(Saxophonist Steve Wilson)
Chatting with Jae Sinnett earlier this week, following a dental procedure that he’d just endured — was unfortunate timing for the acclaimed jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, but he was nevertheless a pleasure to talk to. Sinnett, who is widely known for his long-running Sinnett in Session jazz radio show, is also president of the recently formed, Hampton Roads Jazz Inc., a non-profit organization that is “dedicated to preserving, promoting and presenting jazz in performance and educational contexts,” per its website, and is already making quite a few waves in jazz circles, here in the 757.
Back in April, jazz legend Branford Marsalis, performed with Jae’s trio, as part of a benefit concert for the organization at CNU’s Ferguson Center for the Arts. Later this month, HR Jazz Inc. is presenting the 3-day Phoebus Jazz Festival at Hampton’s The American Theatre, featuring the music of some excellent VA connected jazz acts, as well as a number of prominent jazz artists of national acclaim. Jae tells me that he really wants the festival to distinguish itself from other “so-called” jazz festivals, in our local metro. Especially as the prominent two that he mentions, features a lot of non-jazz artists amongst their line-up of performers…