STAY TUNED
FOR THE
2024 LINEUP

Additional
artists
will be
announced soon!

The Carmel Jazz Fest features the top international, regional and local acts in Jazz, Blues and R&B, as well as emerging artists! Learn more about the vibrant sounds of Carmel Jazz Fest below!

Friday, August 9

Saturday, August 10

5:00 pm -10:30 pm

AVERAGE WHITE BAND

A Funk Finale
Part of the Drewry Simmons Vornehm Jazz Series and the 2024-2025 Center Presents season presented in partnership with Allied Solutions.

One of the great soul and funk bands of all time brings its farewell tour to the Center, performing its biggest hits and fan favorites such as the U.S. No. 1 single “Pick Up the Pieces,” “Cut The Cake,” “Queen of My Soul,” “Walk On By” and “Schoolboy Crush.” Formed in London in 1972, the Average White Band took the influences of R&B heroes such as Marvin Gaye, James Brown and Stevie Wonder, along with jazz greats like Cannonball Adderley and the Crusaders, and developed a sound that connected with audiences worldwide. The performance coincides with the second annual Carmel Jazz Fest.

TIM CUNNINGHAM

When Tim Cunningham was faced with the choice between the football field or the musical stage, lucky for us, he chose the latter. Having played the saxophone for over half his life, Tim spent his college years at Michigan State splitting his time between playing defense and playing music. And although a football scholarship saw him through school, his passion for the sax has carried him well beyond, as he passed up an NFL contract and eventually pursued a career in music.

For decades the words "smooth , sultry, cool & funky" have been used to describe Tim's high energy and emotional stage show as his sexy blend of smooth jazz and soulful R&B connects with people of all ages, races and genres of music. This unique and versatile style has earned Tim the pleasure of opening for such jazz greats as Dave Koz, Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson and George Benson. On the flip side, his bumpin' R&B flavor has on occasion paired him with Earth Wind & Fire, Cameo, Boyz II Men, Patti Labelle, Frankie Beverly, Jeffrey Osborne, and the late Luther Vandross.

Signed to Atlantic Records in 1996 his first major label release, "Right Turn Only" featured the efforts of Will Downing, Brian Culbertson, Kevin Whalum, and Bobby Lyle. It's featured single, "This is the Life," hit #19 on the Smooth Jazz Chart and received much international airplay. Tim's additional CD credits include "Sax Change Operation", "A Change in Altotude", "Waiting For Love", "Inner Peace", and "Manchester Road" which was picked up by Nite Breeze Music/Universal in 2008. His 2011 release entitled "Reflection", features a cool collection of original tracks packed with smooth grooves and emotional ballads. The "Tim Cunningham Live" album, where he covers some of his favorite songs, was released in 2012.

Tim's new CD entitled "Freedom" was released in October 2022.

Tim hosted and was the opening act for the 1st Annual Smooth Jazz Cruise on Land in St. Louis on September 7, 2019 with Brian Culbertson, Eric Darius, Grace Kelly and Erin Bode produced by Entertainment Cruises Productions and producers of the Smooth Jazz Cruise.

Tim's experiences bridge beyond the live stage to TV as he co-wrote and performed the theme song to 20th Century Fox's "Bertice Berry Show". He also appeared in the movie, "The Ghost Who Walks" as Officer Taylor, three episodes of "The Untouchables" TV series as the saxophonist, BET's "Jazz Central and a Budweiser commercial. Tim also co-wrote a song with Al Caldwell entitled "Smile" from his "Waiting for Love" CD that will be a part of the movie "The Job" by actor, writer, director and producer Randy J. Goodwin that was released in 2021.

Tim credits his mother and his strong Christian beliefs for keeping him grounded as he strikes that delicate balance between the world of music and that of family man with his 3 children and wife of 30 years, all whom he has written and named songs for on past CDs. Tim continues to wow audiences near and far with his explosive live stage performance, which typically will take him out into the depths of his audience and yet he makes a point to stay after each show to sign every last CD sold. This approachable and down to earth quality is what endears Tim to his fan base...and his gift to touch their hearts with his music is what keeps 'em comin' back for more!

ANTONIA BENNETT

The future of American Jazz is safe in the hands of Antonia Bennett, daughter of legendary singer Tony Bennett. She is honored to continue the tradition of sharing classics, while simultaneously presenting originals that sound like they have taken a page straight from The Great American Songbook.

Antonia’s love and dedication to the arts started very early. She began performing alongside her father as soon as she could walk and talk and has shared the stage with icons such as Rosemary Clooney, Count Basie, Regis Philbin, and Don Rickles. She grew up with 'mentors' like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Gene Kelly. As if her family life wasn’t enough of an education, Antonia is also an Alumni from the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Antonia Bennett has been honing her craft her entire life, developing her own style, and, according to the man himself, “Antonia's got the gift." She has had the distinct honor of opening for her father for over 25 years at famous venues all over the world, including Radio City Music Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the Umbria Jazz Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival, The Greek Theatre, Royal Albert Hall in London and Caesars Palace. She can be heard singing with her father on the duet, "I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," featured on his album A Swingin’ Christmas.
Antonia’s expansive experience allows her to expertly and effortlessly bridge the gap between the past and present. Her newest collection of songs, Embrace Me, does just that, honors the past and shines a bright light on today, on Antonia Bennett.

