10:02 a.m. March 22, 2012
Christabel & the Jons kicking off spring series of "Alive After Five

KNOXVILLE -- The Knoxville Museum of Art will kick off its spring series of Alive After Five featuring Christabel & The Jons on Friday, March 30, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm.

This year's spring series will present six shows featuring an eclectic mix of musical genres, all performed by bands from East Tennessee. The first show features Christabel & The Jons, performing what they call "Tennessee Swing," a blend of their own original music with thoughtfully arranged jazz standards, western swing, classic country, and a little bossa nova just for fun. Currently on tour from coast to coast, Christabel & The Jons is one of Knoxville's most successful musical exports. Lead singer and songwriter Christa DeCicco is earning a reputation as one of the southeast's finest laid-back jazz singers. Multi-instrumentalist Seth Hopper adds colorful ambiance to the songs with his virtuoso assortment of violin, mandolin, trumpet, and accordion. The snappy rhythm section is led by Jon Whitlock on drums with Chris Zuhr on upright bass, and some special guest musicians are also expected for this show.

Two weeks later, the second show of the series features the Rhythm & Blues of Jenna & The Accidentals. Vivacious vocalist Jenna Jefferson joins forces with some of Knoxville's finest young jazz musicians to form one of our area's most dynamically entertaining groups.

Jazzophiles will want to mark April 20 on their calendars to be sure they don't miss the release party for the new CD "Trio Life" by Boling, Brown & Holloway. The album documents explorations in jazz that have been evolving since 1982, when these University of Tennessee professors – Mark Boling (guitar), Keith Brown (drums), & Rusty Holloway (bass) – began playing together. Each performer's background in jazz, rock, R&B, blues, country, and pop make this album an extraordinary example of their nearly 30 years of music-making. In "Trio Life", Boling, Brown & Holloway play original compositions by Boling, along with jazz standards, Wayne Shorter compositions, and even a cover by Norah Jones. Trio Life was recorded in Knoxville, TN, at AMG Studios and will be released on the MaBo label.

As Knoxville begins celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the World's Fair in May, Alive After Five will present the Carib Sounds Steel Band, two members of which also played with The Gemmonites Steel Orchestra who performed at the World's Fair's Elm Street Theater, located next door to the Japanese Pavilion, which became the new location of the Knoxville Museum of Art.

The following week, Draper, Reynolds & Rodgers will come together for a special reunion concert. The trio of Vanessa Draper, Karen E. Reynolds & Kit Rodgers should never have worked. They are very different artists, songwriters and each of a different style and genre, but fate threw them onstage together in 1994, and it worked so well that they continued to play together, regularly selling out venues and becoming known for their seamless three part harmonies and well crafted songs. The passage of time led the three to pursue separate career paths, but they will be together again with a rhythm section backing them up for this special show.

The spring series concludes on May 18 with Milele Roots from Chattanooga. This six-member band plays reggae and ska, as well as some meringue and calypso rhythms. Along with their original material, their set lists include "off the beaten path" covers of artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots & The Maytals, Steel Pulse and even Bob Dylan, The Band, Neal Young, Pink Floyd, and more.

Alive After Five is a unique live music series presented on thirty or more Fridays per year in four seasonal series. The programs take place in the smoke-free, casually elegant setting of the Great Hall in the Knoxville Museum of Art. There is a live band on stage, seating at tables, two cash bars, food from area restaurants, free freshly popped popcorn, free parking, and a licensed therapeutic masseuse available. Audience members can enjoy listening to music, dancing, and browsing the museum's art galleries.

Admission to the spring series premier of Alive After Five is $9 for general admission and $5 for museum members and college students with ID. Ages 17 and under are admitted free. Alive After Five is sponsored by Cherokee Distributing Company, East Tennessee PBS, Metro Pulse, WDVX-89.9FM, and WhatsHotKnox.com. For more information about the Alive After Five series, please contact Michael Gill at (865) 934-2039.


The 2012 Spring Series Schedule for "Alive After Five" (all shows 6:00-8:30 pm):

March 30 – Christabel & The Jons "Tennessee Swing"

April 13 – Jenna & The Accidentals Rhythm & Blues and funk

April 20 – Boling, Brown & Holloway - "Trio Life" CD Release Party Jazz

May 4 – Carib Sounds Steel Band Caribbean steel drum music

May 11 – Draper, Reynolds & Rodgers Americana and folk

May 18 – Milele Roots Reggae and ska

Published March 22, 2012