TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR!
DOORS OPEN AT 6PM Tonight.
The Smooth Grooves Concert Series is a monthly event that encourages music lovers to gather and share in the artistry of music and the beauty of good fellowship in an intimate setting that is sure to make the experience one to remember.
Featured on the main stage are National, Regional and Local artists who represent the best in Jazz, Blues, R&B, Funk, and Soul for your listening pleasure.
This months featured artists are:
CHART-TOPPING National Recording Artist and Smooth Jazz and R&B Vocalist, WILL DOWNING with his FULL BAND LIVE @ Vanderbilt University - Langford Auditorium.
ENJOY LIVE PAINTNG BY RENOWNED VISUAL ARTISTS
MICHAEL McBRIDE & JAMES THREALKILL
About WILL DOWNING:
Classic…or as the French say…”Classique”. A crown too heavy and unfit for most modern day works of art. But when the artist is Will Downing and the work in question is a vintage 2009 edition from one of the most enduring entertainment brands in the business…the Classic crown fits just fine. Classique…The Man…The Music. The crowned “Prince of Sophisticated Soul” is back!
Fast forward two years from the improbable and awe inspiring delivery of After Tonight, (Downing’s 2007 release and musical monument of triumph over adversity, as he fought through the debilitating effects of the muscle disorder Polymyositis), and you’ll find both man and artist with a renewed spirit for life and a tremendous gratitude to continue a soulful journey that started over two decades ago. Station stop and CD #14 on that journey, Classique, is where timeless meets modern-day with a mutual respect that gives birth to a sound that somehow manages to feel both familiar and brand new.
Will Downing arrives at this station in time with complete command of his craft, a full grasp of who he is as an artist and uniquely positioned on the R&B road connecting the past to the present. That connection is made with a production prowess as silky smooth as the trademark vocals to which we’ve grown accustomed. Classique, effortlessly lives up to its moniker with a delicious fusion of B3 organs, flutes, vibes and crushed velvet harmonies, seasoned with a dash of Motown and a pinch of Philly International. Its retro flavor is an unforced natural blend of old school savvy and modern technical wizardry served up by Downing and longtime production collaborator, Rex Rideout.
To be clear, there’s no need for studio trickery to fill any vocal voids here. As if Will Downing’s own considerable gifts were not enough, Classique enlists the veteran talents of Phil Perry, who not only brings his 80’s and 90’s solo success to the mix, but his 70’s soul group expertise as well from the Montclairs. 2009 finds Perry in fine form and lending an undeniably authentic pedigree to the finished product. The resulting contribution, is a stirring remake of The Originals’ classic “Baby I’m for Real”, where Perry offers the perfect high flying contrast to Downing’s signature baritone notations. The two form what many a female fan might consider the ultimate Dynamic Duo of romantic crooners, each with his own unique sound.
Ultimately, it’s Will Downing himself that makes Classique…classic. Besides the union with Perry, this volume is noticeably absent of the trendy parade-of-all-stars list of guest performers so common on many of today’s new releases. Intended or not, there’s no mistaking the fact that this is a Will Downing showcase from start to finish…beginning to end. It’s a quiet but emphatic statement on the kind of strength and confidence this Brooklyn native has amassed in an amazingly durable two decade long career that’s been recognized for excellence by the NARAS and the NAACP Image Awards.
We are honored to have WILL DOWNING & Lori Jeniare for October's Smooth Grooves Concert Series Event as We Celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The Event Schedule is as follows:
6PM - DOORS OPEN - VIP Meet Greet Reception @ VIP EXQUISITE LOUNGE @ Langford Auditorium.
7PM - WILL DOWNING LIVE @ Langford Auditorium. Lori Jenaire with the STEVE ROPER Band will open the show.
9:30PM - Post Concert Meet & Greet Reception @ Langford Auditorium
For more information visit www.ExquisiteProductions.net or call(615) 506-5114 for more information.
*THE FIRST 700 PEOPLE WHO USE DISCOUNT CODE: EXQUISITE will Receive $5 off the Admission Price of VIP Tickets, Floor Seats & Balcony Seats.*
Keep It Exquisite,
Exquisite Productions
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