Published at cjonline.com July 27th, 2019

The Topeka Jazz Concert Series has announced its lineup for the 2019-2020 season.

This year's lineup consists of nine performances, with the first at 3 p.m Aug. 18 in the Regency Ballroom at the downtown Ramada Hotel and Convention Center.

Steve Waugh, president of the Topeka Jazz Workshop, said this year's lineup is strong and features new faces and veteran performers.

"We've booked well-known jazz artists from the East Coast, West Coast and Midwest, plus more new international talent that will be really exciting," Waugh said in a news release.

The Aug. 18 performance will feature John Allred, a New York City trombonist, who will perform with the Topeka Jazz Workshop band.

Waugh said Allred has toured with major bands and performed at jazz festivals and with Broadway orchestras.

Josh Nelson, a West Coast pianist, writer and arranger, will take the stage Sept. 22 with Los Angeles-based vocalist Kathleen Grace.

"Josh has been a mainstay pianist on the stage and in the recording studios of the West Coast for many years, is highly respected and sought after and is a lot of fun," Waugh said.

Performances on Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8 will feature Kansas City jazz artists, including KC's Westport Arts Ensemble, KC's Vine Street Rumble Band, and the KC Strings and Illinois native Aaron Weinstein.

March 15 will see the return of jazz drummer Jeff Hamilton and his trio, Waugh said.

"Jeff is a longtime friend of our jazz series and always treats us to an exciting concert," Waugh said.

A performance on Jan. 19, 2020, will feature Joe Cartwright's Latin Jazz Quartet and Feb. 16, 2020, will feature Warren Vache and Russ Phillips.

The final concert of the series will be a performance by the Laila Biali Trio, which is a newcomer to the jazz series.

Membership tickets for all nine concerts cost $170 and can be purchased at www.topekajazz.com.