She may be in her mid-20s, but Veronica Swift’s vocal prowess and astonishing scat singing reveal a soulful maturity infusing her youthful passion. This remarkable mix earned second place in the 2015 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. Little wonder: Veronica’s been singing jazz since childhood and first recorded at age 9. She’s been headlining major jazz venues behind her new album, Confessions, which All About Jazz gave 4 ½ stars.

Born in the Rio de Janeiro suburb of Nova Iguaçu, Kenia Ashby has long been renowned for her ability to translate the complex rhythms of her Brazilian homeland into jazzy creations. Her many CDs and highly engaging live performances display a mastery to communicate in multiple languages, Portuguese, English and Spanish. Kenia’s voice embodies the best of the Brazilian sound – deep and sultry, richly diverse, and unexpectedly explosive.

As an accomplished, award-winning singer – including a Tony nomination for her Broadway show Swing!– Ann Hampton Callaway has pretty much done it all with the Great American Songbook. She returns to Westchester and also returns to tackle one of her most acclaimed programs, “Jazz Meets Broadway.” Ann’s renowned interpretive brilliance in making familiar material seem startling, new and fresh and her engaging stage presence will be on full display.

When you hear a Tommy Campbell-led group, you’re listening to jazz history. After decades of absorbing amazing lessons from the jazz giants with whom he regularly gigged – Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins and John McLaughlin, among them – his truly unique and authentic drumming brought awards and global recognition. His expressive range from beautifully sensitive to the powerfully percussive is augmented by creative impulses that never fail to wow his audience.

Nothing, it seems, can stop Houston Person, who celebrates his 85th birthday on Nov 10 – so here’s a weekend to celebrate with the reigning King of the Boss Tenor himself. His tone has gotten bigger even as his delivery has mellowed and rounded out. And, of course, you are likely to hear almost anything in terms of repertoire from Houston, pianist Lafayette Harris, bassist Matthew Parris, and drummer Vince Ector.

Having apprenticed with the great organist Shirley Scott and trombonist Al Grey, Matthew Parris developed into a fine leader, educator and recording artist who has appeared on 65 albums with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paquito D’Rivera and Clark Terry. Now touring with Houston Person, he’ll bring his own quartet here featuring pianist Jim Ridi, drummer Otis Brown III and vocalist Michelle Lordi, whose 2017 album Matthew produced.

Mark Morganelli & The Jazz Forum All-Stars
Celebrating Brasil! Double-CD!
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Friday, November 15
8 & 10 PM