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Jazzin’ at the Jones House This Weekend: Maureen Renihan, Todd Wright, Shane Chalke

Maureen Renihan
Maureen Renihan

The Town of Boone’s Cultural Resources Department continues the 2015 Concerts at the Jones House Friday with an evening of jazz music, featuring three groups led by Maureen Renihan, Todd Wright and Shane Chalke.

Maureen Renihan and Friends will start the evening at 5 p.m., performing from the Jones House porch.  Influenced by jazz singing icons such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, Renihan’s soothing voice and clear delivery has been winning her fans across the High Country. Known to sing with many of the local and regional jazz musicians, Friday’s performance will include keyboard player Gary Schwartz, bass player Ben McPherron, and drummer Jonathan Priest.

“Maureen is no stranger to the Jones House porch or concert series,” said concert organizer Mark Freed, “but we are excited to host her band for the first time.”

The High Country’s ambassador of jazz, Todd Wright, will follow Renihan, bringing his saxophone-led set back to the Jones House.

Todd Wright 2
Todd Wright

“Todd Wright is a favorite of many people in the area, and rightfully so” Freed says. “He joined the ASU faculty 25 years ago and has been building and leading the Jazz Studies program ever since.”

 As both an educator and performer, Wright has been helping keep jazz alive in western North Carolina, around the country, and globally. He has even performed on an airplane 37,000 feet above the ground. Wright will be performing with ASU Jazz faculty cohort, guitarist Andy Page.

After Todd Wright and friends perform, Shane Chalke’s BE Jazz Band will wrap up the evening with a trumpet and flugelhorn-led set.  Chalke will blow the horns, with Jim Fleri on keyboard, Ben McPherron on bass, Mike Willis on drums, and special guest, Rob Falvo, playing vibraphones.

“Shane’s band plays a regular weekly gig in Banner Elk, hence the ‘BE’ in the band name,” Freed said. “And the regular gig has gotten this group tight. It will be a great way to wrap up the evening.”

Shane Chalke
Shane Chalke

Concerts at the Jones House take place every Friday, from the front porch of the Jones House, 604 W. King St. in downtown Boone. All of the summer concerts at the Jones House performances are free and open to the public.  Patrons are encouraged to bring their own chair or blanket to sit in the Jones House front lawn, under the shade of the gigantic maple trees. Concerts take place rain or shine, with the inside Jones House main gallery being used for inclement weather.

The 2015 Summer Concerts at the Jones House series is sponsored by the Downtown Boone Development Association, Mast General Store, Footsloggers, MPrints, Stickboy Bread Co. and Melanies.

For more information about the concert series, including a complete schedule, please visit www. joneshouse.org or call 828-268-6280.