Gospel According 2 Jazz

Guy and Gals 2024Jazz Night OutSATURDAYSeptember 21, 20247:30PM - 9:30PMTICKET $25$30 AT THE DOOR$15 FOOD & DRINK MIN.Vocalist Kendra JohnsonVocalist and Recording Artist Kendra Johnson has been immersed in music her entire life. As many artist do, she begansinging in the church at an early age and continues to lift her voice in song every chance she gets. Kendra’s love of music crosses several genres, from gospel to jazz, neo soul to contemporary. Together, they shape her own unique musical style. This Motown born vocalist has performed throughout the East Coast, Midwest, the Carolinas and the DC Metropolitan area. In recent years, she has performed at various venues which include The National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Andrew Mellon Auditorium, The Fillmore, Twins Jazz Club, Montpelier Arts Center, Alice’s Jazz and Cultural Society and the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival to name a few. Kendra’s vocal journey has been blessed with corporate requests that extend from opening AT&T’s first Black History celebration at the Smithsonian, performing at the National Association of Broadcasters gala honoring Jon Bon Jovi, Howard University, the United States Naval Academy, the Food and Drug Administration, The Victim’s Rights Foundation and events hosted throughout Montgomery County, MD.Under the direction of Connaitre Miller, Associate Professor of Music and Vocal Jazz Coordinator at Howard University,Kendra has performed at the Strathmore Arts Complex. She is one of the featured vocal artists on DC’s own jazz composer/pianist Terry Marshall’s debut CD, Arrival. Kendra periodically performs with local jazz artists and plans to embark upon her own recording project soon.God continues to light the path in all that she does musically and personally. Kendra, a Marylander, is a wife and mother. In her corporate profession, she is a financial consultant.Emcee DeCasto Brown DeCasto Brown is a native Washingtonian whose musical inspiration began during his early introduction into the Baptist Church where the soloists and choirs grabbed his attention. A graduate of Anacostia High School and Delaware State University, he mastered on the football field as an All-American and Hall of Fame wide receiver and flourished within the drama department, eventually becoming a member of the Autumn House Gospel Ensemble (a professional theatre company in the state of Delaware). Also, while attending Delaware State, he became acquainted with the “Masters of Jazz”, which includes Clifford Brown and John Coltrane, his personal favorites. His vocal influences include Eddie Jefferson, Paul Williams, Philippe Wynne, Johnny Hartman, Abbey Lincoln and brothers Nat and Freddy Cole. On the 2014 Terry Marshall debut CD “Arrival”, DeCasto is featured performing “Moodies Mood for Love”. DeCasto’s natural baritone/tenor style is unique and whether up tempo or ballad, he has the chops of a jazz maestro.Featured Performances:Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival:Twins JazzMontpelier Art CenterAlice’s Jazz and Cultural CenterJazz Night at Westminster DCSteve BundickPete Frassrand was born in Detroit, he grew up in a family of teachers and musicians. He is proud to now be a teacher and musician. He first learned piano from his mother, who was the minister of music at their local church. After playing the piano on and off for years, in 1995 he moved to the DC area and decided to study music seriously. He is grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from area players like Robert Redd, Charles Covington, and Tim Murphy. In 2000, he received his music education degree from Towson University and now share jazz with young people as a music teacher. Over the years, he has also honed his performance skills in DC clubs like Utopia, Twins, Alice's Jazz and Cultural Society, Bohemian Caverns and Jojo's. Since 2011 he has served as the pianist for the Greater U Street Jazz Collective, which has made appearances at events such as the DC Jazz Festival, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the Congressional Black Caucus. He considers himself extremely lucky to be able to do what he does in an area with such a rich musical and cultural history.David W. Marsh III is a graduate of the Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. David is equally at home in Jazz, R&B, Blues, Latin, Caribbean, Brazilian, Classical, Funk, Reggae, Gospel and Persian as well as rock and pop styles of music. He has performed in Japan, Italy, Canada, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Brazil, former Soviet Union and throughout the United States with the DC Youth Orchestra, the St. Augustine's Gospel Choir, and recording artists such as Nestor Torres & Gil Scott Heron. Locally, he has performed at Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center, the White House, Constitution Hall, the Warner Theater and many other area venues. David recorded with Jennifer Holiday, Doug Carn, St. Augustine's Gospel Choir, Carey Creed, Stickman, Kevin Campbell, Dan Reynolds, Matt Niese, Yvette Spears, Juanita Williams, Vaughn Nark and the Rejoice Conference Choir. He is the bass player for "Cook, Dixon and Young" (formally Three Mo' Tenors). He performed on the groups recent PBS special and CD. Cook, Dixon and Young have performed concerts at venues such as the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl and Wolf Trap and with the prestigious Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Washington DC Opera, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.