The Jazz Legacy Project kicked off its 2025 series last Thursday evening at Greensboro’s Festival Hall, featuring “Sarah Vaughan, The Divine One.”
Guest vocalist and actress Maria Howell captivated a large audience with her beautiful harmonies and rhythm as she sang Vaughan's music.
Howell has previously worked with Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, George Benson, Ronnie Laws, an,d Earl Klugh. She launched her career as the choir soloist “In The Color Purple” and has also appeared in numerous TV shows.
Bandleader and drummer Justin Varnes created the Jazz Legacy Project. While teaching jazz history at Georgia State University, he realized that by discarding the usual textbooks and telling the stories behind the music and artists, his students were hooked and much more engaged.
Now, through concerts that combine songs and stories told by the drummer, Varnes, and the Jazz Legacy Project bring to life the music that connects masters of jazz to modern audiences. His transformation becomes a vivid exploration of American music history in which Festival Hall’s artistic director, Nicole Chillemi, also joined the band onstage for one song, prompting an audience member to turn and say, “She sounds just like Sarah Vaughan, doesn’t she?”
Also playing with Varnes, Howell, and Chillemi for “Sarah Vaughan, The Divine One,” were tenor saxophonist John Sandfort, pianist Nic Rosen, and Kenneth Smith on the acoustic bass.
Next in the Jazz Legacy Project series this year will be the music of Miles David, Miles Ahead, presented May 8 at Festival Hall, with tickets available soon.