OCT. 17 | 8PM

9016 Selborne Lane

KENNY BANKS

Kenny Banks is returning to Serenbe for the first time since his Inaugural Chatt Hills Music performance with Joe Gransden.

Kenny is a composer, arranger and performer who slips effortlessly among musical styles while retaining his own distinct sound. He has performed at the inauguration for President Barack Obama and appeared in such notable places as Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Philharmonie in Berlin. Kenny shows his amazing capabilities in movie scenes from Tyler Perry's "The Family That Preys"and he has a composition entitled "Hello Love" on the GMC movie "Raising Izzie". Among his many high profile performing credits are appearances with Earl Klugh, Kenny Garrett, Wess Anderson, Russell Gunn, Lizz Wright, Rene Marie, Kevin Mahogany, Kurt Whalum, Albertina Walker, Dorothy Norwood, Jennifer Holiday, Aretha Franklin and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Kenny received his Master's degree in Jazz Studies at Georgia State University. He currently resides in Atlanta with his wife (Angelia) and three children (Kenny Jr., Sydney and Sasha) and serves as  music director and chorale director for Cascade United Methodist Church. The release of "Truly Free" is Kenny's first  Jazz CD but the latest recording of "Dichotomy" is as a duo w/ recording artist (trumpet) Joe Gransden.

THERESA HIGHTOWER

Theresa Hightower is regarded as one of the great jazz and blues vocalists of her generation. She is a veteran of concert halls, recordings, cabaret, and musical theater; both critics and audiences have marveled at her range, vocal phrasing, and exciting live performances. She is one of only a handful of jazz artists, Cleo Laine among them, to win critical success in the fields of both jazz and musical theater.

In her star-making turn as legendary singer Dinah Washington in the musical, Queen of the Blues, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution called her performance dazzling, riveting, and a knock out. Critics and audiences throughout the U.S. gave similar praise to the star's performances during the show's celebrated American tour.

Theresa has appeared on stage with Michael Franks, Oleta Adams, Grammy award winners, The Main Ingredient, with lead singer Cuba Gooding, Sr., The Manhattans, Ashford and Simpson, Cassandra Wilson, Lou Rawls, The Drifters, Bobby Blue Bland, The Stylistics.

Theresa Hightower has been named Atlanta’s Top Female Vocalist by Top Star Awards. She was honored as Top Jazz Musician in Atlanta by the entertainment magazine, Creative Loafing. The Atlanta NAACP presented Theresa with the Diamond Jubilee Award, naming her Top Female Vocalist. She also received the Angel of Music Award in 2001 from the New Thought Theological Seminary, and The Women in Entertainment Award from AKA Sorority in 2003. In 2012, Theresa was honored with the Legend Award from I AM Cre8tive Live.

Theresa appears on Freddy Cole’s newly released CD, Freddy Cole Singing The Blues.