multitude of bands ranging in styles from Gospel, R&B, Jazz, Salsa, Rock, and Flamenco. He is currently the percussionist with the Flamenco Jazz Project, Inspiration Flamenco, Flamenco Por La Vida, and Chris Burton Jacome Flamenco Ensemble. His Salsa and Brazillian projects include Jazz Con Alma,  Conclave, ,Ritmo Latino, Zona Libre, and Think Horses to name a few.

Bassist Mario Mendivil has performed with some of the world’s most renown musicians such as: Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp, Brian Simpson, Mindi Abair, Kim Waters, Gregg Karukus, Eric Darius, Alexander Zonjic, Marion Meadows, Nelson Rangell, Glen Cambell, Sam Moore, Billie Preston, Denise Williams, Brian Bromberg, Ray Obiedo, Steve Oliver and Jay Soto. For over 25 years, Mario has been making a name for himself as an solid live / studio bassist and Musical Director. He has also been called upon for his compositional, arranging and recording skills for artists such as Nelson Rangell, Marion Meadows, Jay Soto, Jaared, Cindy Bradley and Dominic Amato…

Tenor Saxophonist Adam Roberts is an in-demand musician and educator. He performs and records on saxophones, guitars, flutes, and clarinets in a variety of genres including jazz, rock, funk, classical and pop. Adam is a seasoned music educator with over a decade of public school, college and private instruction. Adam is the Instrumental Music Lead at Chandler Gilbert Community College in Chandler, Arizona. Adam holds 3 music degrees in both performance and education, including a Masters from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has studied with a wide array of teachers including Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Bob Brookmeyer, Danilo Perez, and Joel DiBartolo among others.

ALL JFTS CONCERTS ARE FREE and open to the public and all donations received will benefit local and international humanitarian causes.

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This is a FREE EVENT!