Jazz on the Green will have a sizzling start with three-time Grammy®-nominated Tiempo Libre. This Miami-based group celebrates its Cuban roots through incendiary performances of timba, a dance-inducing mix of high-voltage Latin jazz, and the seductive rhythms of son Cubano, a musical blend of Spanish guitar and African percussions that gained popularity in 1930s Havana. Tiempo Libre’s brand of reinvigorated traditional Cuban music is forged through the convergence of their Cuban past and American present.
Incendio’s style of Latin guitar-based world fusion is directly tied to its members’ cultural interests and heritage. Guitarist Jean-Pierre Durand combines his Peruvian roots and affinity for Latin music with a rock ‘n’ roll sensibility. Liza Carbé’s deceptively graceful bass playing, built on flamenco and classical traditions, grounds Jim Stubblefield’s lightning-fingered, Middle Eastern-influenced fretwork. “Fire” in Italian and Spanish, Incendio is a fitting moniker for a group whose live performances ignite into feverish improvisatory journeys.
Practice your Lindy Hop on the lawn at Turner Park when this brash and brassy band hits the stage! Under the direction of trombonist Chris Acker, Omaha Big Band boldly cooks through a set list that includes classic swing, Jazz standards, contemporary jump swing and Latin. This 17-piece ensemble is comprised of some of the region’s most talented musicians, including a hefty brass section. In 2001, Omaha Big Band released their debut album, “Swing This!”
“July and August aren’t the only things that are hot in Nebraska. The Omaha Big Band produces some sparks of its own on ‘Swing This!,’ a scorching debut album.”
—Jack Bowers, AllAboutJazz.com
Jazz on the Green welcomes the return of The Sugar Thieves, whose high-energy showmanship is a real crowd-pleaser! This Phoenix-based band serves up a sultry mix of blues roots and powerhouse Delta sound. Whether its lead vocalist Meredith Moore’s extraordinary set of pipes or Shea Marshall’s ability to play two saxophones at a time, The Sugar Thieves performance is like a rumbling freight train that shakes people of all ages to their feet.
A local favorite who was nominated for Best Jazz Artist by the Omaha Arts and Entertainment Awards, vibraphonist Steve Raybine and his band perform original contemporary jazz music with funk, R&B, pop and Latin musical elements. Known as the “Master of Mallets,” Raybine’s high-energy performances are filled with infectious rhythms and catchy melodies. His original contemporary jazz compositions have been called “strikingly exquisite” and “very captivating” by Elaine K. Miller of RadioIndy.com.
Called "instant crowd favorites" by the San Francisco Blues Festival, this group’s electric stage presence is the perfect finale for this year’s Jazz on the Green. Steve Luck and Carmen Getit are not only highly-skilled musicians but their entertaining stage banter pits them against each other in a witty play on the battle of the sexes. All the while, The Rhumba Bums continue to swing with rare gems inspired by 30s and 40s jump blues, swing and jazz.
