Genre: Jazz

Asheville Jazz Orchestra (2pm)

ALL AGES SEATED SHOW   ASHEVILLE JAZZ ORCHESTRA   Make your Sunday plans easy: good company, a local brew, and great live big band. The Asheville Jazz Orchestra brings an afternoon of classics from Count Basie and Duke Ellington to the high-energy charts of Buddy Rich, plus modern favorites. No late night, no rush… just a laid-back Asheville afternoon with some serious soul and groove.

Fat Tuesday Celebration w/ Tuesday Night Funk Jam House Band & Firecracker Jazz Band

ALL AGES  STANDING ROOM ONLY  CAJUN FOOD SPECIALS   Get ready to throw down, Mardi Gras–style. 🎭🎷   Join us for a Fat Tuesday Celebration packed with deep grooves, New Orleans spirit, and late-night funk at its finest. The legendary Tuesday Night Funk Jam House Band takes the stage alongside powerhouse vocalist Meschiya Lake, bringing soul-drenched vocals, swagger, and vintage flair that channels the heart of the Crescent City.   Starting this NOLA party out proper is the Firecracker Jazz Band, serving up high-energy brass, infectious rhythms, and full-on carnival vibes. Expect a room full of color, beads, brass, and bodies moving—this is not a sit-down kind of night.   Come early for Cajun food specials from the Grey Eagle Taqueria, grab a drink, and settle in for an unforgettable Fat Tuesday blowout. Costumes encouraged. Funk guaranteed. Laissez les bons temps rouler.

An Evening With Vanessa Collier

– ALL AGES- SEATED SHOW- LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLEVANESSA COLLIER Singer/songwriter Vanessa Collier’s sixth album Do It My Own Way comes out September 13 via Phenix Fire Records. Recorded on analog gear with the musicians largely in one room, Do It My Own Way is sonically inspired by the classic Memphis soul sound of Stax and Hi Records, especially that of the Staples Singers. Talking about the album, Collier adds, “It’s a warmer and darker sounding a record, recorded intentionally to reflect a throwback to older school soul, R&B, blues, and to the days of great songs and songwriters, tube amps and analog gear.” Do It My Own Way takes listeners back to the heyday of music with Memphis soul-influenced horn arrangements, layers of vocals for color, with poignant and powerful saxophone solos that deliver a quietly powerful undercurrent to each song and the album as a whole. Minor key Americana/noir “Take Me Back” served as the first single. The album kicks off with the funk workout “Elbow Grease.” On an album full of incredible grooves, “Shoulda Known Better” stands out while “Just One More” sways to a rhumba beat. Kicking off on resonator guitar before the full band joins in, album closer “Warrior” paints the picture of a powerful woman and is both a universal message about the strength and experience of women and a tribute to Collier’s mother. The anthemic, slinky third single and title track artfully commenting on the sexism she’s encountered in life and in the music industry. Collier has encountered calls from members of the industry to dress in sexy clothes and to not rock the boat, but has successfully taken hold of her own career. Collier takes on multiple roles, writing the songs, producing the album, arranging horns and all instrumental and vocal parts, playing acoustic and electric guitars and alto and tenor saxophones, flute, as well as singing the lead and background vocals. Also on the album are legendary Hi Records organ player Rev. Charles Hodges (Al Green, Bettye LaVette, Ann Peebles, Alex Chilton, Robert Cray); and frequent Collier collaborators Blues Music Award-winning guitarist Laura Chavez (Sue Foley, Mike Ledbetter & Monster Mike Welch); bassist Scott Sutherland (Elvin Bishop); and Byron Cage (Otis Taylor). The songwriter/bandleader made her Chicago Blues Festival debut this year, in front of tens of thousands. Best known in the blues world – she’s a twelve-time Blues Music Award nominee and four-time winner, including for the monumental Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, Horn Player of the Year, and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year this year – Do It My Own Way finds her influenced by soul artists like Mavis Staples, Sharon Jones, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin. Blues Blast Mag said, “Vanessa is an important part of the future of the blues.” Born in Texas, growing up in Maryland, launching her career in Philadelphia, and now residing in South Carolina, Collier grew up listening to an eclectic variety of music. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, she joined blues legend Joe Louis Walker’s band, going solo at his urging, and has become a notable artist “whose rise to the top is nothing short of meteoric” (Making a Scene). She has opened concerts for Blues Traveler. Her prior studio album, Heart On The Line, spent nine weeks in the Billboard Blues Album Chart top 15.

