ANN ARBOR – A2 Jazz Fest is coming back for a second year thanks to a Kickstarter organized by local jazz bassist Dave Sharp.
Sharp, a Detroit native and University of Michigan alum, raised $8,154, surpassing his goal of $7,500, to hold the free community jazz festival on Sept. 8-9. Friday performances will be held at The First Congressional Church of Ann Arbor. Saturday performances are at LIVE Ann Arbor.
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Performances will include a diverse group of musicians, from established professionals, to students ranging from middle school to the university level. Highlights include The Sean Dobbins Organ Quartet, U of M student and jazz pianist Alexis Lombre, Saxophonist Andrew Bishop, and the Ann Arbor Guitar Trio (aka A2G3), to name a few. Sharp hopes the event will “organically foster musical mentoring relationships between musicians” and “create a great celebration of jazz in Ann Arbor.”
Sharp himself is an accomplished bassist, band leader and composer, who performs regularly in the Ann Arbor area and around the Midwest with several music groups, including Dave Sharp Worlds Trio, Dave Sharp’s World Quartet, traditional Klezmer group Klezmephonic, and Indian fusion ensemble Sumkali, among others.
He currently serves as the director of the Jazz & Blues Program at the Ann Arbor Music Center and continues to coach adult and young jazz musicians.
Read more about Dave on his website.
Friday, Sept. 8:
First Congressional Church of Ann Arbor, 608 E William St, Ann Arbor, Michigan, MI 48104
7:00pm – 10:00pm
FREE ADMISSION
Saturday, Sept. 9:
LIVE Ann Arbor, 102 S 1st St, Ann Arbor, Michigan, MI 48104
Noon – 8:00pm
FREE ADMISSION
See the complete lineup and more details of the two-day festival on the event’s website.
Here's the event’s Facebook page.
*It is important to note the University of Michigan football game starts at the same time on Saturday, Sept. 9. The event is being held on the north side of downtown, and while the football stadium is on the south side, it is still encouraged to plan accordingly.