Red Cat Jazz Festival at Moody Gardens Hotel

Yes, It’s Island Time!

It’s time for thousands of jazz aficionados to take advantage of the picture-perfect weather to lay down their blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy the sunshine and great jazz music, all during Mother’s Day Weekend, May 5-8, 2016.

The Red Cat Jazz Preservation Society, Inc. a not for profit corporation will host the 2016 Red Cat Jazz Festival, which began as a two-day event, has evolved into a four-day non-stop live jazz holiday weekend festival on Galveston Island.

The Festival includes dozens of ways to experience jazz through free and paid performances, lectures, exhibitions and jam sessions. Based on the outstanding attendance and rave reviews, “it is officially an annual event for Galveston Island”, said Sam Pink, the event founder and Chairman of Red Cat Jazz Preservation Society, Inc. The event honors jazz legends and showcases rising stars and is designed to provide scholarships for students and student jazz musicians. The event’s success illustrates the public confidence in our brand, and we’re committed to providing world-class music to the Gulf Coast area. ...

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Yes, It’s Island Time!

It’s time for thousands of jazz aficionados to take advantage of the picture-perfect weather to lay down their blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy the sunshine and great jazz music, all during Mother’s Day Weekend, May 5-8, 2016.

The Red Cat Jazz Preservation Society, Inc. a not for profit corporation will host the 2016 Red Cat Jazz Festival, which began as a two-day event, has evolved into a four-day non-stop live jazz holiday weekend festival on Galveston Island.

The Festival includes dozens of ways to experience jazz through free and paid performances, lectures, exhibitions and jam sessions. Based on the outstanding attendance and rave reviews, “it is officially an annual event for Galveston Island”, said Sam Pink, the event founder and Chairman of Red Cat Jazz Preservation Society, Inc. The event honors jazz legends and showcases rising stars and is designed to provide scholarships for students and student jazz musicians. The event’s success illustrates the public confidence in our brand, and we’re committed to providing world-class music to the Gulf Coast area.

This year’s Festival includes performances by some of the biggest names in jazz, including Atlanta-based national recording artist Mike Phillips, who puts it like this: “Galveston is like a hidden treasure in the United States. When you think of Texas, you don’t really think of a beach, but when you come here it is like the Miami of Texas. Galveston is a great resort town. And when you add great music to it, it gets even better.” Opening night Mayor’s Welcome Reception presented by the City of Galveston. Thomas Miles will host as Ronnie Laws plays tribute to La La Wilson, one of the original founders of Swangters jazz group which later became known as The Jazz Crusaders/The Crusaders (Joe Sample, Welton Welter, Sticx Hopper, Hubert Laws, and Wayne Henderson).

The Red Cat Jazz Festival has something for everyone. This family-friendly Festival includes an All-Service Veterans Breakfast that pays tribute to veterans in wartime and peace. Festival-goers can enjoy a round of golf at our 3rd Annual Celebrity Golf Classic presented by UPS, shotgun at 12:00pm. Then, later that night, come and enjoy the hottest ticket, The All-White Poolside Party hosted by Ronnie Laws.

Wake up early Saturday morning with Sunrise and Exercise, then relax at the WOW Lounge, later enjoy a stimulating Red Cat for Pink Conference focusing on your Wealth and Health. Then send your kids to enjoy workshops, hosted by Jose Diaz, of the Diaz Music Institute (DMI) /Young Cats S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Starting a noon, you’ll be able to soak up two-days of the tasty sounds from Jazmin Ghent, Alex Bugnon, Warren Hill, Mike Phillips, Jonathan Butler & Gerald Albright,and the list keeps growing.

Sunday morning, enjoy our Mother’s Day Gospel Brunch Chaired by Rev. Dr. Simeon L. Queen, COO Bread of Life and hosted by Grammy-nominated Angel Taylor, Sunday’s Best David Michael Wyatt and special guest violinist Karen Briggs. Followed by an All-Star lineup on the mainstage, ‘La La’ Wilson kicks off the day followed with performances by ,Eric Darius, Chieli Minucci & Special EFX with special guests Karen Briggs, Eric Marienthal, & Lao Tizer. Marion Meadows to host a all-star tribute Ronnie Laws, with Joey Sommerville, Kyle Turner, Michael Ward and headliner Mindi Adair & The Boneshakers.

“It is an extraordinary jazz festival and one of best jazz venues in the history of Galveston,” said Galveston native Dale Franklin, who lives in Houston. “You’ve got the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island, the Monterey Jazz Festival in California, and the Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada.

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