Just Announced: Jazz Concerts in the QRT.yrd
LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY ANNOUNCES OUTDOOR JAZZ AND FAMILY CONCERTS
San Diego, CA — La Jolla Music Society (LJMS) has announced a series of outdoor jazz and family concerts located in the Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. LJMS is committed to safely bringing live music back to the community and, in an effort to bring a broader audience to The Conrad, has decided to expand on its outdoor concert offerings. This also allows the society to preserve the range of offerings originally planned for the 2020-2021 season, including the previously announced classical performances and the upcoming jazz and family events. The decision coincides with San Diego County’s move to the red tier on the State Blueprint for a Safer Economy, allowing for in-person, socially distanced, live entertainment with limited audience capacity.
“All of us at La Jolla Music Society are excited and eager to have live in-person performances again and, based on the response to our recent announcement of classical chamber concerts, there’s definitely a strong appetite for live music in the community, as well. These jazz and family concerts that we’re adding to the schedule will help us stay true to the diverse programming that was originally planned for this season.” – Todd Schultz, President & CEO
The jazz concerts in the QRT.yrd showcase three artists who are new to LJMS and had planned to make their debut at The Conrad as part of the society’s Concerts @ The JAI series. This series aims to serve as a contemporary, genre-fluid lineup and to attract a more diverse audience to The Conrad. The concerts feature five-time GRAMMY® Nominee and jazz chameleon, Christian Sands; groovy soul powerhouse, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio; and master Afro-cuban percussionist, Pedrito Martinez.
LJMS is also committed to preserving its family programming and will hold a ConRAD Kids Series concert with bilingual singer-songwriter and Latin GRAMMY® Nominee Sonia De Los Santos. The ConRAD Kids Series, designed for children ages 3-8, features artists of the highest quality who share positive, impactful messages through their fun and inspiring music.
“The palpable excitement surrounding our announcement of live in-person concerts reaffirms the integral nature of the arts, especially music, at the core of humanity. I truly believe as the world opens up, the arts and the collective experience of watching performances together will be essential to helping us heal and move forward out of this dark period in our lives. We are beyond proud as an organization to contribute to that process and to hopefully bring much needed joy back to our community.” – Leah Rosenthal, Artistic Director
COURTYARD CONCERTS
Each courtyard concert will be subject to the most recent San Diego County COVID-19 regulations. Patrons and staff will be required to wear masks at all times, unless actively eating or drinking. Seating, entry, and exit points will be socially distanced. The jazz concerts have a maximum capacity of 72 patrons, allowing a total of 432 attendees across the six performance dates. Tickets for the jazz performances will be $70-$80 and include a $10 beverage voucher. Tickets for the ConRAD Kids concerts will be $15 per person with seats in groups of two or four. Tickets go on sale at 10 AM on March 29.
CHRISTIAN SANDS
Saturday, April 24 at 5 and 8 PM
Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
The Vibe: jazz piano / fusion / fluid / progressive
Five-time GRAMMY® Nominee, Christian Sands is an emerging jazz force. His abundant piano technique perfectly matches his conception, accomplishing a much deeper musical goal: a fresh look at the entire language of jazz. Whether it’s stride, swing, bebop, progressive, fusion, Brazilian or Afro-Cuban, Sands develops the past while providing unusual and stimulating vehicles for the present… and for the future.
SONIA DE LOS SANTOS
Sunday, May 16 at 9 AM
The ConRAD Kids Series
Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Children and grownups of all backgrounds adore the joyful and bright music of Sonia De Los Santos. Her songs, in both Spanish and English, reflect her inspiring journey of growing up in Mexico and moving to New York City.
DELVON LAMARR ORGAN TRIO
Friday, June 11 at 5 and 8 PM
Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
The Vibe: soul / contemporary jazz / r&b / rock & roll
Known for their infectious energy, tantalizing grooves and lush improvisations, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio is a band on the rise. The trio brings a new edge to combos rooted in the sounds of 60s and 70s soul jazz.
PEDRITO MARTINEZ
Thursday, June 24 at 5 and 8 PM
Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
The Vibe: Afro-Cuban rumba tradition / timba / funk / percussion
Pedrito Martinez is a master percussionist. As a bandleader, he is an essential voice in the evolving tradition of Afro-Cuban music and jazz, and as a collaborator, he has recorded and performed with such artists as Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, Bruce Springsteen, Paquito D’Rivera, Sting, and supergroup Nuevo Jazz Latino. Martinez’s group possesses a rare level of virtuosity, but it never gets in the way of their ability to get a room moving.
ABOUT LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY
As one of Southern California’s leading presenters of premier performing arts, La Jolla Music Society contributes to San Diego’s cultural vitality year-round through a rich variety of presentations, including classical, jazz, global roots, contemporary music, and dance. In addition to robust educational programs and community outreach, La Jolla Music Society produces SummerFest, a three-week music festival featuring over 80 world-class artists and ensembles performing eclectic concerts. For more information, visit www.LJMS.org, or call 858.459.3728.