Apr 26 Friday
Doors: 6:30PM | Show: 7:30PM
The Kalamazoo State Theatre is excited to announce an unforgettable night of music and nostalgia with The Magic Of Motown,” presented by Moxie Events. This spectacular show will light up the historic stage on Friday, April 26, promising an evening filled with the iconic sounds that defined a generation.
The Magic Of Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville, USA
Moxie Events brings to life the timeless music of Motown with “The Magic of Motown.” This enchanting show is not just a concert; it’s a celebration of the era that brought us some of the most influential music in history. With a cast of 15 powerhouse vocalists and a dynamic six-piece band, the show is set to recreate the captivating harmonies, smooth choreography, and distinctive costuming that made Motown an unforgettable part of our musical heritage.
Audiences will be transported back to the golden age of music with songs from legendary artists like The Temptations, The Jackson Five, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, and many more. The show promises to be a vibrant tribute to “Hitsville, USA,” capturing not just the sounds but also the spirit of Motown.
Apr 28 Sunday
GrammyⓇ Award-winning Eliane Elias is an internationally acclaimed recording artist, pianist, singer, composer, and arranger from Brazil who blends South American roots and sultry voice with pianistic mastery. Her live performances showcase her charismatic personality, and talents in jazz, Brazilian, classical, and pop music. She has collaborated with some of the world’s most important jazz artists, including Chick Corea. Her album Mirror Mirror won the 2022 Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album.
May 05 Sunday
May 06 Monday
Jazz pianist and composer Helen Sung was among the first graduates of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music. Her artistry and inventive compositions have earned her a Guggenheim Fellowship and won Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Jazz Piano Competition. Her artistry and inventive compositions span the full spectrum of dynamic and soulful jazz.
May 07 Tuesday
Jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer Isaiah J. Thompson won the 2023 American Pianists Awards and the Cole Porter Fellowship of the American Pianists Association. As a performer, he aims to express joy and convey his personal experiences through music and his everlasting love of jazz. His recording debut was featured on Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Handful of Keys album with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis. He worked on the Golden Globe-nominated soundtrack for Motherless Brooklyn, was named a Steinway Artist, and won the 2018 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award.
Pianist and composer Shai Maestro, known for his genre-defying performances, seamlessly melds elements of jazz, world music, and contemporary sounds. His imaginative compositions and commitment to sonic exploration have earned high praise and a growing reputation. His unique personal identity and musical fluidity show up in his joyful interplay with his close-knit quartet, who come together in one-of-a-kind, high-energy concerts.
May 08 Wednesday
Shai Maestro, piano – Philip Dizack, trumpet – Jorge Roeder, double bass – Ofri Nehemya, drums
May 10 Friday
Paul Cornish, pianoEmma Dayhuff, bass – Jonathan Pinson, drums
Winner of the 2018 American Jazz Piano Competition, Composer-pianist Paul Cornish’s style is a blend of contemporary and jazz with experimental elements. Pianist for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance, he has performed and worked with artists including Herbie Hancock and John Legend, and on stages throughout the world. An accomplished composer and educator, he is on faculty at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, and strives to inspire freedom and collaboration in his music and community.