On April 25th at 6:30 p.m., WAER will present the annual Jazz and Wine fundraiser in partnership with the Community Folk Art Center. This year's event will feature the talented bassist and vocalist, Mimi Jones. Jones played in Syracuse last year as part of Tia Fuller's ensemble at WAER's Jazz Appreciation Month concert last year. This time around, Jones is showcasing her unique individual talents as a performer and composer.
Jones was born and raised in New York City, where she began playing the bass during high school. She then went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music. Since then, she has been touring and collaborating with a number of renowned artists, such as Lionel Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Sean Jones, and Kenny Barron. Jones has performed throughout the United States, as well as Europe, and has traveled to five continents as a United States Jazz Ambassador.
She went on to debut her record, "A New Day", in 2009. The record portrays themes of optimism and warmth. Says Norman Munroe of the Jamaica Observer, "She has developed a style that is smooth, sure, uncomplicated, but with a sensuous touch." Jones is currently working on her second record.
This event is sponsored by National Grid and University College of Syracuse University. More details about the show can be found here.