FREE SHOW – PATIO: The Moon Unit

– FREE SHOW – ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE THE MOON UNIT The Moon Unit is a high-energy jazz fusion trio based in Durham, North Carolina, made up of musicians who have performed alongside some of the country’s most popular neo-jazz and jazz fusion artists. Drawing from a rich tapestry of musical styles—from traditional jazz and modern funk to rock and experimental pop—the trio brings a unique, genre-defying sound to every performance. Rooted in a lifelong friendship, The Moon Unit has honed their craft through years of exploring complex rhythms, melodies, and intense improvisation. Their performances are an invitation into an ever-evolving sonic journey where the boundaries of musical genres dissolve, leaving listeners with a transformative experience. Whether you’re a jazz enthusiast or a lover of bold, genre-blending sounds, The Moon Unit offers a live performance like no other.   INSTANT ALTER INSTANT ALTER is a new project formed by saxophonist Emilio Modeste and vocalist Natasha Agrama. INSTANT ALTER features drummer Miguel Russell and bassist Ryo Takenaga. INSTANT ALTER is a reorientation into a new way. A new aesthetic and a new story. These four virtuosic artists join together in service of the art of storytelling, creating a new thread of music as super-bands of the past have done – such as Return to Forever – while integrating grounded Earth Songs that call to the Brazilian Tropicália movement. Within this musical vessel lies an engine room fueled by a powerful and inimitable Bass-and-Drum connection.

Summer RADiance ft. The Jasper and Opal String Quartets

ALL AGES SEATED SHOW   SUMMER RADIANCE The Jasper and Opal String Quartets collaborate on an exciting and eclectic program. Celebrate the laid-back mountain lifestyle this summer with a chamber music takeover at this iconic River Arts District venue. Bring your friends, grab a drink and bites from the on-site taqueria and enjoy a liberated listening experience Presented by Asheville Chamber Music Series in collaboration with the Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas.  

Adrian Younge

ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY   ADRIAN YOUNGE Adrian Younge is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, composer, and orchestrator who has produced for entertainment greats such as Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Wu Tang In 2007, Younge relinquished his position as a professor of law to find himself at the center of the Black Dynamite phenomenon. He served as the film’s editor and composer. Hailed as a modern blaxploitation masterpiece, the soundtrack was listed in the top 10 best soundtracks of the year by the LA Times. In 2011, Younge created the album, Something About April, showcasing a dark mix of psychedelic soul and cinematic instrumentals. In 2013, the project was sampled twice by Timbaland for Jay-Z’s Magna Carta… Holy Grail, solidifying Younge as a new sound in hip hop. Younge’s work has also been sampled by various artists including No I.D., DJ Premier, Schoolboy Q, and more. Younge owns and operates Linear Labs, a recording studio and label. Linear Labs reflects his dedication to the art of analog recording, utilizing analog tape and live instrumentation exclusively. Under the label, he’s produced projects for artists such as Ghostface Killah, Souls of Mischief, and The Delfonics. In 2017, Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) formed the band, The Midnight Hour. In addition to musical releases and touring, they’ve teamed to score a myriad of television and film projects: Marvel’s Luke Cage (Netflix), Raising Kanan (Starz), The Equalizer (CBS), Reasonable Doubt (Hulu), Run This Town (2019), Washington Black (2023), Boogie (2021), and Bitchin’, The Sound and Fury of Rick James (2021). Younge has also scored Black Dynamite (2009), Black Dynamite animated series (2012), California King (2023), The Big Payback (2023), Queens (ABC), All Rise (OWN), and Human Footprint (PBS). In 2019, Younge, Muhammad, Andrew Lojero and Adam Block created Jazz Is Dead (JID): a multimedia company specializing in the production of live concerts, studio albums, television and film. JID concerts have earned an ever-growing fanbase through national and international tours. Under the label, Younge and Muhammad have produced albums with their musical heroes including luminaires such as Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gary Bartz, Jean Carne, Marcos Valle and Tony Allen. In February 2021, Younge released the seminal album, The American Negro, his most important work to date. This project, in tandem with his Amazon original podcast, Invisible Blackness and short film TAN, provides an unapologetic critique on the evolution of racism in America. The podcast features conversations with guests such as Chuck D, Roy Choi, Dr. Melina Abdullah, Wayne Brady and Mahershala Ali. For Younge, the message is more important than the music.

