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Jazz on the Cumberland Debuts at Cumberland Park Amphitheater

Nashville, TN ---The Roland Barber Quartet kicks-off Cumberland Park’s first major music event, Jazz on the Cumberland, a monthly concert series on the banks of the great river beginning Sunday, August 19.  The concert, scheduled from 5 – 7 p.m., at the park’s amphitheater (located at 592 South 1st Street, Nashville, TN) is free and open to the public.

Jazz on the Cumberland, which will run every third Sunday, August through November 2012, will present four highly-acclaimed, universally known popular jazz artists.  Jonathan Martin, WSMV’s popular reporter and weekend news anchor, will emcee Sunday’s event.

Sunday’s headliner isThe Roland Barber Quartet. Barber, an internationally known trombonist, has performed all over the world - including venues such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall.  He’s made appearances on MTV, ESPN, PBS and NBC's Saturday Night Live. He has performed with an impressively diverse list of celebrated artists which include: The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Temptations, Manny Oquendo y Libre, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Take 6, Chaka Khan, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Ron Isley, Melinda Doolittle, Cissy Houston, Wynton Marsalis, and many others.

The September 16th concert will feature smooth jazz favorite Michael Fair. Over the last 25 years, this one of a kind flugelhorn and trumpeter has placed himself prominently into the competitive smooth jazz market. Locally, he has carved a unique niche for himself here in the Middle Tennessee area by performing and recording smooth jazz in a city primarily known for country and contemporary Christian music.  Playing the flugelhorn and trumpet make him uniquely Nashville, but a national smooth jazz favorite.

Trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator Imer Santiago takes the stage on October 21.  Santiago,  who hails from Lorain, Ohio, began playing trumpet at age nine. His interest in pursuing music as a career commenced during his high school years. At Ohio State University, Imer studied under trumpet master,  Pharez Whitted. Upon graduating, Imer attended graduate school at the University of New Orleans, where he continued his music education with great local teachers and musicians such as; Ellis Marsalis, Wendell Brunious, Harold Battiste, Steve Masakowski, Clyde Kerr, Jr., and Ed Petersen. Imer currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee, where he teaches middle school band (at W.A. Bass), leads the Imer Santiago Quartet,  co-leads the World Music Band, El Movimiento, and performs and records with various artists and ensembles throughout the world.

Nioshi Jackson Reason takes center stage for the final concert of the series on November 18).  Jackson, a music producer, artist manager, and inspirational speaker, is also one dynamic drummer - playing for such acts as Laura Bell Bundy, The Road Hammers/Jason McCoy, and for Trisha Yearwood at TY, Inc.

Jazz on the Cumberlandis presented by Victor Chatman Productions and Metro Parks.  Chatman, the CEO and President of VicTyme Entertainment and Victor Chatman Studios, is also the producer of the Brown Bag Lunch Special Concert Series in Centennial Park andMacy’s Runway Fashion Shows and Concert Series.

Metro Parks Metro Parks provides diversified recreational facilities and programs across Davidson County. Metro Parks offers everything from art classes and galleries, to sports leagues, golf courses, and special population programs.  It is the purpose of the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation to provide and maintain sufficient acreage and facilities to effectively offer the most diversified recreational services possible.