Jazz Eureka shifts into high gear

Staff Report

It’s time for the annual Jazz Eureka Festival in historic Eureka Springs, a Gayly traveler favorite destination. The festival swings into action tonight at Eureka's Basin Spring Park. Saturday has a full calendar starting at noon with another free concert.

Friday, September 11 from 7-9pm. Beto and the Fairlanes will perform a free concert in Basin Spring Park. The band hails from Austin, Texas and is dubbed a worldbeat, Latin pop, jazz and salsa band. Thirty years ago, Beto and the Fairlanes opened the first Eureka Springs Jazz Festival.

On Saturday, September 12, Basin Spring Park will be host to free jazz concerts from noon until 6pm with stellar acts from around the region. The first performance of the day is the Fayetteville Jazz Octet, part of the 18 piece Fayetteville Jazz Collective.

At 2pm trumpeter Rodney Block will take the stage in the band shell. Block is an Arkansas native and one of the state’s most in-demand artists, building a niche in the jazz and hip-hop genres. Block has shared the stage with Earth, Wind, and Fire, Kirk Whalum, Ellis Marsalis, and more.

Following Block at 4pm will be Grady Nichols with his smooth jazz saxophone.

The headline show for the weekend takes place at the historic Eureka Springs Auditorium at 36 S. Main Street at 7:30pm, Saturday, September 12 featuring Joey DeFrancesco. DeFrancesco is a Philadelphia organist who has previously worked in ensembles led by Miles Davis and guitarist John McLaughlin. DeFrancesco always shows a bit of humor, excellent musical taste, and an innate capacity to swing. Opening the show is the Joe Cartwright Quintet featuring Molly Hammer. Tickets for the show range from $20-$50 and are available for purchase at www.theauditorium.org.

On Sunday, September 13, the Crystal Dining Room at the Crescent Hotel & Spa at 75 Prospect will host a Jazz Brunch from 10am to 1pm. For reservations, call (479) 253-9652.

For more information on the festival, visit www.jazzeureka.org.

The Gayly – September 11, 2015 @ 11:15am.