Church Street Jazz concert series bringing Bob James, Norman Brown to Norfolk; Najee performs Saturday

Saleen Martin, The Virginian-Pilot
·2 min read

The Church Street Jazz Series returns Saturday with multiplatinum saxophonist Najee at the Harrison Opera House. An impressive lineup including Grammy Award winners Bob James and Norman Brown is scheduled through next summer.

The series partnered with Sentara Medical Group and other sponsors to make the 2021-2022 season happen.

Series founder, Jay Lang, created the program six years ago to benefit middle and high school students. He started the H.J. Lang Foundation to provide students with classes and workshops hosted by jazz artists and to allow them to meet industry execs. Ticket sales and donations support the foundation.

One high school student has been selected and will receive a musical instrument at Saturday’s show.

“I remember talented kids in school not having instruments of their own,” Lang said in a news release. “Once they left school, they were unable to practice at home because their parents could not afford to purchase a personal instrument for their child. It is up to the music and art community to help our youth of today keep the arts alive.”

Saturday night’s act, Najee, received an NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz Artist in 2006 and earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Jazz Album in 2014. The next year, he released “You, Me and Forever,” which made Billboard’s Top 10 on the contemporary jazz album chart. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and Sentara personnel will be available to give Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations. Ticket holders can preregister at www.tinyurl.com/CSJVaccine.

Masks must be worn inside the opera house regardless of vaccination status.

Other artists in the series include:

Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster, the Scope box office and SevenVenues.

Saleen Martin, 757-446-2027, saleen.martin@pilotonline.com

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If you go

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Harrison Opera House, 160 W. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk

Tickets: Start at $45, www.tinyurl.com/NajeeCSJNorfolk

Details: 757-788-6498, info@churchstreetjazzseries.com or www.churchstreetjazzseries.com