O.Henry free live Jazz - April Talbott with Special Guests: Glen Wilson (sax) and Rory Stuart (guitar)

6:00-9:00 PM in the O. Henry Lobby. Over the years (since January 2015!), O.Henry has become quite a hotbed for live jazz. Enjoy vintage craft cocktails and delightful seasonal Mediterranean tapas while enjoying The O.Henry Trio and an impressive list of rotating vocalists who perform varied styles of jazz in the O.Henry Social Lobby.

April Talbott is a vocalist, dance instructor, and social media manager in Greensboro, NC. She started singing onstage at church at the age of 7 and hasn’t stopped since. Her love of music was encouraged and fostered by a mom who took her to musicals at a young age and a dad who shared with her his love of Herb Alpert, Eric Clapton, and BB King. She majored in Theatre Arts and minored in Voice at Averett University in Virginia, and immediately upon graduation began singing professionally. After relocating to the Triad, she joined Nobody’s Business, a jazz quartet that entertained guests on the East Coast with classic renditions from the Great American Songbook. With Nobody’s Business, April entertained audiences as the house band at Adam’s Inn in High Point, NC, and at various festivals including the John Coltrane Jazz Festival and Winston-Salem Arts Festival. April performed for First in Flight Entertainment in a one-woman song and dance WWII tribute at Veteran’s events and museums and choreographed for various dance studios, music videos, and weddings. In addition to her career as a jazz singer, she is a rock vocalist, sharing a stage with her band, Impersona, a math rock project, and Resonate, an acoustic duo with guitarist, Brett Nooe. Her singing style is deeply influenced by an eclectic mix of artists such as Gregg Allman, Toni Braxton, Sarah Vaughn, Chris Cornell, Julie London, Linda Rondstat, and Diana Krall.  April is thrilled to return to O Henry, her absolute favorite Triad spot to play.

Glenn Wilson has been a professional jazz saxophonist for 50 years. The All Music Guide called him “an unsung hero in modern jazz”. After completing his undergraduate degree from Youngstown State University in 1977, Glenn moved to New York City, where he worked and recorded with The Buddy Rich Band, Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Tito Puente, Machito, Bill Kirchner Nonet, Bob Belden Ensemble, and scores of other jazz and latin-jazz groups.

Glenn leads an active touring schedule performing in concerts, clubs and workshops around the country. Glenn was Director of Jazz at Illinois Wesleyan University after teaching at the University of Illinois (where he earned a Masters in Jazz Performance) in the jazz department since 2006.

Wilson’s non-profit, Further Jazz, Inc. produces jazz events in Illinois and beyond and is dedicated to fostering, promoting and advancing greater knowledge, understanding and appreciation of jazz music. Glenn can be reached at www.jazzmaniac.com

Rory Stuart is a critically acclaimed jazz guitarist and composer based in New York As a leader, he has CDs that have received 4 stars in Downbeat, and been voted 10 best of the year in Coda and Cadence. He has performed around the world, including Switzerland, South Korea, Sweden, Argentina, Singapore, Canada, Greece, India, Brazil, Italy, Bahamas, Israel, Chile, Austria, Iceland, Columbia, Czech Republic, Spain, Denmark, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Germany,

Rory’s recently published 6-volume book series (‘The Rhythm Book’) is supported by more than 2,000 mp3s. According to NEA Jazz Master saxophonist Dave Liebman, ‘Rory Stuart has done an amazing job leaving no stone unturned in the rhythmic universe. I am sure that [Stuart’s books] will be required reading in the field, setting the standard for future research on rhythm.’