Top off the Wichita Jazz Festival with an evening of outstanding artistry featuring amazing performances from vocalist April May Webb with Randall Haywood, Jacob Webb, Nathan Webb and Yayoi Ikawa, followed by Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble. You won’t want to miss this unforgettable night of jazz!

Jazz vocalist April May Webb with trumpeter Randall Haywood
Featuring Jacob Webb on bass, Nathan Webb on drums and Yayoi Ikawa on piano

She’s a Kansas girl, from Newton, now bringing her dream to life!  April May Webb was recently named the winner of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.  She’ll be performing with trumpeter (and husband) Randall Haywood, voted male Rising Star at Hot House Jazz Magazine and Jazzmobile NYC. Together, the Sounds Of April & Randall will S.O.A.R., blending jazz with Country, R&B, and Gospel influences. Their music has earned national acclaim with hits on Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts and National Jazz Week Charts. Randall was the youngest Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra member at 15, and April May was the first Black woman to graduate from William Paterson’s Jazz Education program.

April May and Randall will be joined by April’s brothers, Jacob Webb and Nathan Webb as well as fellow musician Yayoi Ikawa. Jacob is an award-winning producer, bassist, pianist and multi-instrumentalist who founded Next Paradigm Records. Nathan is an accomplished drummer and percussionist who champions music education. Also natives of Newton, Jacob and Nathan have collaborated with countless jazz icons, including legendary jazz guitarist Jerry Hahn. A pianist and composer, Yayoi has released multiple albums and has performed and taught internationally.

Together, they create music that inspires.

More April May Webb….

Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble
Featuring Anisha Rush on alto sax, Dawn Clement on piano and vocals, Jeff Lederer on tenor sax and clarinet and Ben Allison on bass

Legendary drummer Matt Wilson has released 13 albums as a leader, appeared on more than 400 others as a sideman and has played with an impressive array of the most legendary jazz names. Now he brings to Wichita his Good Trouble entourage, as noted by Downbeat magazine: “Good Trouble finds Matt Wilson as boisterous and hard-swinging as ever.” Come find out why this New York-based drummer – and WSU grad – is among the most in-demand players and educators on the modern jazz scene.

Good Trouble features Anisha Rush, Dawn Clement, Jeff Lederer and Ben Allison. Anisha is a saxophonist, composer and educator who performs with many noteworthy musicians and serves as bandleader of Anisha Rush and the Encounter. A pianist, vocalist and composer, Dawn serves as both a torchbearer of the jazz tradition and a trailblazer in fresh sonic explorations. Jeff is a saxophonist-clarinetist/composer/educator whose work crosses the genres of jazz, Latin and creative improvised music. A bassist, composer, producer and educator, Ben is known for his inspired arrangements, inventive grooves and hummable melodies.

More Matt Wilson…