Welcome to the
Rebecca J. Graves Center for the Performing Arts

Nat Adderley Jr Quartet
August 3 – 7:30 PM

“I never heard of a Jazz musician who retired. You love what you do, so what are you going to do . . . play for the walls?”
— NAT ADDERLEY

In recent years, the Nat Adderley Jr Quartet (or Trio) performed in Beijing (the Blue Note), Singapore (the Kool Kats Club), in New York City (Minton’s , Grant’s Tomb, the Sugar Bar), New Jersey (Shanghai Jazz in Madison), and many other venues. In September ’19 the band headlined Sheila Anderson’s (WBGO) “Somerville (NJ) Jazz Festival”. And as a “sideman” in 2019 Nat played with Regina Carter (The Jazz Standard NYC on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day) and with Vincent Herring (Smoke Jazz Club NYC later in the year).

In 2020 and 2021 the Nat Adderley Jr Quartet performed for sold-out houses at Parker’s Jazz Club in Austin Tx, Breezy’s Jazz Club Jacksonville Fl, Takoma Station in Washington DC, and a few nights back at Minton’s in Harlem. Also in NYC there were a few “packed” performances for “Jazzmobile” at Marcus Garvey Park and at Grant’s Tomb. Nat also streamed various widely-viewed concerts from his living room for the Queens Public Library, the New Jersey Jazz Society. And from “Birdland” streamed the “Tribute to Phyllis Hyman” duo with Alyson Williams. Finally, in July ’21, Nat was featured (with Paulette McWilliams) in Austria at “ Porgy and Bess” in Vienna, and at the Inntone Jazz Festival in Diersbach.

Nat Adderley Jr received his BA from Yale University.

Strong Water – August 10 – 7:30 PM

Strong Water is a folk band from VA known for its original high energy singer/songwriter folk music.

Like a good shot of its namesake, Strong Water is smooth with a bite. The Americana/folk band first formed in 2013 as a duo on a Virginia university campus before settling into its current four-piece, “complete with howling banjos, two-part vocal harmonies and driving drums” (The Burg).

Their music has been featured on independent radio stations, tastemakers and periodicals like Americana Rhythm, Americana Highways, Americana Music Magazine and AmericanaUK, who described Bearfoot as “a perfectly executed and wonderfully diverse record from a group whose way is only up.”

Their third album The Hills was released April 29, 2022. Written during the pandemic and recorded by Three Arrows Sound, the album explores the changes the band has experienced over the past eight years. Lyrics are inspired by life’s opposites — anticipation and nostalgia, love and loss, courage and fear — and by the beauty of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

Brent Gordon – October 5 – 7:30 PM

Brent graduated from Shepherd University with a music education degree and has embraced the stage the way he did the practice room when he was a student.

He is an accomplished saxophonist and vocalist performing music in any genre. His fiery soulful vocals and powerful sax rich with improvisation are captivating and provide distinct energy to each and every performance.

Sarah McQuaid – October 12 – 7:30 PM

“One of the most instantly recognizable voices in current music … Shades of Joni Mitchell in a jam with Karen Carpenter and Lana Del Rey.”
—Neil March, Trust The Doc

Sarah McQuaid’s lush, chocolatey voice combines with her engaging personality, “subtle mastery onstage” (Huffington Post) and “brilliant musicianship” (fRoots) on acoustic and electric guitars, piano and (occasionally) drum to create a truly immersive experience.

Born in Spain, raised in Chicago, holding dual Irish and American citizenship and now settled in rural England, she brings the eclecticism of her background to her “captivating, unorthodox songwriting” (PopMatters) and choice of material, spanning genres and defying categorization.

All this is abundantly demonstrated by her new live album and video series The St Buryan Sessions — but needs to be savored in person to be fully appreciated.

Postcards – November 9 – 7:30 PM

Trains, planes, and automobiles!

Soloists from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC will tell hilarious and heart-warming stories and sing songs about their travel adventures.

Some of their songs include Leaving on a Jet Plane, London Calling, and I’ll Be Seeing You.

Bobby Sanabria – December 7 – 7:30 PM

Bobby Sanabria is a 7-time Grammy-nominee as a leader. He is a noted drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator, documentary film maker, and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent born and raised in NY’s South Bronx. He was the drummer for the acknowledged creator of Afro-Cuban jazz, Mario Bauzá touring and recording three CD’s with him, two of which were Grammy nominated, as well as an incredible variety of artists.

This South Bronx native of Puerto Rican parents was a 2006 inductee into the Bronx Walk of Fame. He holds a BM from the Berklee College of Music and is on the faculty of the New School University and the Manhattan School of Music where he has taught Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestras passing on the tradition while moving it forward.

Mr. Sanabria has conducted hundreds of clinics in the states and worldwide under the auspices of TAMA Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, Vic Firth Sticks and Latin Percussion Inc. His background having performed and recorded as both a drummer and/or percussionist with every major figure in the history of Latin jazz, as well as his encyclopedic knowledge of both jazz and Latin music history, makes him unique in his field.

Thank you to all of our PAL Sponsors

Jenny and Brian Plum
Bob and Debra Miller
Mama’s Treasures
Bank Street Books

The Barbara & George Lawton Jazz Series