John E. Lawrence is proud to present The Ypsilanti Frog Island Jazz Series, which takes place every Friday from 7 to 9pm. The series is set to kick off on July 2, and will continue every Friday through September 3.
Ypsilanti’s Frog Island has a rich history of Jazz. Although patrons miss the Frog Island Blues and Jazz Festival, John E. Lawrence is working to remind the community how deeply rooted Jazz is in our community. “I do remember the Frog Island Blues and Jazz Festival,” Lawrence comments. “The WCC Jazz Orchestra used to perform there under the direction of Dr. Morris J. Lawrence. Morris and I even sat on the panel of judges for the WEMU Jazz Competition one year, along with one of the owners of the WJZZ Radio Station in Detroit.”
John E. Lawrence is a professional guitarist and local recording artist, retired instructor, former Chair of the Performing Arts Department at Washtenaw County, and a proud lifelong Ypsilanti resident. Lawrence states, “Frog Island has a history and a tradition of bringing together some of the best popular musicians around to perform right here in my hometown of Ypsilanti, and I’m really excited to have this opportunity to present a jazz concert series for the people in our community.”
The Ypsilanti Frog Island Jazz Series will host free summer concerts on Friday evenings all summer long. People are invited to bring their lawn chairs or blankets, find a nice spot on the island, and enjoy the smooth jazz sounds from some of the best musicians that Metro Detroit has to offer. Lawrence mentions that “The type of jazz that the new Frog Island Jazz Series will have is a mixture of traditional straight-ahead jazz and smooth jazz. ‘The Old Mixed With New.’ The goal is to continue where the old Frog Island Jazz Festival left off and bring it into today’s Smooth Jazz.”
Be sure to come and check out the sweet Jazz that Frog Island is sure to be giving this Friday and every Friday over the summer! For more information and the lineup, check out the Frog Island Jazz Series website.
699 Rice St., Ypsilanti. 734-483-1100. frogislandjazz.com.
