Jazz festival coming to Chilton County

Published 3:45 pm Monday, October 16, 2017

Get ready to dance to the music during the Perfect Note Jazz Festival at Senior Connection in Clanton on Nov. 4.

The Inaugural event will feature a lineup of seven bands, all of which specialize in jazz music.

The bands include JQ’s One-man Big Band, The Will Whetzel Trio, The Prime Suspects, Marian McKay and her Mood Swings, the Birmingham Nouveau Reinhardt Group, The Usual Suspects and Chuck King accompanied by his band.

King will serve as the closing act on a night that will feature some great musical talent from around the state.

“We’re very pleased and excited to present this free event for the community,” said Mike Schiermann, one of the festival’s organizers, in a press release. “It’s been about a year in the planning, and we’ve secured the services of some excellent Alabama jazz musicians to perform. Everyone is donating their time and talent, and it’s turned into a real community effort.”

Admission is free with an art show and food vendors on site along with the music. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 4.

“Everyone is welcome to come and listen, enjoy the day of live music and have some good food and fellowship,” Schiermann said.

According to a press release, the space at Senior Connection includes room for dancing, as well as comfortable seating for approximately 300 people. Swing dancing, line dancing and ballroom dancing are all encouraged.

Senior Connection director Vanessa McKinney is encouraging local artists to participate in the event’s art show. “We have spaces available for artists who would like to display and offer their work for sale,” McKinney said. “We’re excited to have Clanton’s own Scarlett Teel as our featured artist, and we want all of the area’s talented artists and crafters to be part of it.”

Registration forms to take part in the art show are available at Senior Connection.

The art scene in Chilton County will be in full display, whether that is with an instrument or on a canvas.

“We’ve sent invitations to all of the Chilton County school band directors, their students and parents,” says Schiermann, who plays guitar and sings with two of the groups on the schedule. “We’d like to see everyone who plays or has ever played a band instrument at the show, as well as everyone who enjoys good old-fashioned swinging jazz.”

The Perfect Note Jazz Festival will be sponsored by Senior Connection, the City of Clanton, the Central Alabama Performing Arts Guild and the “In the Mood” radio program.

According to Schiermann, the music will cover the spectrum from Dixieland-style jazz to big band swing.

“This will be a toe-tapping affair, with plenty of familiar songs the audience can relate to,” Schiermann said.

For more information about the event, call Senior Connection at (205) 755-8227 or stop by its location at 304 Park Plaza in Clanton.