Vocalist Jewel Brown, from Houston’s Third Ward, was singing professionally before she graduated from Yates High School. She started out playing with Lionel Hampton when she was 16. That was followed by a seven-year stint as a featured vocalist for Louis Armstrong, and an illustrious career.
Pianist Joe Sample was still attending Texas Southern University when he founded the famed Jazz Crusaders. Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton and Scott Joplin were among the influences for the music created with the Crusaders early on. Over the years, Sample has shared the stage with such varied stars as B.B. King, Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and Andraé Crouch.
Like Sample, flutist Hubert Laws attended Wheatley High School before going on to TSU, where he too performed with the Jazz Crusaders. With three Grammy Awards under his belt, Laws has recorded with Quincy Jones, Paul McCartney, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis, among others. The three celebrated jazz musicians will be joined by more Houston favorites, including Andre Hayward, Horace Alexander Young and Horace Grigsby. 8 p.m. Hobby Center, 800 Bagby. For information, call 713-315-2525 or visit www.thehobbycenter.org.
Fri., May 11, 8 p.m., 2012
