Savannah Jazz Composers at Johnny Harris Restaurant

The Coastal Jazz Association will help say good-bye to Johnny Harris Restaurant as the Savannah Jazz Composers Quartet play what will be the historical restaurant’s Swan Song before closing at the end of April. No further concert events are planned to take place at what is one of Savannah’s oldest eatery.

The Savannah Jazz Composers Quartet are a group of composers/players that demonstrate the creativity and adeptness of musicians in Savannah.

The Savannah Composers Quartet is a recently formed collaboration of four Savannah musicians: Eric Jones (keyboards), Mitch Hennes (bass), Calvin Barnes (saxophones), and Billy Hoffman (drums). Although they perform often together in a variety of musical settings, for CJA they will be performing a selection of original compositions, both their own and those of notable jazz musicians of all eras....

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The Coastal Jazz Association will help say good-bye to Johnny Harris Restaurant as the Savannah Jazz Composers Quartet play what will be the historical restaurant’s Swan Song before closing at the end of April. No further concert events are planned to take place at what is one of Savannah’s oldest eatery.

The Savannah Jazz Composers Quartet are a group of composers/players that demonstrate the creativity and adeptness of musicians in Savannah.

The Savannah Composers Quartet is a recently formed collaboration of four Savannah musicians: Eric Jones (keyboards), Mitch Hennes (bass), Calvin Barnes (saxophones), and Billy Hoffman (drums). Although they perform often together in a variety of musical settings, for CJA they will be performing a selection of original compositions, both their own and those of notable jazz musicians of all eras.

Alongside the venerable jazz tradition of improvising on the “American Songbook” (Broadway and pop songs written to serve a lyric), a parallel tradition of writing instrumental music for its own sake goes back at least as far as Bix Biederbecke, Fletcher Henderson, and Duke Ellington, to the present. The Savannah Composers Quartet hopes to provide a stimulating and entertaining introduction to this music.

#SundayJazz Concert Series features locally, regionally, and nationally-accomplished jazz musicians performing in Savannah every month. The concerts support Savannah Jazz Festival, student scholarships, and Coastal Jazz Association’s mission to strengthen and perpetuate Savannah’s Jazz traditions. General admission is $20. Students attend free with valid student ID. Coastal Jazz Association members attend free.

Coastal Jazz Association is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible.

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