This year the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival will feature the Jazz Ambassadors, the official touring band of the United States Army. Also known as America’s Big Band, this 19-piece ensemble, in existence since 1969, has toured throughout the U.S. and abroad, thrilling audiences with their varied repertoire that runs the gamut of jazz styles. Whether it’s big band swing, bebop, Latin, standards, contemporary, Dixieland, you name it, the Jazz Ambassadors will likely keep your toes tapping and your knees jumping.
Over the years the band has been featured performers in most of the world’s other jazz festivals, including the famous Montreux (Switzerland) and Newport (Rhode Island) Jazz festivals. They are known for their custom-tailored compositions and arrangements that display their musical virtuosity, both as a tight knit and sophisticated orchestra, as well as a melodic and rhythmic podium for the group’s creative soloists.
The Jazz Ambassadors will take the stage at the Avalon Theater on Saturday morning August 3, 2016 at 10:30AM. The concert is free and seating is open on a first come first served basis.
Monty Alexander Jazz Festival Schedule
Friday, September 2nd
• 8 p.m. – The Magic of Gershwin with Ted Rosenthal and Chuck Redd
Saturday, September 3rd
• 10 a.m. – FREE Community Concert with the United States Army Jazz Ambassadors
• 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Brunch at the Tidewater Inn, featuring bassist Max Murray and his band. Please make a reservation with the Tidewater Inn!
• 2 p.m. – The Musical Universe of Dominick Farinacci
• 8 p.m. – Monty Alexander presents Remembering Jazz at the Philharmonic
Sunday, September 4th
• 2 p.m. – The Spirit of Cyrus Chestnut, featuring Howard University’s premier vocal jazz en-semble Afro Blue
All concerts held at the Avalon Theatre unless stated otherwise
To purchase tickets, visit Chesapeakejazz.org or call 410-819-0380
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