Annapolis Jazz and Roots Festival to Expand Citywide November 7-16

The Annapolis Jazz & Roots Festival returns for two weekends, November 7–16, set against the backdrop of the Chesapeake Bay and historic Annapolis. Now in its fourth year, the festival, founded in Eastport, expands in 2025 to include eight venues in surrounding areas. Most events are free, with two requiring admission. Reservations are strongly advised for all events.

This year's theme, "World Travelers & Hometown Heroes," celebrates musicians, dancers, visual artists, and others who have significantly contributed to Maryland's cultural landscape. The festival will honor the legacies of iconic figures such as musician Eva Cassidy and Eileen Carson Schatz, founder of Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, whose influence reached global audiences. International and regional artists will join in telling their stories.

**Weekend One**

Opening Night on Friday, November 7, will take place at Peerless Rens, an historic Black social club in Eastport. The Tribute to Eva Cassidy will feature Alexis Tantau and Letitia VanSant with Rusty Sal. These Baltimore-based, genre-crossing musicians have performed internationally and received critical praise for both recordings and live shows. Two seatings will be offered, at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. Light meals and drinks will be available for purchase. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door.

On Saturday, November 8, attendees can view "Sacred Spaces," an exhibition featuring paintings and mixed media art by Jabari Jefferson at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum. At 1:00 p.m., Jefferson will join his father, musician J.C. Jefferson, for a discussion on how music can inspire art. At 2:00 p.m., the J.C. Jefferson Quartet will present a tribute to producer, composer, and musician Quincy Jones.

On Sunday, November 9, the Michael McHenry Tribe will perform at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center from 3–5:00 p.m. The soulful funk and rock trio has worked with artists including The Jacksons, Sheena Easton, George Clinton/P. Funk, and La Toya Jackson.

**Weekend Two**

Weekend Two begins on Friday, November 14, with a performance by the Unified Jazz Ensemble at Eastport United Methodist Church. After a decade of touring, the group settled in Annapolis and will revisit the era when jazz conquered the nation through radio, television, film, and live performance. The concert, held at 7:00 p.m., will feature the sounds of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman. Guests are welcome to dress in styles from the jazz heydays of the 1920s to 1940s.

On Saturday, November 15, morning concerts and lectures continue at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library. The Ed Hrybyk Trio will present "Bass Traditions: Charles Mingus, Ray Brown, Oscar Pettiford and More," followed by a Q&A session.

That afternoon at 3:00 p.m., the Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble will perform at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis. The free, family-friendly performance will celebrate the best in Americana with song and dance, paying tribute to the late Eileen Carson Schatz, founder of Footworks. Alongside former dancers and current Music Director Mark Schatz, the ensemble continues her legacy of blending traditional music and dance into internationally acclaimed performances.

**Grand Finale**

The festival concludes on Sunday, November 16, with two final events. At 3:00 p.m., The Freedom Choir will perform a world music program at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, led by Elizabeth Melvin, a local musician, vocalist, and choir director whose career in jazz and world music spans decades.

The grand finale concert features the Joshua Redman Quartet at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. With his latest Blue Note album, *Words Fall Short*, Redman unveils a powerful new chapter in his storied career. Tickets for this performance range from $25–$85 and can be purchased directly from Maryland Hall ([https://marylandhall.org/maryland-hall-presents](https://marylandhall.org/maryland-hall-presents)).

**Festival Support**

The Annapolis Jazz & Roots Festival operates as an affiliate under the Annapolis Community Foundation. The festival receives support from the Maryland State Arts Council, Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, Art in Public Places Commission, Anne Arundel County Public Library & Foundation, and in-kind contributors KSP Communications and Jazz Beyond Borders.

The artistic director is Paula Phillips.

For full festival information, including artists, music, and venues, please visit www.annapolisjazzandrootsfestival.com

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