The Young Lions Collective AT KERRYTOWN CONCERT HOUSE
The MOTOWN SOUND
Friday, JuLY 23rd @ 8:00 PM
The Young Lions Collective at Kerrytown Concert House represents the best and brightest of Michigan’s next generation of jazz musicians. The Young Lions Collective will feature a rotating cast of promising young artists destined to make an impact in Michigan and beyond. The legendary Motown era made its mark not only on the music industry, but also on society as a whole.
From Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin to the Temptations and The Four Tops, the Motown Sound has cemented itself as a pillar of American culture. In this performance, the YLC will perform a diverse array of selections from the classic Motown catalog highlighting the many pivotal artists who helped shape a generation. Hosted by Detroit saxophonist, Stephen Grady Jr., the YLC will bring a fresh sound to these classic recordings, and bring a soulful night of music, fun, and groove to KCH.
Important Info Regarding The Lot Lounge
The Lot Lounge is an outdoor venue in our back parking lot. A cash beer and wine bar will be available for those 21+.
If this event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, the show will go on for you at home! We’ll move the artists inside and pivot to a livestreamed concert on the same date and time at a private link that will be shared only with ticket holders. All decisions regarding inclement weather cancellations will be made no later than 2 hours prior to the performance, at which point all ticket holders will be notified by email about the cancellation with instructions for accessing the private livestream.
PLEASE NOTE: Since we have this livestreaming option for our audiences (and the artists we engage), there will be no refunds or exchanges for The Lot Lounge ticket purchases this summer. Thank you for your support and understanding as we work to find innovative ways to continue connecting artists and audiences!
As part of the next generation of Detroit-grown musicians, Stephen Grady Jr. is building a name by performing with such greats as Marcus Belgrave, James Carter, Geri Allen, Bob Hurst, Kareem Riggins and many others. He has also received the National Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, the first annual JC Heard Youth Jazz Award and the James Tatum Scholarship. Recently, he attended the Stanford Jazz Residency through a full scholarship program. After graduating from University of Michigan in 2016 with a bachelor degree in Jazz Studies, he’s currently attending Michigan State University under a full Graduate Assistantship and regularly performing with The Rodney Whitaker Septet and Detroit Carr Center’s Gathering Orchestra, among others.
Ian Blunden is a freelance jazz musician and music educator based in the Detroit Metro Area of Michigan. Ian has a Bachelors of Music with a focus in Jazz Studies from Wayne State University based in Detroit, MI. Ian has worked with many professional musicians across the state of Michigan and has performed at historic venues such as Cliff Bells, The Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, and the Detroit Jazz Festival.
Composer-pianist Bijan Taghavi, from California, performs and teaches in New York City as well as in the Midwest. As a leader, the Bijan Taghavi Trio toured Japan in December 2018 and he has played with Dick Oatts, Rich Perry, and Jay Anderson as part of his Duo Series at the National Arts Club in NYC. Bijan has also collaborated with jazz luminaries Joe Lovano, Ulysses Owens Jr., Ron Carter, Randy Napoleon, Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Stefon Harris, and Rodney Whitaker.
Bijan is very involved as an educator for JazzPianoSchool.com having written over twenty articles and produced instructional videos for their Artist Highlight and Gig Analysis series’. A recipient of the Presser Foundation Scholarship, Bijan is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music and has studied with Phil Markowitz and Fred Hersch. Currently, he is completing a Graduate Assistantship at Michigan State University where he teaches classes and works with private students. www.BijanJazz.com
Aidan Cafferty is a bassist/composer based in Ann Arbor, MI. His passion for improvised music began at a young age, as he attended Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, a nationally recognized music department, where he played double bass in the Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Band and the Jazz Band. During Aidan’s senior year, Pioneer won the National GRAMMY Signature School Award as the best high school music department in the country.
Aidan continued to pursue his love for jazz at Michigan State University’s School of Music, where he spent four years studying under Rodney Whitaker. He received his bachelor’s degree jazz performance in 2015 and is currently attaining his master’s degree at University of Michigan where he studies with Bob Hurst and Andrew Bishop.
David Alvarez III is a jazz drummer, composer, arranger, and music educator based in the Metro-Detroit area. The drum set was introduced to him at the age of five, growing up playing in church. At the age of nine, he started to learn how to play Jazz through a summer program called The Arts League of Michigan. Afterwards, for eight years he furthered his studies of the art form through the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Jazz Program, learning from Professors and College mentors from both Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. He has graduated from the University of Michigan in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies with Teacher Certification. Since then, he has toured with the Benny Green Trio, and has recently joined the Clayton Brothers Quintet. He currently freelances and teaches music in Southeast Michigan.
