Tucson Jazz Festival announces their 2022 Festival lineup
7/28/2021
By Mary Andrews
Tucson Jazz fans have been anxiously anticipating the announcement of the 2022 talent lineup of jazz artists coming to the Tucson Jazz Festival (TJF) in January. Fans were disappointed when the festival was cancelled due to Covid-19 in March this year. Fans actually come to Tucson from all over the US to enjoy the January weather as well as world class jazz.
Tucson Jazz Festival began hosting the Jazz Festival in 2015 with HSL Properties as the main sponsor each year. The 2022 festival will take place between January 14-23, 2022. One of six local venues will showcase a performance each night.
Jazz Fest fans can expect eight main-stage acts, an all-day Downtown Tucson Fiesta, and the new TJF Jazz Jam.
Here’s a rundown of the diverse jazz musicians TJI announced for the 2022 ‘Jazz in January’ festival:
Jon Batiste was born into Louisiana’s legendary musical Batiste family. He studied at NYC’s Julliard School of Music. He established himself in the streets and the subways of New York City. He is fluent in all types of popular music and jazz having collaborated with musical legends from Wynton Marsalis to Prince. Batiste became bandleader and musical director for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. This will be Batiste’s second visit to Tucson.
Dianne Reeves is considered the best female jazz vocalist in the world alive today! Wynton Marsalis epitomizes Reeves’ voice as “one of the most purposeful and accurate voices of this or any time.” She is compared to Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. That comparison alone makes her a ‘no miss’ act when she comes to Tucson!
Herb Alpert and Lani Hall have performed in Tucson previously and their music possess an uplifting façade that conveys the pleasure of playing popular standard music together.
As a legendary trumpeter, Alpert has had five number one hits, NINE Grammy Awards, 15 gold albums, 14 Platinum albums and has sold over 72 million records. Need I say more?
Hall started her singing career in 1966 as lead singer of Sergio Mendes musical group. Mendes requested that Hall write the English lyrics for many of his band’s Brazilian songs.
Hall has recorded more than 22 albums in three different languages. She has garnered two Grammy Awards. In addition, Hall has written many short fiction and short stories, writing with emotion and passion.
Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin are jazz legends who have been honing their skills and since the late 50’s. They are THE most accomplished musicians on their instruments.
Ritenour is considered one of the greatest guitarists alive playing effortlessly and smoothly. His playing will carry you away as he gives you goosebumps during his performances.
Grusin is known for the many scores he has composed for movies and television. The composer, arranger, producer, and pianist has received an Academy Award and ten Grammy Awards for his compositions. Grusin has been working with Lee Ritenour since the 70’s. If you want to experience the best, this show is it.
There are many more incredible artists performing during the festival that includes:
Dave Stryker, with his Quartet will be performing songs from their #1 Album of the Year, 8-Track. Eric Alexander, with his Quintet and the TJF String Orchestra will be performing songs from his #1 album, Sax and Strings, as well as other gems.
Cyrille Aimée, Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra’s NOJO 7 will be performing songs from their album, Petite Fleur, to be released in August. Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Big Band will open their show.
Drummer, Kendrick Scott, TJF Artist in Residence, will be appearing at their yearly, free all-day outdoor jazz event. As always, this is a not-to-be missed event.
The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, a three-time Grammy Winning Salsa orchestra with special guests Sergio Mendoza & Friends. They will present a tribute to Chick Corea.
TJF’s education initiatives have always been a cornerstone to the Tucson Jazz Festival. From their first festival, they created opportunities for local students to engage in clinics, masterclasses, and performance opportunities with their world class artists.
Moving forward, they will expand their educational outreach to reach a wide array of local students of all ages within the community before, during, and after the festival dates. From first-hand interactions with artists, to performances designed specifically for younger students, to specially priced tickets for students, to arts integration curriculum, our goals for education within our community are far-reaching.
If you plan on attending TJF2022 and haven’t yet become a TJF member, they highly encourage it, not only as a great benefit and supplement to your TJF experience, but as a way to support TJF.
Tickets will go on sale soon, but first-choice seating is afforded by becoming a TJF Member!
All TJF Members will be able to purchase tickets at their pre-sale event starting on August 27, 2021.
For more information about Tucson’s Jazz Festival, click here:
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