Saturday at The Willcox brings joyful noise

Mar. 4—The Willcox had an exceptionally upbeat soundtrack for many of its Saturday guests, with a series of Joye in Aiken performances putting heavy emphasis on jazz and gospel.

Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings helped set the afternoon to music with a pair of brunch shows, and Jumaane Smith provided the nightcap with an evening presentation. The day's sponsors were Maxwell Law Firm and The Willcox.

The early shows' performers included drummer Norman Edwards, who confirmed that some of the musicians were highly familiar with the setting — one of South Carolina's most upscale hotels.

"We do this thing in Aiken every year. This is like Alphonso's fifth time, I believe," Edwards said. "This is my second time, since I just joined the band maybe about two years ago, and it's just as great ... as it was last year. It's even more warm and fun this year."

The gospel theme required a vocal boost, and that came by way of C. Anthony Bryant, Shenel Johns and Vuyo Sotashe, he added. Completing the package were Horne, on trumpet; Boyce Griffith, saxophone; Willerm Delisfort, piano; and Jonathan Michel, bass.

Edwards and some of his Saturday compatriots are to be back in action March 6 and 7 at the USC Aiken Etherredge Center in an educational outreach performance. A 10 a.m. show each day is to offer kids "a spiritual journey of jazz as it finds its voice and roots in the South, its creative expression in the Harlem Renaissance and its political freedom in the civil rights movement," as described in a program booklet.

Creations to be offered include "When the Saints Go Marching In," "Down by the Riverside," "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Every Day I Have the Blues," "This Little Light of Mine" and "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free."

Other Joye in Aiken events on the near horizon are a March 7 show at St. John's United Methodist Church, with Sybarite5 at 7:30 p.m.; and a pair of March 9 shows, with pianist Jeremy Jordan and clarinetist Mark Dover at noon at First Presbyterian Church, followed by a 7:30 p.m. performance by Sarah Jarosz and Sam Reider at the Etherredge Center.

The festival finale, set for 8 p.m. March 10 at the Etherredge Center, is to feature Rachel Bay Jones, an actress described in promotional material as "best known for originating the role of Heidi Hansen in the original Broadway cast of 'Dear Evan Hansen.'" The New York City native has also won Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards along the way and now has a recurring role on the "Young Sheldon" TV series.

The music festival, now in its 15th year, draws its name from Aiken landmark Joye Cottage, one of the largest homes in the state. The estate, purchased in 1989 by authors Steven Naifeh and the late Gregory White Smith, has played a central role in the annual festival's continuation, largely in partnership with The Juilliard School.

Among major sponsors of this year's festivities are such boosters as George Funeral Home, Meybohm, Janney, Bank of America, Diversified Trust, Shaw Floors and Chandler Law Firm. Top donors include such individuals as James F. Capalino, Dr. Carlin Vickery, Sharon Brown, Steve Naifeh and Jack Mullin.