Asheville Jazz Orchestra

ALL AGES MOSTLY SEATED SHOW (with some dancing room in the back!)    ASHEVILLE JAZZ ORCHESTRA  Recently voted one of the region’s “Best in Jazz” by Mountain Xpress readers for the 2nd year in a row, the Asheville Jazz Orchestra (AJO) brings the energy and excitement of live jazz to western North Carolina! From the toe-tapping dance-floor favorites of the Swing Era to timeless classics by legends like Count Basie and Buddy Rich, the AJO’s performances are a celebration of jazz at its finest. Adding a modern twist, the band also showcases fresh, original compositions crafted by its talented members. Whether you’re a jazz enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, the AJO promises an unforgettable musical experience that will leave you tapping your toes and wanting more!     

An Evening With Vanessa Collier

– ALL AGES- SEATED SHOW- LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLEVANESSA COLLIER “There’s a young lady [Vanessa Collier] came onstage with me, I forget where I was, but she’s playing an alto saxophone, and man, she was amazing.”   Those are the words of Buddy Guy in a recent issue of American Blues Scene, describing an impromptu performance with Vanessa Collier on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. If you haven’t been fortunate enough to meet Vanessa and witness one of her head-turning, fiery, and passionate performances, you should definitely make sure you do. As a master musician and multi-instrumentalist, Vanessa Collier, weaves funk, soul, rock, and blues into every powerful performance and she is downright impressive. With soulful vocals, searing saxophone, and witty songwriting, Vanessa is blazing a trail, racking up an impressive arsenal of honours, and has already singled herself out as an artist of distinction and one we would all do well to watch.   It’s not simply the accolades she has accumulated so far, although they’ve been many — two Blues Music Awards for “Horn Player of the Year”, and a third BMA for “Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year”, eight Blues Music Award Nominations (BMAs), a Blues Blast Award nomination, the Jammingest Pro Award bestowed by the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, First Place for lyrics in the International Songwriting Competition, Best of 2014 Blues Breaker on Dan Aykroyd’s BluesMobile — it’s the fact that she has accumulated all these honours even while her career is still in its infancy. A 2013 graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, she’s toured nationally and internationally, released four critically acclaimed albums (2014’s Heart, Soul & Saxophone, 2017’s Meeting My Shadow, and 2018’s Honey Up, 2020’s Heart On The Line. Honey Up spent 9 weeks atop the Billboard Blues Album Charts Top 15, 3 months on the Living Blues Charts at #10 and #23, and continues to be spun on Sirius XM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville radio station!   It’s not surprising that the press has been quick to commend her efforts as well. Blues Blast Magazine affirms, “Vanessa Collier is a fresh face on the American blues scene, and in addition to her soulful vocals, she brings a mighty sax to the table…” Blues Music Magazine proclaims, “Collier is a fresh face who comes to the blues stage carrying her reed instruments, a dual degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, a major label debut, almost two years of touring with Joe Louis Walker, and a mature musical vision…Collier commands center stage with her vocals, soloing, and stage presence.” Midwest Record exclaims, “This bluesy singing sax player knows how to bring the slinking funk to her captivating, award winning sound that has echoes in young Bonnie Raitt/Maria Muldaur vocal sounds…Killer stuff on every level, this sounds like one of the reasons you first became a music fan. Killer stuff.” and AXS.Com declares that she “might as well go ahead and add another shelf to her trophy case because clearly, she’s going to need it. With a voice that often recalls that of blues-rock stalwart Bonnie Raitt, Collier turns up the heat…”      

