The Baylor Project headlines the Levitt AMP Chattanooga Music Series on Thursday
The Levitt AMP Chattanooga Music Series is in full swing. The series features 10 weeks of free, live music on the lawn of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, but due to upcoming increment weather on Thursday, headliner The Baylor Project will still go on inside within the Bessie Smith Performance Hall at 6 p.m.
Review for The Baylor Project:
The Baylor Project is an innovative collaboration merging the talents and creativity of this dynamic husband and wife duo, Marcus and Jean Baylor. As the children of pastors, Marcus and Jean's musical roots were planted deep within the church, and it was there that the road was paved for the influence of gospel, blues, soul, and jazz to make it’s mark. Their debut CD "The Journey", released on their own label, Be A Light, topped the Billboard Jazz Chart at Number 8 and a year later garnered two GRAMMY nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Traditional R&B Performance, solidifying The Baylor Project as an undeniable force. As you listen to The Baylor Project, you will be taken on an eclectic musical journey that showcases as much versatility as it does virtuosity.
Jean, a “Jersey Girl”, was introduced to jazz in college as a vocal performance major at Temple University, where she was heavily influenced by artists such as Carmen McCrae, Jimmy Scott, and Shirley Horn. She subsequently made her mark as one-half of the platinum recording R&B/Soul duo, Zhane.
Zarcus, a St. Louis native, is widely recognized as the former member and drummer of the GRAMMY Award winning jazz quartet, Yellowjackets. While studying and graduating from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, he performed and recorded with musical icons Cassandra Wilson, John Scofield, and Kenny Garrett. Since then, Marcus has come into his own as a composer, arranger, producer and bandleader. With his natural feel, creative use of space and innovative ability to tell a story, his musicianship and improvisation are those of a seasoned musician.
The opening act will be local performing artist, TruSaint. TruSaint aka Sharreif Horton is a Christian Hip Hop rapper whose purpose is to let people in the world know that the worst sinners can make the best saints through his unique lyrical prowess and hip hop beats.
This is the second year in a row that Chattanooga has been selected as one of 15 small to mid-sized towns and cities across the nation to win a Levitt AMP Grant Award of $25,000 in matching funds to present a free concert series by The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, a national funder of creative placemaking that empowers communities to inject new life into underused public spaces through free, outdoor concerts.
Presented by Jazzanooga, in partnership with the Urban League Chattanooga, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Chattanooga Fun and city of Chattanooga – government, this year’s series will feature a lineup of talent spanning genres like Blues, New Orleans Bounce, Jazz and Afro-Latin. There will also be over 20 local vendors providing food, beverages and community informational resources.
The series is funded by the Levitt Foundation, Lyndhurst Foundation and Benwood Foundation along with the 2018 Community Corporate Sponsor, Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union.
The free concert series will be held Thursday nights on the lawn of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center from Aug. 23-Oct. 25 from 6-8:30 p.m.
See the full lineup here