The mountains. The mesa. And world-class jazz… year 'round.
Jazz happens here
November 12-15
The 11th Annual
Frank Morgan Taos Jazz Festival
four straight days of world-class jazz concerts!
Grace Kelly
George Cables
Lorca Hart & Lyle LInk
Red Hot & Red
Wednesday, November 12
Taos Country Club
Two Free Opening day Shows!
3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Red Hot & Red
Steve Figueroa, piano; Milo Jaramillo, bass; David Flores, drums
Back by popular demand! Red Hot & Red is a Native American jazz trio led by pianist Steve Figueroa. They've opened the last two Festivals and knocked us out with their colorful mix of traditional jazz, Latin and R&B. All three band members of have Native American roots: pianist Steve Figueroa hails from Laguna Pueblo. Bassist Milo Jaramillo is from Isleta Pueblo, and drummer David Flores' family roots date back to the Indigenous Native American and Sonoran Mexico desert Yaqui Tribe.
FREE events– Reservations required. Reservations will be taken beginning November 6 at noon via this website. Join our mailing list to receive notice when Reservations Open. Two people per reservation.
Acclaimed drummer, educator, and original Taoseño, Lorca Hart loves to come "home" for annual performances. Over his career, Lorca has focused on the art and craft of drumming, jazz history, and ensemble collaboration. From his home base in California's Bay Area, he has worked with many of the America's finest artists including Bobby Hutcherson, Ralph Moore, Carmen Lundy, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Jordan, Julian Lage, Hugh Masekela, actor/musician Jeff Goldblum, Kenny Washington, the Cross Hart Jazz Experience and Nicolas Bearde. He also leads the Lorca Hart Trio featuring pianist Josh Nelson and bassist Edwin Livingston, both of whom will be onstage with him at TCA. Lorca also teaches at Stanford Jazz Workshop, Mt. San Antonio College, SF Jazz and many other musical clinics and workshops.
Tenor Saxophonist Lyle Link is a sought after Washington DC sideman who has played with Lorca since his California years. His jazz style is both athletic and lyrical. His versatility has led him to perform with artists as
varied as Patti Austin, Christian McBride, Larry Willis, George Duke, Curtis Lundy and Ralph Peterson, to name a few. He has also gigged with pop icons Patti Labelle, Isaac Hayes, Aretha Franklin… and even jammed with Prince. A regular featured member of Washington, DC-based groups Sine Qua Non, the Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra, and the Kenny Rittenhouse Sextet, he has also performed with the Smithsonian Masterworks Jazz Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In addition to working as a first call sideman, Lyle also leads his own group, the Lyle Link Quartet.
​Pianist Josh Nelson has performed and recorded with some of the most respected names in jazz and beyond, including Natalie Cole, Jeff Hamilton, Walter Smith III, Dayna Stephens, Eddie Daniels, Richard Galliano, Michael Bublé, Benny Golson, Sheila Jordan, John Pizzarelli, and Lewis Nash.
​Bassist Edwin Livingston has performed and/or recorded with many jazz greats, including Elvin Jones, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis, The Headhunters, David ”Fathead” Newman, Peter Erskine, Tootie Heath, and Joe LaBarbera.
exciting mainstream jazz by four spectacular musicians. Don't miss this reunion!
Friday, November 14
Harwood Museum, 7:30 PM
The George Cables Trio
With Alex Claffy, bass and Jerome Jennings, drums
$30 / $25 (Harwood & Taos Jazz Bebop Society members)
a major voice in modern jazz... cables plays with invention and a deep sense of groove.
George Cables is one of the giants of jazz piano. He has performed and recorded with many of the most famous names in jazz, including Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, David “Fathead “Newman, Woody Shaw and Charlie Rouse. Cables had a particular bond with our Festival's namesake, Frank Morgan that spanned sixteen years– and produced five recordings. In addition, Cables has made or been part of more than 90 recordings. His latest recording, I Hear Echoes, was released on his 80th birthday. "No one would guess that the pianist was an octogenarian; Cables plays with undiminished dexterity and invention."–Joshua Weiner, ALL ABOUT JAZZ.
It will be a rare treat to hear him play in the intimate setting of the Harwood Museum.
Bassist Alex Claffy was raised by a bandleader and a talent agent, and grew up as a child actor for Nickelodeon. Once he knew his direction was jazz, he studied at the New York New School for Jazz under teachers such as Jimmy Cobb, Ron Carter, Orin O’Brien, Mike LeDonne, and Gregg August. He has performed with Randy Brecker, George Coleman, Jimmy Cobb, Louis Hayes and Seamus Blake to name a few.
Drummer, Jerome Jennings has a distinct sound that reflects connections to the swing tradition, soul music, and hip hop. He has played every major jazz club in NY– from The Village Vanguard, Birdland, The Blue Note, to Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola. Jennings has also performed in over 30 countries– with Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, The Count Basie Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, Freddie Cole, Curtis Fuller, and many others.
Saturday, November 15
Two performances– 3:00 & 7:30 PM
Taos Center for the Arts
Grace Kelly
Adam Bravo, piano & keys; Cooper Appelt, electric & upright bass;
Ross Pederson, drums
$30 / $25 (TCA & Taos Jazz Bebop Society members)
$25 Family Ticket (1 ticket good for up to 2 adults, must include children/youth– up to 5 persons total)
“Grace Kelly has an electric charisma that instantly ignites the stage.”– JON BATISTE
As a saxophonist, singer, songwriter and knock-out performer, Grace Kelly dazzles in every way. Her blazing talent on the saxophone showed up at a very early age… she was only 12 when she met Frank Morgan and he invited her to perform with him. She was mentored by Frank Morgan until his death in 2007. Grace has performed and/or recorded Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Hewy Lewis, Gloria Estefan, Wynton Marsalis and Questlove. She was a member of the Jon Batiste House Band on Late Night with Stephen Colbert. Grace and her original music have been featured on the TV series, Bosch. At 16 she performed at the White House for the Inauguration of Barak Obama. Grace has since rocked the world-wide jazz world with sold-out concerts, 15 acclaimed albums… even performing on bari-sax with the
funk band The Fearless Flyers, which won her the 2023 Critics Poll for “Rising StarBaritone Saxophone.” In 2022, she became the youngest member of Berklee College of Music’s Board of Trustees. This is Grace’s 11th star-turn at the Frank Morgan Taos Jazz Festival. Her unique mixture of pop-infused jazz, spectacular sax skills and songs featuring her purring vocals have brought Taos audiences to their feet every time. This one is sure to be another joyous event.
The Family Matinée concert is planned as a family-friendly show. Grace is wonderful with kids, and takes real delight in introducing them to jazz. Both of Grace’s concerts are specially-priced for families, so bring the kids!
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Jazz happens here
The mountains. The mesa. And world-class jazz… year 'round.