The Jazz Legacy Project (JLP) presented its final performance for 2024 last Thursday in front of a packed house at Festival Hall in Greensboro.
JLP drummer and narrator Justin Varnes, bassist Kevin Smith, and tenor saxophone player John Sandfort were joined onstage by singer Maria Howell and Noel Freidline on piano for a performance that captivated the audience with the music and life story of Ella Fitzgerald.
Freidline, a pianist, vocalist, arranger, composer, and educator, was named Charlotte Magazine's Best Jazz Musician in 2006 and 2009, as well as the Metrolina Theatre Association of the Carolinas' Best Musical Director in 2009. In addition to her singing, Howell is also a voiceover artist and actress who made her acting debut in 1985 in “The Color Purple.” They perform together worldwide as the Noel Freidline Quartet.
Festival Hall Director Nicole Chillemi also joined JLP onstage to sing and received great applause. Bringing jazz to Festival Hall was a passion project for Chillemi, and the popularity of each performance has been reflected in the growing number of audiences enjoying each show.
Jazz Legacy Series 2025, featuring the Jazz Legacy Project, will kick off Feb. 6, 2025, with “Sarah Vaughan: The Divine One,” followed by “Miles Davis, Miles Ahead” on May 8, the music of Ray Charles in “Jazz+Soul=Genius” on Aug. 14, and a tribute to Herbie Hancock’s musicianship in “The Blue Note Years,” Oct. 9 next year.
Season passes for all four shows in 2025 are available now at festivalhallga.com, starting at $85 each.