Photo courtesy of Dave Gorgon
Katelyn Philpot will be the featured soloist with the Three Bops Jazz Combo Wednesday as part of the Summer Concert Music in the Gardens series.
TAYLOR – The Three Bops Jazz Combo, featuring soloist Katelyn Philpot, will perform on from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday during the Summer Concert Music in the Gardens series at the Taylor Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
The series features a variety of live music, musicians and artwork in the relaxing setting of the conservatory, at 22314 Northline Road.
Live jazz and blues will be performed from 6 to 8 p.m. each Wednesday. Tickets will be $5. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome and encouraged, but outside food and beverages are not allowed. There will be cash bar with food and beverage service starting at 5 p.m. Refreshments will be served by Crystal Gardens.
Wednesday’s performers have been entertaining throughout the Downriver area for the past year. The combo was organized by trumpet player Matthew Herr, who holds degrees in music from Western Michigan University and Michigan State University and currently is the director of bands at Huron High School in New Boston.
On alto sax, co-founder William McGuire III is entering his senior year at Huron High and has been studying jazz intently for the past four years.
Guitarist Michael Martin will be a sophomore at Huron in the fall and has been heavily involved in the Civic Youth Jazz Ensemble in Detroit for many years.
Philpot, a recent graduate of Huron High School, has studied with Nora York, a renowned jazz vocalist at New York University, and has sung with such artists as Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Donny Osmond.
The concert Series debuted last Wednesday with Girls’ Night Out, featuring Cliff Robinson on the saxophone. Girls’ Night Out guitarist and lead singer Mary Boonenberg was one of the local music lovers and artists who came up with the idea for the series. The group’s goal was to provide a variety of music and artwork in a relaxing setting.
The complete lineup for the rest of summer 2012 is:
• June 27 – Drummer Jerry McKenzie’s Just Jazz with clarinetist Dave Bennett, Terry Lower on keys and Ray Tini on bass.
• July 4 – Red, White & Blues with the Amazing Wahoo Brothers. (This is a special Fourth of July engagement; tickets are $15; hotdogs will be served)
• July 11 – Sinatra Salute with Kevin Sands, featuring Jerry McKenzie on drums.
• July 18 – Rare Standard modern progressive jazz.
• July 25 – Randy Napoleon, a jazz guitarist currently touring with Freddy Cole.
• Aug. 1 – Penny Wells, contemporary rhythm and blues/jazz vocalist.
• Aug. 8 – The Paul Keller Quartet, featuring Sarah D’Angelo.
In the event of rain, a concert would be moved indoors to the Taylor Lanes bowling center “Back Bar” at 24800 Eureka Road. A decision to move the concert would be made by 4 p.m. the day of the event. To confirm that a concert has been moved due to weather issues, call 888-383-4108.
The Summer Concert Series is sponsored by the Taylor Conservatory Foundation, the Taylor Cultural Arts Commission, Dolphin Manufacturing, Huron Valley Steel, Fritz Enterprises, Auto Finance Center of Ypsilanti, PNC, Walmart, Taylor Lanes and Betty and Ollie Boss.
For more information, call Erin Dobbins at 734-558-3228 or go to the Taylor Conservatory website, www.taylorconservatory.org.