Laila Ball will perform at Nightall Friday at 8 p.m. at Miller Plaza
The Nightfall Concert Series, produced by Chattanooga Presents, continues its 31st season of free Friday night concerts Friday at Miller Plaza with the pop jazz sound of headliner Laila Ball. The local opener will be the Tim Hughes Quartet.
Review for Laila Ball:
Touted as one of Canada’s brightest young jazz stars, this keyboardist and vocalist has won prestigious awards and played the world’s biggest stages in addition to recording with international icon, Sting. Catchy, sophisticated and unlike anything currently on the radio, it’s pop music with a lively jazz twist. Melodies take thrilling left turns and choruses give way to instrumental interludes.
Now, after 20 years as a performing artist, Laila Ball’s new self-titled release is an eclectic album that she describes as fully representative. “There are elements of improvisation, so the jazz is there,” she says. “There’s also an edgier songwriting persona that I think has always been there but took some time to hone in on.”
Opening the show at 7 p.m. is local jazz band, the Tim Hughes Quartet. This group of accomplished musicians plays American jazz standards by Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and more.
Food trucks and non-alcoholic drink concessions are available at Nightfall. No outside food or beverages are allowed to be brought in to Nightfall, therefore coolers are not allowed. Nightfall, recently named as “Downtown Chattanooga’s Favorite Event” in a survey by River City Company, has been the community’s signature summertime program for the past 30 years. Known for its family-friendly environment as well as being recognized nationally for the quality of its musical programming, Nightfall has an average attendance of between 2,500-3,000 each night.
Each Friday through Aug. 31, Nightfall will showcase a broad spectrum of musical genres featuring a local band at 7 p.m., followed by a headline show by a national artist at 8 p.m., many of whom are performing for the first time in Chattanooga.
For more information on this free community concert series, call 265-0771 or visit NightfallChattanooga.com for a complete, interactive website that includes music samples by each headliner, as well as other information for first-time attendees.