Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Festival of The Jazzspel Draws Hollywood Talent (PHOTOS)

Festival of The Jazzspel
Festival of The Jazzspel Draws Hollywood Talent

*Jazzspel ~ The San Diego Fair ended its 2016 run on July 4th, but it had some memorable moments during the season’s festivities including the 27th Annual Festival of The Jazzspel, a jazz and gospel concert series hosted and produced by Dr. Eric J. Chambers.

27th Annual Festival of The Jazzspel

This year’s event featured the music of Hollywood celebrities, including actress Dawnn Lewis, better known as “Jaleesa” fromTV’s “A Different World,” Willard Pugh, aka “Harpo” from The Color Purple movie, actor Terry Crews and Rebecca Crews, his wife.

Kingdom and the Reshif Music Group of Compton, California kicked off the festival with a high energy performance. San Diego favorite Lanee Battle did an exciting set that included her most popular song, “In A Minute,” which was produced by San Diego native, Tonex.

Smooth jazz harpist Mariea Antoinette, also of San Diego, and a member off the women’s group, Jazz In Pink, set the stage on fire with some great smooth jazz tunes including the cover for “Waiting In Vain,” a Bob Marley staple song.

“Wow! I’ve never seen anything like this,” exclaimed Cathy Mordente, an executive in charge of entertainment at the SD Fair, regarding the harpist’s performance. “She is amazing!”

While many didn’t know Ms. Lewis was also a songstress, she showed her skills performing some of her original songs and ended the set with

Donnie McClurkin’s “Stand.” In fact, she is the featured background vocalist on Vanessa Williams’ smooth hit, “Dreamin’.” The single was Williams’ first top 40 and first number-one hit on the Billboard R&B chart. This was Lewis’ first time visiting and performing at the San Diego Fair.

“This was so much fun!” she said after her performance. “I want to be the first to return next year,” she told Chambers.

With Mrs. Crews on keyboards, her band played music from her forthcoming project. Terry, her famous husband from TV’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Everybody Hates Chris introduced his wife of 27 years before she performed her set.

Pugh performed a couple of songs, including Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” with an LA-based band called Second Kreation. Meanwhile, Makeda Francisco, the lead singer for Rose Royce stole the show with her rendition of Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.”

And Shervonne Wells, a former backup singer for Kurt Carr restored order with her gospel ensemble, blessing the people with several songs from her CD, “Here I Am,” including the title track. The San Diego reggae band, 7 Seal Dub ended the incredible evening of music.

Chambers, who hosted his popular Jazzspel radio show on Smooth Jazz 98.1 KIFM in San Diego for 18 years, began the series at the fair in 1989, and over the 27 years he has had some stellar performances by Ben Tankard, Chanel (formerly of Trin-i-tee 5:7, Terri Carroll, Tonex to name a few.

Photo Gallery

 

 

 

source:
Dr. Eric J. Chambers
[email protected]

 

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