2024 Jazz Alley Series
GREG ABATE | BILL O’CONNELL|HARVIE S | JASON TIEMANN
BOB THOMPSON | JOHN INGRAM | TIM COURTS |
RYAN KENNEDY | JAMES MOORE
Greg Abate, New England saxophonist, flutist
and composer is enjoying an extraordinarily
diversified International career that includes
playing for the Ray Charles Orchestra in the 70’s
and the Artie Shaw Orchestra in the 80’s and has
since recorded a total of 23 recordings as a
leader and has recorded or performed with
some jazz greats!
JEWEL CITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Established in 2018 as a non-profit organization
dedicated to jazz education and performance in
underserved communities, the JCJO is a
collective of music professionals/educators
from the greater Huntington-Charleston, West
Virginia area who love nothing more than to
share great big band jazz music with an audience
who appreciates one of the great American art
forms — jazz — as well as introducing this
timeless music to new audiences of all ages.
MIKE TRACY QUARTET
FEAT. SEAN PARSONS ON PIANO
The Mike Tracy Quartet is comprised of some of
the regions most accomplished musicians, ones
who are as comfortable performing throughout the
world as they are here in the region, like at the
Paramount Arts Center. The Quartet’s repertoire
features a variety of familiar standards, jazz
classics, Brazilian and Latin selections. There is
always likely to be a recognizable tune that will
stick with you for a while along with ones that will
leave you asking for more.
NEW ORLEANS ALL STARS
JOHN RANKIN | ED WISE | STEVE PISTORIOUS |
REX GREGORY | DUKE HEITGER
John Rankin is a versatile solo acoustic guitarist,
Ed Wise is a busy bassist, Steve Pistorius is an
accomplished pianist, and Rex Gregory is a
phenomenal saxophonist. Duke Heitger is a
world-renowned classic jazz trumpet player
known for his warm sound and virtuosity.
Together they comprise jazz super-group the
New Orleans All-Stars!
LAILA BIALI
Multi award-winning Canadian singersongwriter, pianist, and CBC Music national
radio host Laila Biali has headlined festivals and
venues spanning five continents.
While Laila continues to earn high honours in the
jazz world, her signature sound transcends
genres as she “masterfully mixes jazz and pop,
bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs
that are concise and catchy” (Washington Post).
BOB THOMPSON AND THE UNIT
BOB THOMPSON | JOHN INGRAM | TIM COURTS |
RYAN KENNEDY | JAMES MOORE
Since 1991 Bob Thompson has been a pianist,
and regularly featured artist on West Virginia’s
NPR syndicated radio show, Mountain Stage. He
is renowned both nationally and internationally.
In October 2015, Bob Thompson was inducted
into the West Virginia Music Hall Of Fame.
