Friday, May 16, 2025, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Mr. Nazim Rashid has worked with some of the world’s greatest jazz masters such as: Eddie Harris, Joe Henderson, Hank Jones, Arthur Prysock, Richard “Groove” Holmes, Carl Burnett, Billy Higgins, Pharoah Sanders, Richard “Muhal” Abrams, Jimmy Smith, John Handy, Mary Stallings and many others, with Eddie Harris being his biggest influence. He plays the tenor sax, alto sax & the saxello. The saxello is a special antique instrument that sounds like an oboe and soprano saxophone swirled into one horn. He has had an extensive history mainly in the San Francisco Bay Area. He played with the San Francisco Big Band for 13 years; performed with his own group (The Nazim Rashid Sextet) and is currently performing with his quartet; Nazim Rashid & New Renaissance in the Phoenix Metorpolitan area. Nazim recorded a new age CD release -Erin Jacobsen’s “Hour of the Pearl” on Ursa Minor Records and a CD Released under his name in 2002 entitled “REMEMBRANCE” on Presto Records. Nazim also toured with the Coasters and the Drifters in the late 70’s.
Saturday, May 17, 2025, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Dr. Isola Jones is internationally recognized as an extraordinary singing artist. Making her professional debut in the Verdi Requiem with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, within two years she made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the role of Olga in Eugene Onegin. As a leading artist at “The Met,” Ms. Jones was paired with operatic legends, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Leontyne Price, Joan Sutherland, and performed under the baton of Richard Bonynge and James Levine. Ms. Jones has the honor and distinction of being the only African-American artist to have sung over 500 performances at the Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Jones was presented with the prestigious Merit Award from her Alma Mater, Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She earned a Master’s Degree of Science in Education from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Providence College in Rhode Island. The crowning achievement of her academic career is an earned doctorate degree (DMA- Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance) from Arizona State University on May 9, 2016. She continues to challenge herself to be the best she can be as Dr. Jones entered the Whitney Jones Body Building Classic Competition in the bikini division. She maintains her health by healthy eating and regular exercising.
Sunday, May 18, 2025, Conference Banquet 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
