By Elinor Bugli
A highlight of the 2015 Jazz & Beyond Festival will be a two-part Motown special. First is a free lecture-demonstration by musician-educator John Shipley. It will feature music, visuals, a guitar raffle, a no-host bar, and a guest appearance by Lloyd Williams of Otis Day and the Knights on Monday, August 17, at the Brewery Arts Center.
The second part of the Motown special is a ticketed concert showcasing Williams, the original singing voice from the hit movie Animal House, on Tuesday, August 18, 7 p.m., at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William Street in Carson City.
A Carson City Arts Initiative art show and sale, 5 to 7 p.m. in the lobby, will precede the concert. Refreshments and commemorative shirts will be on sale in the lobby before the concert and during intermission.
Williams will perform with nationally recognized regional musicians John Shipley, Music Director, keyboard, and vocals; Trey Stone, guitar and vocals; Zack Teran, bass; Dee Monier, drums and vocals; Cherie Shipley, vocals; and Liz Broscoe, percussion. Williams and Stone will be inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame on October 4th in Detroit, as band members of “The Undisputed Truth.”
Williams performed as Otis Day on the Animal House movie soundtrack for the fictional band, Otis Day and the Knights, best known for their versions of “Shout” and “Shama Lama Ding Dong.” Both songs were sung by Lloyd Williams and lip synched by the actors in Animal House. The band on August 18 will play these songs and other popular Motown classics.
Both Motown events are presented by the Mile High Jazz Band Association and Carson City and funded in part by a grant from Nevada Humanities. Tickets are $18 general admission; $15 for seniors, students, and Mile High Jazz Band Association members; $10 for youth age six to twelve; and free for children age five and under. Tickets are available in advance at the Carson City Visitors Bureau, 716 N. Carson Street, and online at JazzCarsonCity.com.
The 12th annual Jazz & Beyond festival features more than 100 performers in about 60 performances, and most are admission free. Beyond jazz, the festival includes bluegrass, blues, and other styles of music, visual art, dance, and film.
Sunday afternoon concerts on the grounds of the Legislature are planned for August 9, 16, and 23. Other free events include concerts at Carson Mall, Comma Courtyard, the Brewery Arts Center, and other downtown Carson City venues. For more information call the Mile High Jazz Band Association at 775-883-4154 or see JazzCarsonCity.com.
