Arts Council offers Christmas present with free jazz concert to kick off COTR
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles about the origin and events of Christmas on the River.
Two Rivers Arts Council plans an early Christmas present for Demopolis when it presents “Friends in Jazz” Tuesday, Nov. 30, in the Demopolis High School Auditorium.
“We’re treating it as a kickoff for Christmas on the River,” said Lydia Randall, president.
The Christmas concert, free and open to all, begins at 7 p.m. The six-piece jazz ensemble hails from Birmingham.
Lead saxophonist for the group is Kim Bain, now in her 12th year as Director of Bands and Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia Hills. Ensembles under her leadership have been cited consistently for musical excellence at both the state and national levels throughout her 28 years of teaching. This year the Pizitz Band will be performing at the CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference at the University of South Florida.
She has served as a clinician for the Alabama Bandmaster’s Association and guest conducted numerous honor bands and camps in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia.
Bain holds bachelor and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama and Bowling Green State University. Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association and Phi Beta Mu.
In addition to her teaching activities, Bain is an active freelance musician in the Birmingham area, and saxophone instructor at Samford University. She is the director of “Friends in Jazz.”
Other members of the group are Choko Akin, pianist; Chris Moore, drums; Josh Voiles, vocalist; Ron Alexander, bass, and Chuck King, trumpet.
“This performance has been a struggle to finalize since so many groups have been out of the loop due to COVID,” said Randall. “So we are excited to finally be able to offer something as part of Christmas On The River’s 50th Anniversary.”
She added that the City of Demopolis has given the group financial support annually. “We felt it was our opportunity to bring something to the community after a long drought, and that is the reason this performance is offered with free admission. It’s our gift to the people of Demopolis, so we are truly hoping to fill the auditorium with warm bodies and Christmas music to ring in the holidays.”