Feb 24

Feb 24 Jazz Is Back At Lake Arbor

Celebrating 12th Anniversary, Lake Arbor Jazz Festival Returns To The Lake With Notable Artists Ann Nesby, Chelsey Green, Down To The Bone, Gerald Veasley And Tim Bowman And A Celebrity Golf Game

By Tiffany Young

The Lake Arbor Jazz Festival returns to Mitchellville, MD in central Prince George’s County, July 13-17, with a full weekend of great contemporary jazz and R&B music. The event is led in part by the Prince George’s Cultural Arts Foundation, an organization that supports the growth and enrichment of Prince George's County culture through the development of collaborative platforms and community partnerships that promote music, drama, the fine arts, entertainment, sports, recreation, and other activities.

Tickets go on sale starting March 1st.

Festival Headliners include:

● Thursday, July 14 Jonathan Butler

● Friday, July 15 Gerald Albright

● Saturday, July 16 WAR

● Sunday, July 17 Kirk Whalum

Media Personality Tony Richards will host both days of the festival.

After a successful COVID-safe concert series at National Harbor, MD, the annual festival announced that they’re returning to the Lake Arbor community, where it first started 12 years ago. The first 10 years of the Lake Arbor Jazz Festival featured a one day (Saturday) outdoor music event.

“This year we are excited to add a second day of outdoor festival activities on July 17. This is in addition to the Thursday Pre Festival Concert and Friday Summer White Affair, both being held at the Center for Performing Arts in Largo MD. Also, we have added a Celebrity Golf Outing to the festival lineup of events,” said Kevin Alexander, Lake Arbor Jazz Festival’s Executive Producer.

As the festival’s founder, Alexander has also been the President of Prince George's Cultural Arts Foundation since 2009. “The Lake Arbor Jazz Festival is the cornerstone event of the foundation,” he said.

The traditional festival format will also return with an amazing line-up of artists and events. In addition to enhancing the cultural arts and bringing quality entertainment to Prince George's, the festival and foundation hosts music workshops and provides college scholarships to students pursuing higher education in the arts. In 2021, we awarded $15,000 in scholarships and $65,000 have been awarded to over 30 Prince George’s County students since 2014.

Beginning with some pre-event entertainment, on July 13, the VIP Unplugged Reception will feature the musical talents of Elan Trotman, a contemporary jazz saxophonist. Elan Trotman has quickly become one of jazz’s most thrilling and emotive performers as he continues to stand out and push boundaries as a composer, performer, teacher and recording artist. Trotman’s playing, though inspired by Grover Washington, Jr., Kirk Whalum and Najee, displays his own fresh ideas and distinctive tone. So much so that the New England Urban Music Awards and The Barbados Music Awards both named him Jazz Artist of The Year on multiple occasions.

The actual jazz festival will have two days of back-to-back artists starting on July 16, featuring artists such as: Eric Darius, Down to the Bone, Karen Linette and on July 17 the sounds of Sweet Cherie and Kirk Whalum, who is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgments for his musical excellence including three Dove Award nominations, an NAACP Image Award nomination and has won two Stellar Awards-Gospel music’s highest honor. A twelve-time Grammy® Award nominee, Kirk won his first Grammy® Award in 2011 for Best Gospel Song “It’s What I Do”––featuring Lalah Hathaway.