Clark County Parks & Recreation is proud to present the 34^th year offering the community the "FREE" Jazz in the Park series, featuring Ruben Studdard/Candice Glover doing Idols Sing Icons (Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin) on May 11, Connie Han on May 18, Jarrod Lawson on May 25, Marion Meadows on June 1 and Lakecia Benjamin on June 8.

Each show will be supported with opening performances by the Las Vegas Academy Jazz Program students. Seating for those with picnic baskets, blankets, and low-back chairs will begin at 5 p.m. at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater at 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy. Performances will begin around 6:30 p.m.  Public parking will open at 4 p.m. Seating space is limited to first come, first served, based on available occupancy. Admission and parking are free.

Tickets are required for entry, and limited tickets will be available online on the following dates: February 14, March 14 and April 15, each date at 10 a.m.

Picnics are strongly encouraged. Each event will also be live streamed to the Clark County Parks and Recreation's Facebook page @clarkcountyparks for those unable to acquire an admission ticket. Jazz in the Park is more than just a concert series; it's a celebration of the city's cultural heritage, a testament to the power of music to bring people together, and a reminder of the importance of supporting and nurturing local talent.

"This annual event brings together world-class jazz performers and music enthusiasts from all walks of life, creating a communal celebration of artistry and cultural exchange," said Clark County Commission Chairman Tick Segerblom. "Jazz in the Park at the Clark County Government Center is an unparalleled experience for those seeking to immerse themselves in a tapestry of sonic delights."

Ruben Studdard/Candice Glover are doing Idols Sing Icons (A tribute to Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin). Ruben Studdard, Season 2 - American Idol-winner, is bringing his latest album, "Ruben Sings Luther'' to life on stages nationwide. Alongside will be Season 12 - American Idol-winner Candice Glover, as she brings the music of icon Aretha Franklin to life in this incredible tribute performance.

Connie Han has been hailed by Downbeat Magazine as "The Jazz Warrior-Goddess" with "a skill and ferocity unmatched by all but the most accomplished of pianists," 27-year-old piano wizard and composer Connie Han interprets the jazz piano pantheon with her own fiery, contemporary style. Variety Magazine was quoted as, "Connie is one of contemporary jazz's most talented and inventive musicians by combining the precision of her childhood training as a classical pianist with the improvisation, and irrepressible emotion, of her heroes Freddie Hubbard and Kenny Kirkland."

Jarrod Lawson, described by the London Evening Standard as "the blue-eyed soul boy of jazz." Lawson won Soul Artist of the Year at the Jazz FM Awards and has been dubbed "the hottest talent to hit soul music in at least 10 years" by Echoes magazine.

Marion Meadows is a saxophonist and composer. His sound is rooted in contemporary jazz + R+B. He has developed a trademark sharp-edged yet warm, sweet tone with a consummate sense of lyricism. Meadows first hit the airwaves in 1991 with "For Lovers Only," but his career began one day in the late '80s at New York's Grand Central Station. He had been a sideman with Norman Connors for three years, with only vague notions of eventually going solo.

Lakecia Benjamin's new album Phoenix, nominated for a 2024 Grammy, is highly anticipated in the musical evolution of the alto saxophonist. The album was produced by the multi-Grammy-award winning Terri Lyne Carrington and features a star-studded lineup of specially curated guests Dianne Reeves, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Patrice Rushen, Sonia Sanchez, Angela Davis and Wayne Shorter. The band comprises trumpeter Josh Evans, Victor Gould on keys, Orange Rodriguez on synths, drummer Enoch (EJ) Strickland, percussionist Nêgah Santos and bassist Ivan Taylor. Trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr, Rhodes organist Anastassiya Petrova and bassist Jahmal Nichols all join for one track each.

Jazz in the Park goes beyond being a mere entertainment spectacle; it is a cultural cornerstone that contributes to the community's social fabric, by providing a free and accessible outdoor event. The series creates an inclusive space for families, friends, and neighbors to come together, fostering a sense of unity and shared appreciation for the arts.

For more information about Jazz in the Park, please visit www.clarkcountynv.gov or connect on Facebook. For media inquiries, interviews, or press passes, please get in touch with Clark County Special Events at (702) 455-8170, PRSpecialEvents@ClarkCountyNV.gov. The Jazz in the Park series is produced by Clark County Parks & Recreation and Sponsored by Findlay Chevrolet, 91.5 KUNV Jazz and Because We Matter - Live Smoke & Vape Free.

 

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Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation's 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.3 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2019). Included are the nation's 8th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state's largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.