Milford, CT – March 5, 2017. World renowned jazz musician and composer Jay Rowe announces the return of the ever-popular and 15th annual ‘Smooth Jazz For Scholars’ Benefit Concert for the Milford Public Schools music department. Over the past 14 years, approximately $75,000 has been raised and donated to this program. Sponsors for this years’ show are The Milford Bank, Barrett Outdoor Communications and Courtney Honda of Milford.
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Local resident and concert producer Rowe donates a portion of the ticket sales to the Milford Public Schools Music Department as a way of thanking the educators who were there at the beginning of his musical career. He is a graduate of Calf Pen Elementary and Joseph A. Foran High School. Rowe has performed and recorded with the elite in the world of jazz throughout the world and has played in many major jazz festivals across the U.S., and around the world, including Portugal, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Norway, Germany, Holland, South Africa, China, Japan and Indonesia. As a solo artist, he has recorded and released six CDs, “A Dream I Had” (1994), “Jay Walking” (1997), “Laugh Out Loud” (2001), and “Red, Hot and Smooth” (2006) “Live At Daniel Street” (2011), and most recently “Smooth Ride” (2016).
Visitors will enjoy world class musical jazz artists each night. The concert series features two separate artist line-ups, and tickets may be purchase for either – or both – nights. Friday, May 5th features Rich Braun on trumpet, saxophonists Will Donato and Jeff Kashiwa, and guitarist Nick Colionne. Saturday, May 6th features guitarists Chieli Minucci and Steve Oliver, and saxophonist Steve Cole and Nelson Rangell, saxophone and flute.
The event will take place at the Parsons Complex Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 70 W. River Street, Milford, CT 06460. Doors open at 7 p.m., and show time is 8 p.m. Tickets are $40.00 each for one night, and $70.00 for both nights. The first 250 tickets sold are for reserved seating, and thereafter will be for general admission seating. “Expanding to a two-night line-up has been a big hit,” said Rowe. “Each year, we welcome many of our long-time supporters who travel to Milford from out-of-state, as well as the many local resident jazz aficionados.”
Tickets can be purchased locally from Jay Rowe or these local outlets: Arciuolo Shoes – on Broad Street South, Café Atlantique and The Canvas Patch – both on River Street, and the Milford Fine Arts Center, – on Railroad Avenue South. Online tickets are available at 15thannualsmoothjazzforscholars.eventbrite.com. Tickets may also be purchased by sending a check or money order payable to Smooth Jazz For Scholars Inc., P.O. Box 3723, Milford, CT 06460. Limited sponsorships remain available, and raffle/silent auctions items are still being accepted.
“I am so pleased to be able to bring a show of this quality to Milford for two nights – it gives residents the opportunity to see a first-rate festival-like performance right here in town, without having to travel to New Haven, Hartford, or New York City,” Rowe said. “And, of course, I am so pleased to be able to contribute in this way to our schools. To bring awareness and attention to the importance of music education is why we do this every year.”
For more information, visit jayrowemusic.com or call 203-874-4150.