DANNY LERMAN

Danny Lerman's CD, "Night Rider," released on Blujazz, has received international play from Australia and Indonesia to Canada and across the U.S. of A. His just released single, "I Miss You (Sax Version,) is out now and being heard across the country. Danny Lerman is a riveting saxophonist and composer. Danny has studied with Junior Walker's legendary teacher, Charlie Atkins and at the University of North Texas music school and the Berklee School of Music as well as with Peter Ballin. Danny's Albums: Danny’s Island/Chartmaker Jazz, Meow Baby/Lightyear/EMI, Do You Feel/Steel Warehouse, and World Jam/Steel Warehouse, earned stunning reviews, opening the door to international airplay, festivals and concerts in Finland, Venezuela, South Africa, Indonesia, The Netherlands, Turkey, Hong Kong, Mexico, Israel, and the USA. Lerman has recorded/performed with Howard Hewett, CeCe Peniston, Danny Boy, Bobby Lyle, Norman Connors, Peabo Bryson, Kevin Mahogany, and Onder Focan, and recorded with Randy Brecker, Dave Valentin, and Hubert Laws. Lerman has opened for Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Sergio Mendez, Richard Elliot, David Benoit, Eric Marienthal, the Ghetto Boys, Joe Lovano, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, and Dutch Ska artist Le Prince. Danny has performed as a featured soloist with the South Bend Symphony and in Breda, Holland with members of the Metropole Orchestra. Danny’s compositions have been featured in movie soundtracks, Wedding Bell Blues, and Kill Me Later as well as commercials for JD Powers. Check out Danny's original music and his new Album Night Rider on Blujazz on all online outlets.

DAVE BENNETT

Dave Bennett doesn’t fit the mold. For starters, you don’t find many jazz clarinet players who name Alice Cooper, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Chris Isaak among their influences. You won’t find many musicians who are equally conversant with the music of Benny Goodman (the “King of Swing”) and Roy Orbison (“The Soul of Rock and Roll”). In fact, you may not find even one other clarinet virtuoso who breaks from his Swing Era repertoire to sing rockabilly hits while accompanying himself at the piano or electric guitar. Dave began his national touring career at the age of 14. He has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops (2013) and has been featured with 35 other US and Canadian orchestras including Nashville, Houston, Detroit, Rochester, Omaha, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Orlando, San Antonio, Jacksonville, Portland, OR and Portland, ME. Some of his annual appearances include The Elkhart Jazz Festival, The Suncoast Classic Jazz Festival, The Arizona Classic Jazz Festival, The Sacramento Hot Jazz Jubilee, The Clambake Music Festival, and The Redwood Coast Music Festival. Dave has been featured on NPR Radio’s “Jazz at Riverwalk.” He made his European debut in 2008 at The Bern Jazz Festival (Switzerland) in a combo with jazz legends and Benny Goodman band alumni guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and vibraphonist, the late Peter Appleyard. In March 2022, Dave and his band performed to a sold-out audience at New York City’s Birdland Theater. Dave is a recording artist on jazz label Mack Avenue Records. His second release, Blood Moon reached No. 24 on the Billboard Jazz charts in 2018. During the isolation of the pandemic, fate steered Dave’s time off the road into a bold new direction. He put his guitar pedal to the metal and stepped away from his beloved clarinet. A songwriter stepped forward. Road songs, reverb-laded guitar solos that could power a surf documentary, and memories of loves and lives lost are the mile markers that makeup his latest release “Nowhere Fast”. His first full-length rock album is a deep, soul-searching joyride through the back streets of his mind. Leave it to Dave Bennett to prove that sometimes the best way to move forward is to go back to the beginnings of what drives you.

THE PROFESSORS

The Professors
Mark Buselli - Ball State University www.markbuselli.com
Mark O'Connor -University of Indianapolis https://uindy.edu/cas/music/faculty-fulltime
Matt Pivec-Butler University https://www.butler.edu/jordan-arts/undergraduate-programs/music/faculty-staff/ensemble-directors-and-conducting-faculty/www.butler.edu-faculty/
Tom Walsh-Ihttps://music.indiana.edu/faculty/current/walsh-thomas.html

TEILAH MCCLUNG

Teilah, a resident of Carmel and a senior at The Classical Academy, plays a key role in leading chapel sessions as a vocalist. In addition, she is a dancer at Richens Timm Irish Dance Academy and has showcased her skills at a national level competition. As a regular vocalist for the worship team at Genesis Church in Carmel, Teilah has also lent her voice to studio recordings for Plank Road Publishing. Notably, she has taken part in Midtown's Got Talent for the last two years and was fortunate to perform at Feinstein's last year.