Jazz Legends to Visit Hawken

In what has become a yearly tradition, Hawken students will work with two jazz legends this week, and then perform with them in a concert on Saturday.

From April 23 to 25, jazz crooner Harry Bacharach and trumpeter Kenny Davis will engage with the Hawken Jazz Band as part of a curriculum unit geared toward expanding students’ performance-based music skills.  Bacharach’s and Davis’ visit will culminate in a performance with the Hawken Jazz Band on Saturday, April 25 at 7 pm in Kennedy Auditorium, 12465 County Line Road, Gates Mills. 

Known as “The Baby Daddy of Heavy Easy Listening” or “Cleveland’s King of Cool,” Harry Bacharach is one of Cleveland’s top crooners.  By using the piano and his voice to blend jazz, blues, folk, and funk, he has developed his artistic vision into a truly unique sound.  Harry Bacharach has played private concerts for Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow, and has opened for David Sanborn and Joey DeFrancesco.  In addition to touring across the United States, he has also appeared on NPR radio, PBS television, the local news, and can be found playing in nearly every venue in Cleveland.
 
Kenny Davis, teacher of jazz ensembles and trumpet, has performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, and headliners from the Motown Sound, including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson and Gladys Knight, among many others. Davis taught jazz trumpet and small ensembles at Oberlin College for 27 years and Jazz History at Cleveland State University for 13 years and is one of the great jazz legends from Cleveland.  Although performing is his passion, Davis equally appreciates giving back to the youth of America by sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience.
 
The Hawken Jazz Band, which performed last year with the legendary Michael Henderson as part of the From Motown to Miles and Beyond curriculum, is excited about bringing Bacharach and Davis to their campus.

“Hosting Harry and Kenny for this learning and performance opportunity is a prime example of the outstanding experiences Hawken School affords its students,” says Chad Komocki, the band’s director.  “Any time that you can connect the students with local jazz legends, the music comes alive and the jazz music tradition gets passed down to the next generation.” 
 
Tickets to the April 25 performance are available to the public and can be purchased online at hawken.edu/jazz, $10 for adults and $5 for students.  Tickets can also be purchased the night of the performance.

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    • Last year's performance with Michael Henderson.

An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12

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