Community Calendar

Experience the vibrant, deeply lyrical world of contemporary jazz as pianist and arranger Rick Roe brings Wake Up Call – The Music of Gregg Hill to life. Drawing from the rich, challenging compositions of Michigan-based jazz composer Gregg Hill, this performance showcases Roe’s inventive arrangements alongside a dynamic quartet featuring GRAMMY-award-winning bassist Robert Hurst, drummer Nate Winn, and saxophonist Marcus Elliot Miller.

The program reimagines Hill’s melodic and rhythmic ingenuity through a spirited blend of swing, hard bop, and imaginative ensemble interplay. Expect a musical journey where thoughtful composing and spontaneous improvisation meet — from relaxed medium swings and Latin-infused grooves to bold, modern jazz statements — all delivered with a keen sense of listening and shared momentum.

Don’t miss this chance to hear jazz that’s both rooted in tradition and defiantly inventive, performed by four musicians whose collective chemistry brings Gregg Hill’s remarkable music into compelling new focus.

Rick Roe (piano);
Robert Hurst (bass);
Nate Winn (drums)
Marcus Elliot Miller (saxophone)

10-piece big band led by Chris Smith, specializing in hot jazz of the 1920s and 30s. Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Duke Ellington and other jazz legends are prominent in their repertoire. Great for listening or dancing.

Vocalist Marlena Studer leads an all-star ensemble of jazz musicians in a Swinging Tribute to the 1930s, a time in U.S. history when the economy let people down but music lifted them back up again.

Marlena’s jazz ensemble will also delight the audience with a sneak preview into her recording project on the “roaring twenties,” which breathes fresh energy into timeless tunes from great composers such as Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Fats Waller and the Gershwin’s.

Pianist Ellen Rowe, bassist Paul Keller, drummer Scott Kretzer, guitarist Steve Ragsdale and vocalist Chris Kendall join Marlena at the Blue Llama.

10-piece big band led by Chris Smith, specializing in hot jazz of the 1920s and 30s. Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Duke Ellington and other jazz legends are prominent in their repertoire. Great for listening or dancing.

10-piece big band led by Chris Smith, specializing in hot jazz of the 1920s and 30s. Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Duke Ellington and other jazz legends are prominent in their repertoire. Great for listening or dancing.

Latin Music & Dance CELEBRATION! Benefiting the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), a leading provider of free legal services for immigrants in the state. Featuring Paul Vornhagen’s Afro-Cuban jazz band Tumbao Bravo. Music for listening & dancing. Doors open at 6:00 with dinner by Pilar’s Tamales and a cash bar. Salsa lesson with Mambo Marci from YA Salsa at 6:30. Live music from 7:15 – 9:00.

For more information contact LatinMusicAndDanceCelebration@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/30/2025
A2 JAZZ FEST Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Two-Day Local Music Showcase

ANN ARBOR, MI — The A2 JAZZ FEST is proud to announce its 10th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. This milestone event honors a decade of "lifting up A2 Jazz" by featuring two days of diverse, Michigan-centric music. All events are free and open to the public.
Event Schedule and Locations:
Saturday, Sept. 26 (4 PM – 10 PM): The festival kicks off at The Rabbit Hole (210 S. 1st St.), Ann Arbor’s premier indoor-outdoor arts venue. The evening begins with a Student Showcase and continues with alternating indoor and outdoor sets.
Sunday, Sept. 27 (6 PM – 10 PM): The celebration moves to The Raven’s Club (207 S. Main St.) for three featured jazz sets.
A Decade of Supporting Local Talent Founded in 2016 by local musician and teacher Dave Sharp, the A2 JAZZ FEST was designed to showcase emerging artists and provide professional opportunities for Washtenaw County musicians. Since its inception, and despite a brief hiatus during the pandemic, the festival has steadily grown its talent base and reached increasingly wider audiences.
"10 years is a major milestone," organizers noted, emphasizing the festival's role in maintaining a vibrant arts scene amidst broader funding cuts to the sector. This year’s festival will feature the Outreach Education Stage with Sean Dobbins, a highly regarded bandleader and Professor of Jazz Studies at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
Mission and Community Impact The mission of the A2 JAZZ FEST extends beyond performance to include:
Employment: Creating sustainable work for local musicians.
Education: Providing accessibly priced entertainment and utilizing improvisational music as a "brain-building" tool for developing musicians.
Mentorship: Co-creating STEAM activities that facilitate intergenerational mentorship and bring diverse communities together.
For the full performance schedule and more information, please visit a2jazzfest.com