Tribute to Dinah Washington!

Akina-Naomi Kennedy (vocals), James Hall (keyboard), Doug Mathews (bass), and Greg Parnell (drums) will perform a tribute to Dinah Washington at the Live Oak Center on Friday, August 15 at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:45 pm, and there is no admission charge.

Guest vocalist Akina-Naomi Kennedy is a vocalist and bassist who is currently studying Music at Rollins College. Earlier this year she performed as a vocalist in a choir for the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, a nonprofit known nationally for its performances at Rollins. She recently recorded an album with James Hall, John Olearchick, Doug Mathews, and Greg Parnell at Phat Planet Studios in Orlando.

James Hall is a pianist, vibraphone player, and composer based in New Smyrna Beach. In his hometown of Pleasanton, California, he performed with numerous jazz musicians including Matt Finders, Andrew Speight, Anton Schwartz, Michael Marcus, Roger Glenn, and Erik Jekabson. Upon moving to Florida in 2019, he has performed with a wide range of jazz musicians including Antonio Escapa, Jeff Rupert, Scott Dickinson, the Orlando Jazz Orchestra, Tom Dietz, and Bobby Koelble, just to name a few, in the straight-ahead jazz and Latin spheres.

Bassist Doug Mathews has performed extensively in Central Florida with jazz musicians including Terry Myers, Ed Metz, and Chris Cortez. A regular at the Blue Bamboo, he is also a veteran of the Sam Rivers band and participated in multiple albums with the saxophone player during the 1990s.

Jazz drummer and bandleader Greg Parnell is based in Sanford. He is the leader of the Orlando Jazz Orchestra and road manager of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He has performed with The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Les Brown Orchestra, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, The Terry Myers Orchestra, and The American Vintage Orchestra, and is among the best-known big band drummers in the state.

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