In collaboration with Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, AfroSolo Arts Festival presents its 17^th annual free concert in Yerba Buena Gardens: Lovin’ the Horns

Charles Hamilton is an internationally known jazz trombonist, composer, and innovator of jazz education, one of only two jazz educators ever to receive the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts’ Distinguished Teacher in the Arts Award. He directed the world-renowned Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble for 28 years. His former students swell the ranks of international performing and recording artists/composers. He teaches at UC Santa Cruz, has taught at San Jose State University, Cañada Colleges, and continues his tenure at the California Jazz Conservatory. He was part of a US State Department “cultural ambassador” tour in Jordan. He led his big band to China and Vietnam for the State Department. He records and performs regularly with combos and big bands, including the Fred Berry Big Band. For this program, he is accompanied by Jeff Chambers (bass), Leon Joyce, Jr. (drums), Kelly Park (piano) and Dann Zinn (tenor saxophone).

Dr. David Hardiman, Sr., is an acclaimed trumpet and flugelhorn player, pianist, professor/educator, big band leader, as well as a composer/arranger. His AfroSolo concert is in conjunction with the release of his CD: David Hardiman’s Music Around the World, Volume 2. Hardiman is the leader of the San Francisco All Star Big Band and Director of the African American Jazz Caucus Dance Band (IAJE) and Saint Gabriel’s Celestial Brass Band. He has accompanied Jackie Wilson, The Dells, The Honey Cones, Donny Hathaway, Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett and many others. He received a BME in Music Education from Indiana University, MM from Butler University, and WMHDA Honorary Doctorate from Martin University. For this program, he is accompanied by Glen Pearson (piano), Jeff Chambers (bass), Charles McNeal (saxophone) and Akira Tana (drums).