| Upcoming Schedule |
Aug 18
5:30pm - 9:30pm
Jazz on the Docks
ft. Emphasis Band Opening Act: VI Superior Court Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra
Free Community Concert
WICO Docks
(St. Thomas, USVI
)
Aug 24-28
Artist-In-Residence
Dion Parson
University of the Virgin Islands
(St. Thomas, USVI)
Sep 5
Steve Turre Sextet
Detroit Jazz Festival
(Detroit, MI)
Sep 11 & 12
7:30pm & 9:30pm
Dion Parson &
21st Century Band
Ginny's Supper Club
(Harlem, NY)
Sep 26
2015-16 VI Youth Ensemble Auditions
Education Complex
High School
(St. Croix, USVI)
Oct 3
2015-16 VI Youth Ensemble Auditions
University of the
Virgin Islands
(St. Thomas, USVI)
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Highlights Interviews
& Sound Clips
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| Dion Parson USVI Ambassador |
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| Jazz for Young People with Riza Printup |
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| News2: Mentoring Through the Arts of Music Education Program Story |
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| Mentoring Through the Arts of Music Alumni Concert Documentary |
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Thank you for supporting drummer, composer, and educator Dion Parson.
As Summer progresses, so do plans for Mentoring Through the Arts of Music, Dion Parson & 21st Century Band, and other general activities. This Fall, Dion and United Jazz Foundation are scheduled to launch the second season of the VI Youth Ensemble and a new Artist-In-Residence Program, in partnership with the USVI Department of Education and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Watch too for Dion Parson & 21st Century's second appearance at Ginny's Supper Club in Harlem, New York. Read on to see what else is in store.
If you're not already doing so, we invite you to follow Dion Parson on
Facebook
and on the
web
.
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Artist-In-Residence
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Mon -Fri, Aug 24- 28
University of the Virgin Islands
St. Thomas, USVI
Once again Dion teams up with the University of the Virgin Islands to mentor and teach, students as an Artist-in-Residence. Dion is dedicated to providing the students with the tools they need to be successful. His schedule includes private lessons with students, workshops, classes, curriculum review, and more.
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WICO and Dion Parson Present...
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Tue, Aug 18
5:30pm - 9:30pm
Jazz on the Docks
ft. Emphasis Band
Opening Act: VI Superior Court Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra
WICO Dock
St. Thomas, USVI
(Free Community Concert)
 Summer is always a great time to enjoy new music and to catch up with your favorite bands. This month,
Jazz on the Dock features
Emphasis Band, direct from St. John, performing a mix of island rhythms, rock & roll, jazz, and more. Opening at 5:30pm will be the
VI Superior Court Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra, St. Thomas' very own youth ensemble. Last month, the audience enjoyed St. Croix saxophone legend Dr. Olaf "Bronco" Hendricks and local band Broncodem
.
Check
out Facebook for photos of our community concerts. Presented by
West Indian Company Limited (WICO) and Dion Parson, the concerts take place on the third Tuesday of every month. Admission is Free. No tickets required.
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Detroit Jazz Festival
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Sat, Sep 5
Steve Turre Sextet
Detroit, MI
 Dion joins master trombonist and sea shell virtuoso Steve Turre at the Detroit Jazz Festival for the labor day weekend. The gig celebrates the music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk and his 80th Birthday and features the Steve Turre Sextet with James Carter and Vincent Herring.
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Save The Date: Ginny's Supper Club
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Dion Parson & 21st Century Band
Fri-Sat, Sep 11-12
7:30pm & 9:30pm
Dion Parson & 21st Century Band
Ginny's Supper Club
Harlem, NY
Admission: $20
 Due to popular demand, Dion and the band will take their second bow on the stage of
Ginny's Supper Club this September. With the release of their new CD St. Thomas, the band, now more than ever, is setting the stage for Caribbean Jazz. Watch for more
details and promotions as we revv up for the gig in September.
Dion Parson, drums; Ron Blake, saxophone; Riley Mulherkar, trumpet; Victor Provost, steel pan; Carlton Holmes, piano/keyboard; Kenny Davis, bass; Danny Sadownick, percussion.
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Virgin Islands Youth Ensemble Auditions
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Sat, Sep 26 - Education Complex High School, St. Croix
Sat, Oct 3 - University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas
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VI Youth Ensemble Video,
courtesy Netfa Romain
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The second session of the
VI Youth Ensemble
kicks off in October with open auditions taking place in September on St. Croix and early October on St. Thomas. Dion and Band Director Dionne Donadelle encourage students who are serious about their music and ready for a challenge to apply. Come prepared and bring your A game since only the best will be selected. The VI Youth Ensemble is intended to provide students with experience in performance as they hone their craft. Last season, the 2014-15 VI Youth Ensemble performed the Welcome Performance for the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at Reichhold Center.
VI Youth Ensemble
photos
can be seen here. Click here to watch the video.
The 2014-15 VI Youth Ensemble includes Keshawn Hardy, trumpet; Sherwin Williams, alto saxophone; Brian Hodge, tenor saxophone; Joash Lake, tenor saxophone; Orel Lee, trombone; Ade Warrington, piano; Tariq Lionel, piano; Jovier Adams, bass; and Joshua Farrell, drums. Teachers include Dion Parson, Dionne Donadelle, Josh Carr, and Luba Dolgopolsky.
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St. Thomas CD - Now on Sale!
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Dion Parson & 21st Century Band
St. Thomas CD Release
 Dion is thrilled to announce that St. Thomas, the band's new album, is now available for purchase on CD Baby, iTunes, and other online retail outlets. If you are on the Virgin Islands, CDs are also available at the Caribbean Music Center, Fredericksted, St. Croix and at Music Shoppe in Havensight Mall, WICO Dock, St. Thomas. Keep your ears peeled as the CD has been appearing on radio stations in Poland, Toronto and across the US, including Michigan, Puerto Rico, California, Illinois, New Orleans, Washington DC, and more.
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Jazz in the Park
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 Jazz in the Park featuring trumpeter
Etienne Charles and a variety of musicians, was a huge success as member of the community turned out to enjoy the music and the many vendor offerings. "As one of ICMC's signature community events, we always want to keep building on the wonderful positive momentum and community spirit that the event has and continues to evoke as it lives up to its mantra to 'Bring the community together through music,'" explains ICMC President, Cornel Williams. Next event is scheduled for November 6, 2015. Concert is free to the general public. No tickets required. Event presented by
International Capital & Management Company.
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Newport Jazz with Jon Faddis
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 Hot on the heels of a thrilling three-day run at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Dion was honored to continue on with Jon Faddis at the Newport Jazz Festival on Aug 2. The very successful gig featured Dion along with Jon Faddis, trumpet and the members of his long-standing quartet, David Hazeltine, and Kyoshi Kitagawa. Long time friends and colleagues Sean Jones and Marquise Hill (winner 2014 Thelonious Monk International Trumpet Competition) turned the excitement up a notch when they joined the line up, along with surprise additional trumpet player and protegee Max Darshay.
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