Miller Outdoor Theater Highlights The Inaugural “Jazz On the Hill” Concert

The City of Houston has a long and storied history centered around presenting jazz as a source of entertainment. In the traditional sense, such notables as Illinois Jacquet, Arnett Cobb, The Crusaders, Don Wilkerson, Hubert Laws, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Milt Larkin, Ronnie Laws, Leon Spencer, Conrad Johnson, Billy Harper and a host of others have all hailed from Houston. To that end, those influences gave rise to James Williams III, Anita Moore, Barrie Lee Hall, Everette Harp, Jason Moran, Kendrick Scott, Robert Glasper, Kirk Whalum, Eric Harland Stephen Richard, and Donna Scott, all of whom have benefited from their predecessors educationally and professionally. From an educational perspective, the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Summer Jazz Workshop, Diaz Institute and Texas Southern University’s Jazz Ensemble have made it possible for generations of musicians to pursue jazz music as a profession. Collectively, these ingredients and more brings the City of Houston full-circle to announce the inauguration of a brand new initiative to elevate the consciousness of jazz for its educational and entertainment value. Mayor Sylvester Turner is set to highlight jazz in an open air setting that will bring the talents of GRAMMY Award winning musicians Kirk Whalum, as well as Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Band to Miller Outdoor Theater for “Jazz On the Hill.” In addition to those fantastic talented musicians, other featured musicians include students from local area high school jazz ensembles under the auspices of the Monterey Jazz Festival.