As
first reported in the Midland Daily News, Cool Lemon Jazz, with special guests Tony Serra and In Motion Studio Dancers and Drum Line, will play its annual Christmas concert at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, in the auditorium of the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library in Midland.
At their infancy in 2009, the Cool Lemon Jazz band was a humble duo consisting of Val Lemen on keyboard and Chris Brown on tenor sax. Since their grassroots days, the band has added vocals, bass, trumpet, flute, soprano sax, tenor and trombone. In a real-life love story, the band's vocal talent developed by happenstance, when Lemen met soon-to-be-member Cynthia while playing a local gig. She happened to ask if they needed any singers - which they did - and the two later married.
Their efforts of expansion have been praised by their audience, as well as created variety in the music they’re able to create. They have performed as a piano/vocal duo, a five-piece jazz combo and a full nine-piece band.
Growing in demand throughout the state, they have played regional events such as Tunes at the Tridge (Midland), Jazz in the Garden (Saginaw) and Sterlingfest (Sterling Heights).
This Saturday, doors open at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door, and children 11 years old and younger will be admitted free. Each ticket will receive the band's Christmas CD. The band's current roster is Val Lemen on keys and arranger; Cynthia as vocalist; Roland Wallace on bass; Mike Curtis; Dave Selley on trumpet; Brenda Selley on second alto, flute; Patrick Heider on first alto; Larry Carbary on tenor, soprano sax, and Assegid Mersha on trombone.
Check out more from Cool Lemon Jazz on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/coolemonjazz
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