Continue celebrating the 25th season of Jean’s Jazz with The Lenard Simpson Quartet on Saturday, February 8 at 7 p.m. at the Racine Theatre Guild.
“Lenard Simpson is an extraordinary young voice on the saxophone. His playing is displayed by a profound soulfulness combined with a sparkling intelligence and curiosity. ” – Billy Childs
Lenard Simpson is a saxophonist, composer and educator from Milwaukee. He was mostly self-taught through high school, but his natural ability and musicianship earned him accolades such as membership in the esteemed Grammy Camp Jazz Session, and an outstanding soloist award at the Mingus Jazz Competition in New York City. Lenard has had the opportunity to play and travel with artists such as pianist and composer-Billy Childs, Kurt Elling, Marquis Hill, and Clayton Cameron. Lenard received a B.M in Jazz performance at Northern Illinois University. While studying at NIU, Lenard was awarded first place in Chicago’s esteemed Luminarts Jazz Competition.
Upon graduation, Lenard moved to Chicago and soon became one of the city’s top call saxophonists playing sideman to legendary local drummers, George Fludas and Charles Heath. The trio has appeared at premier clubs and jazz festivals throughout the area. Lenard recently graduated from the Thelonious Monk Institute Fellowship, (now called the Herbie Hancock Institute) where he was selected by a panel of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, James Newton and Ambrose Akinmusire.
In 2001, Joe Mooney created the Jean’s Jazz Series in memory of his wife, Jean, who passed away from ovarian cancer. Since then, over 23,000 people have attended our concerts, grossing over $130,000 to benefit the Racine Theatre Guild. Jean’s love of the Theatre Guild and her love of Jazz inspired a series that has truly enriched the community.
More details and tickets are available at https://racinetheatre.org/event/the-lenard-simpson-quartet/, (262) 633-4218, or the Box Office, Monday – Friday, 12 – 6 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to the performance.
Jean’s Jazz is made possible through the support of Educators Credit Union, DoubleTree of Racine, Landmark Title, Maresh-Meredith and Acklam Funeral Home, and Pruitt Zabkowicz S.C