Luminescence & KC Jazz Big Band ft. Nnenna Freelon
Sat 7 Mar
James Austin Jr. is a jazz pianist, educator and co-founder of the Barry Harris Institute of Jazz. A former semifinalist of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, he has performed internationally and collaborated with artists across jazz, soul and gospel. Through Luminescence, he continues Harris’s musical and pedagogical legacy, emphasizing collective sound, musical dialogue and shared knowledge.
For this special performance, Luminescence is joined by the KC Jazz Big Band, excisting of students of the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. Together they play with special guest Nnenna Freelon. A seven-time GRAMMY® Award nominee, Freelon is celebrated for her commanding voice, emotional depth and genre-spanning artistry. She has appeared on major stages worldwide and collaborated with artists such as Ramsey Lewis, Earl Klugh and the Count Basie Orchestra. Her work bridges jazz, soul, storytelling and theater.
Together, Luminescence, the KC Jazz Big Band and Nnenna Freelon create a performance in which vocal expression and bebop tradition meet, offering a powerful and deeply musical tribute.
