Dion Parson and Friends will perform at International Capital & Management Company’s (ICMC) “Jazz in the Park” at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, in St. Thomas’ Roosevelt Park.
Guest artists such as Eddy LeBron, Roan Creque and Cliff Finch will accompany Parson, and the stage is set for a free-to-the-public, after-work jam not to be missed.
Born on St. Thomas, Dion Parson is one of New York’s finest, Grammy Award-winning drummers with a musical foundation that ranges from classical, reggae and calypso to jazz, African and pop music.
After graduation from Rutgers University in New Jersey in 1985, where he studied percussion with Keith Copeland and William Moersch, Parson moved to New York where he quickly became part of the jazz scene playing with such greats as the late Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander, Jon Faddis, Steve Grossman, Gary Bartz, Terence Blanchard, Geri Allen, Donald Harrison, Don Byron, David Sanchez, Lee Konitz, Ernest Ranglin, Cyrus Chestnut, Babatunde Olatunji, Baaba Maal and Dianne Reeves.
After graduation from Rutgers University in New Jersey in 1985, where he studied percussion with Keith Copeland and William Moersch, Parson moved to New York where he quickly became part of the jazz scene playing with such greats as the late Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander, Jon Faddis, Steve Grossman, Gary Bartz, Terence Blanchard, Geri Allen, Donald Harrison, Don Byron, David Sanchez, Lee Konitz, Ernest Ranglin, Cyrus Chestnut, Babatunde Olatunji, Baaba Maal and Dianne Reeves.
His recording experience and close association with fellow St. Thomas native Ron Blake led to the birth of Tahmun Records, which housed his first recordings as a leader, 21st Century (co-led with Ron Blake), and his first solo effort, People Music, released in 2001. In 1998, Parson and Blake co-founded 21st Century Band, which Parson leads.
Because of this ‘New Caribbean Sound,’ in 2009 he had the unique opportunity to record his latest CD live at one of the most important jazz venues in the world: Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC): Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, New York City. In co-production with Branford Marsalis, Dion finalized this musical journey with the release of a CD in 2010: “Dion Parson and 21st Century Band featuring Ron Blake and Terell Stafford, Live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola – Vol. 1”.
As always, attendees are encouraged to stop by the “Jazz in the Park” Concert Series after work with chairs and blankets in hand. Convenient parking can be found in the Fort Christian Parking Lot located directly across from the Roosevelt Park location.
Because of this ‘New Caribbean Sound,’ in 2009 he had the unique opportunity to record his latest CD live at one of the most important jazz venues in the world: Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC): Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, New York City. In co-production with Branford Marsalis, Dion finalized this musical journey with the release of a CD in 2010: “Dion Parson and 21st Century Band featuring Ron Blake and Terell Stafford, Live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola – Vol. 1”.
As always, attendees are encouraged to stop by the “Jazz in the Park” Concert Series after work with chairs and blankets in hand. Convenient parking can be found in the Fort Christian Parking Lot located directly across from the Roosevelt Park location.
As an additional give back for each concert, ICMC has invited not-for-profit organization CAHS Future Business Leaders of America to handle and benefit from 100 percent of the food and beverage concession proceeds.
For further information on the “Jazz in the Park” Concert Series, contact Karen Nelson-Hughes at 715-1302.