Cha Wa is a New Orleans band that celebrates Mardi Gras Indian culture and music. The Frontmen dress in traditional Mardi Gras Indian clothing during performances. The band was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Album in 2018 for their album “Spyboy.” Cha Wa plays the Paul JAS Center on Feb. 13.
Jazz Aspen Snowmass has announced the inaugural winter season lineup for the Paul JAS Center, the nonprofit’s new permanent home.
The venue opens to the public Dec. 20 with New Orleans legend — and JAS Academy Education Program alumnus — Trombone Shorty. His performance kicks off ten consecutive nights of music at the Paul JAS Center.
The JAS Café lineup features 20 winter nights of performances, blending returning favorites with a slate of JAS debuts. This season also includes an expanded JAS Café series that runs through early April.
“Bringing the Paul JAS Center to life in downtown Aspen’s core is a dream come true for JAS that will allow us to serve this community in ways only a permanent and secure venue can ensure, and for generations to come,” said JAS Founder and CEO Jim Horowitz in a statement. “JAS has created a stylish, warm and uniquely intimate space that will take its place as a beloved new ‘gathering spot’ in Aspen. Fifteen years after the JAS Café series launched in 2011, both JAS and the community are ready for this next step.”
The series has an international flair, showcasing artists from Italy, Spain and Canada, plus a four-night Cuban mini-festival in late March headlined by Cimafunk. It also features a first-ever collaboration between JAS and DanceAspen, pairing dancers with the high-energy Cuban percussion-and-vocal duo Okan in a live, spontaneous, unscripted improv performance.
Other season highlights include musically themed weekends including Oh, Canada! featuring Canadian artists, Guitar-Mania, Crazy Keys, Blues Summit and Souled Out.
Like the June JAS Experience, the Paul JAS Center will embrace jazz and its many related forms of music: blues, funk, soul, New Orleans brass, world music and more.
Ghost-Note is a percussion-based band from Dallas that blends funk, hip hop and jazz. The band has a rotating group of musicians based around founding members Robert “Sput” Searchlight on drums and percussionist Nate Werth. The band plays the Paul JAS Center on April 9.
A new slate of shows will introduce a “dance-friendly” format called Café-Dance, giving attendees the option to sit at JAS Café tables or move to designated dance areas. Highlights include a March 7-8 set by June JAS 2023 alum Big Sam’s Funky Nation, and a late-March performance by Alfredo Rodriguez, “Coral Way,” a celebration of the Caribbean and pan-Latin rhythms that define Miami’s Coral Way — from reggaeton and salsa to timba, bachata and beyond.
The Paul JAS Center will offer guests the option to dine before or during performances, with a small-plates menu prepared by Epicure Catering, the venue’s in-house culinary team. Beginning in 2026, JAS Café concerts will introduce a $30 standing-room-only/bar ticket, providing access to the bar and a designated SRO area in the main room during Café-Dance shows.
Roaring Fork Valley residents can also purchase the new “All That JAS” membership, which includes early announcements for select events, early access to ticket purchases for all Paul JAS Center shows, a 20% discount on all late shows at the venue, a 10% discount on JAS June passes and invitations to select Paul JAS Center gatherings. Memberships cost $150 and will be available at the venue.
In addition to JAS Café performances, Tuesday nights at the Paul JAS Center will be dedicated to locals, with doors opening at 5 p.m. for food and drink specials, local entertainment, games, open-mic events and more. The series kicks off Jan. 13 with local musician Tristan Trincado.
Sunday jazz and gospel brunches, student and adult education workshops, family activities and more are also on the schedule.
The Paul JAS Center will host education programs for students of all ages, offer a new recording and broadcast studio, and serve as a venue for public and private gatherings, along with collaborations with numerous Roaring Fork Valley nonprofits.
For a full list of all the activities taking place, visit jazzaspensnowmass.org/events.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.aspendailynews.com ’
