MSJS

Hello Smooth Jazz friends,

I have some news to share about our future at the Ozone. Everything has a season and our season at the Ozone will be over on February 26th. We have had a good run for 8 years. My goal has always been to keep Smooth Jazz alive in Omaha, and I along with others have accomplished this goal. We now have at least 4 venues who are booking regular Smooth Jazz (and a few of them on Thursday nights), the Omaha Lounge, Sullivans, Rhythmz Lounge and Loves Jazz Museum. In addition, when the summer starts we compete with 12 – 16 weeks of Jazz on the Green and the end of summer concert series. This makes Thursdays even more difficult to hold regular Smooth Jazz events at the Ozone.

I am not sure what we will do with the Society, or Thursday nights, so please stay tuned as we decide our next move. In the meantime, we have 3 great weeks left…. Chad Stoner, Clark & Co., and the last night featuring The Kevin Kelley Band. It’s Kevin’s birthday, and our Smooth Jazz going away party, so please come out to celebrate our success!

Thank you,

Deb

Clark & Company is a 2015 Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards nominee and is made up of 17-year-old triplets and several young (UNO student) horn players. One of the songs off their first album was a finalist in the 10th annual International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA) last January (alongside legends such as Emmy Lou Harris). They were also featured as Band of the Week in the Omaha World-Herald Go! section this past Thanksgiving Day.

Despite their young age, they are very professional and have been playing at venues — including the Slowdown, LIV Lounge, 402 Collective, PS Collective, House of Loom and the City of Omaha Bridge Beats Music Festival.

Midwest Smooth Jazz is proud to present on Thursday, February 26th at 6:30pm, the Kevin Kelley Band at the Ozone, in Omaha, for another Smooth Jazz Thursday.

Kevin Kelley – Music Director/Drummer
Kevin Kelley is a St. Louis native who was born into a musically gifted family. His father, Archbishop Arthur L. Kelley, a musician himself, taught all his children the love of music. Kevin has studied music on many levels throughout junior high, high school and college. He is not only a professional drummer but serves in many other capacities of music such as: Producer, Mix and Recording Engineer, Live Sound Engineer, Music Director, Clinician and many other facets. Locally, Kevin is the lead sound engineer at Salem Baptist Church, as well as Music Director for Urban Omaha Entertainment. Kevin has shared the stage and/or worked with Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards, Tyler Perry Enterprises, Cuba Gooding Sr., and The Main Ingredient, Shirley Murdock, Tony Bennett and many other artists. Kevin is the owner and proprietor of K2Music LLC, a multifaceted Production and Entertainment Company.

Jacob Sorensen a uniquely talented guitar and bass player has graced the stage on many occasions. Jacob has a seasoned approach way beyond his years. A few of the artists Jacob has played or opened up for are:
Pablo Medina
Alex Zurdo
Miel San Marcos
Danilo Montero
Espíritu y en verdad
Tercer Cielo
The future looks extremely bright for this young and talented musician!

Ishmael “Ish” McCowan was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. A man of many talents who first started on drums and is now know by gracing the stage on keyboards. Ish has been playing keys for almost 20 years. He’s also had the pleasure of playing for many great artists in the R&B, Gospel and Jazz arenas, including sitting in with Mike Phillips here in Omaha last summer. Ishmael always adds a pleasant fusion of gospel and jazz to his sound for all to enjoy!

Urban Omaha Entertainment and Storz Brewery invite you to join us for live music, food, beverages, & fun at the Storz Brewery (formerly Rick’s Boatyard). Events start this Friday evening February 13th through Sunday February 22nd. No Cover Charge other than the Staycation event on the 20th at 10:00 pm. Go to
www.omahabeerweek.com,
www.storzbrewing.com, or
www.uoent.com for more details