OUTPOST: Quinn Sternberg’s Mind Beach + Danny Ianucci Trio

-ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINEQuinn Sternberg is an Asheville bassist, composer and bandleader recently relocated from New Orleans and originally from Bloomington, Indiana. His four albums “Weird World,” “Mind Beach,” “Cicada Songs,” and 2023’s “Walking On Eggshells” draw influence from Quinn’s Midwest musical upbringing, his decade performing in New Orleans, and contemporary musical elements. The result is a fresh perspective on the Jazz tradition that is simultaneously melodic and groovy, “complex but digestible” (DownBeat Magazine), and soulful while highly interactive. Quinn’s band has wowed audiences at venues ranging from listening rooms, to rock clubs, to festival stages with their intense live energy.Jacob Rodiguez: Sax Alex Taub: KeyboardJoe Enright: DrumsQuinn Sternberg: Bass and CompositionOpening the night is the Danny Ianucci trio performing a set of all original music. The trio features three of Asheville’s best and most in demand musicians: Jason DeCristofaro (keyboard), Micah Thomas (Drums), and Danny Ianucci (bass). 

PATIO: JM Stevens – “Nowhere to Land” Tour

ALL AGES LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEJM STEVENS Hailing from Austin, Texas by way of West Point, Mississippi, critically acclaimed Americana and roots-rock/pop singer, songwriter, and producer, JM Stevens returns three years after his well-received solo debut, Invisible Lines. Releasing in April 2024, the 10-song Nowhere to Land is an overall mellower, more vulnerable record than its predecessor, though still speckled with some up-tempo rockers. It’s a thoughtful album further set apart by Stevens’ nuanced songcraft, intimate vocals, and organic production. DittyTV praised Stevens as, “In that sweet spot of pop-rock represented by guys like Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, John Cafferty, Tom Petty, [and] Don Henley,” while The Big Takeover noted how his “Supremely tasteful arrangements keep excess far at bay.” From contemplative, optimistic opener “Dry Creek” and the more jaunty but no less questioning title track, it’s a record that preserves the raw emotions of Stevens’ songcraft through admirably restrained production. “I wanted to keep it real open,” he said. “And it sometimes sounds bigger that way, because there’s more space to sink into, more room to breathe.”  Pangs of love, loss and loneliness punctuate Nowhere to Land’s bouts of doubt, jealousy, and recurring hope. Songs search for that old spark as lovers grow apart but often, tempered by empathy, resolve into acceptance and letting go. “After the Storm” came to Stevens almost fully formed while out running in the wake of Texas’ infamous 2021 ice storm, while fellow standout “Cherry Sunburst” takes doing whatever it took to acquire a coveted guitar as a metaphor for losing our senses in all manner of other situations.  Catch Stevens on tour in 2024 supporting Nowhere to Land. “Recalls records from the Jayhawks, Drive-By Truckers, and Uncle Tupelo, blending acoustic, electric, and pedal steel guitars around smooth, upper tenor vocals.” – Brian Standefer, Texas Monthly “The majority of these songs sound as if they’ve been lingering in the ethos forever, uncannily familiar yet edgy enough to catch immediate attention and resonate well beyond.” – Lee Zimmerman, Goldmine