ART NOTES: Jazz Discovery Series 2021 Kicks off Friday Night

We’re back! After a hiatus due to the lack of live events during COVID-19, our Art Notes column has returned. Of course, COVID-19 is far from gone, so for the time being, we will be featuring events that adhere to safety precautions such as face masks and/or social distancing.

Jazz Discovery Series Returns for 2021

After a COVID-19-induced hiatus, Jacksonville native and acclaimed jazz musician John Lumpkin II is relaunching his Jazz Discovery Series beginning this Friday night.

The four-part free concert series, to be hosted by Jacksonville Arts & Music School, will feature four world-renowned jazz artists, along with performances by students from JAMS and the John Lumpkin Institute. Each performance will be preceded by an hour-long Q&A session with the featured artist and will feature food from Three J’s Catering.

The series kicks off this Friday at 5:00 PM with composer and trombonist Andrae Murchison, followed by Jax-native saxophonist DeAndre Lettsome on March 19, pianist Dave Meder on April 23, and bassist, composer, and arranger Amina Scott.

“Jazz music honors and amplifies its heritage and spurs creativity, ingenuity and awakening in a way that inspires both young and old and is particularly relevant and important in today’s social environment,” said John Lumpkin II, founder of the Jazz Discovery Series and the John Lumpkin Institute, which conducts performances and jazz clinics for students throughout the year. “The Series is designed to provide access to the next generation of legendary jazz musicians while fostering learning, networking and creative engagement in a comfortable and inclusive setting.”

The series is free to the community, but it’s requested that all guests reserve their seat to aid in social distancing efforts. Masks are required and social distancing will be encouraged; temperatures will be checked at the door.

“Red Bull Night Riders” Film Captures Jax Surf Scene

A newly-released documentary captures the action at last year’s annual Red Bull Night Riders surf competition held right here on the First Coast.

The 19-minute film, produced in partnership with surfing publication Stab Magazine, documents both the actions at the event – which was held at Mayport Poles – and the Jax surf scene at-large. Surfers featured in the competition include Cody Thompson, Evan Thompson, Balaram Stack, Eric Geiselman, Robbie McCormick, and Cory Lopez.

Check out the film at https://www.redbull.com/us-en/red-bull-night-riders-2020-recap-video.

Cummer Adds Four to Board of Trustees

Cummer Museum of Arts & Garden recently announced the appointment of four new members to its Board of Trustees: Atiya Abdelmalik, PhD, Yared Alula, Howard Dodson, Jr., and Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr.

They’ll each serve a three-year term, which began in January.