Lupus Foundation of Arkansas' annual fundraiser, An Evening with Grady Nichols Smooth Jazz Concert, will be held at 7:15 p.m. Aug. 8 in the Statehouse Convention Center's Wally Allen Ballroom, 1 Statehouse Plaza, Little Rock.
This is the foundation's first venture into Little Rock for the concert location. Guests can expect an evening of amazing music and the dance floor is bound to be full. A cash bar will also be available. The band generally plays for about 90 minutes before taking a break and just one song may last 15-20 minutes, allowing for a plenitude of uninterrupted dance moves.
Joining Nichols will be band members Mike Wilson on keyboard and vocals, Chuck Tottress on bass guitar, David John on lead guitar, and Joe Nathan Watkins on drums.
Nichols tends to walk around the ballroom, serenading guests at tables with his saxophone, and band members happily sign autographs during breaks. Each show ends with their rendition of "Amazing Grace," performed in a way audiences likely haven't heard before. All these elements combine to make this a show not to miss.
Interestingly, the musician's rural upbringing in Siloam Springs contributed to his discovery of the hip sounds of the saxophone. He fell in love with the instrumental music played on The Weather Channel, and wrote the network requesting their playlist. He began his musical pursuits during sixth grade and by high school, he was performing professionally and studying under legendary saxophonist Joe Davis, who had performed with such greats as Sarah Vaughn and Mel Torme.
From his small town beginnings to the big time as an internationally known saxophonist, Nichols enjoys an audience as broad as his musical tastes. Hot off the success and critical acclaim of his last CD, "Sophistication," his next goal was to record an album reflecting his broad range of musical influences. To accomplish this, he tapped Zac Maloy to produce his newest endeavor, "Take Me With You."
When "Sophistication" broke nationally, Nichols suddenly found himself sharing the stage with some of his musical idols and touring the country in clubs, at festivals and was even chosen to perform on Norwegian Cruise Line's Smooth Jazz Cruise. As a touring artist, he has opened for acts including Ray Charles, Luciano Pavarotti, Jay Leno, The Temptations, The Righteous Brothers, Al Green, and Huey Lewis & the News. He has also performed with artists including Jeff Lorber, Bill Champlin, The Beach Boys, Roy Clark, and Bob James.
In addition, he was a featured performer and award presenter at the first Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards. His song, "Alone With You," was included on the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards Collection CD and received rave reviews. Mark Ruffin, jazz editor for Chicago Magazine and Amazon.com, offered the idea that, "Newcomer Grady Nichols may have the best instrumental track on the sampler."
With four released CDs and a fifth on the way, Nichols' future is as bright and promising as his enthusiasm for the music. He said on his website, "Music is intimately connected to so many great moments in my life. And to my way of thinking, that's the purpose of music -- creating something that enhances memories and moments, binding them together. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to do that. That's my goal, helping to create great moments and memories for people through music."
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Online tickets can be purchased at http://www.eventbrite.com. To order by mail, send a money order or check payable to Lupus Foundation of Arkansas, 220 Mockingbird Lane, Hot Springs, AR 71913.
Lupus Foundation of Arkansas is a nonprofit organization based in Hot Springs, serving the state since October 1993. Its mission is to provide patient education, advocacy and support to all affected by lupus, increase public awareness of the debilitating disease, and help raise research dollars to find a better diagnosis, better treatment and a cure.
Call 525-9380 or email [email protected] for additional information.
Entertainment on 07/03/2015