With jazz from a Carthage native, a patriotic piano performance, and a thrilling mystery performance, February is the perfect time to fall in love with Connect2Culture! Learn more about their upcoming shows below.
Javon Jackson Quartet
Thursday, February 12 | 7:00 pm | Tickets: $40–$45 | Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex
Born in Carthage, Missouri, and raised in Denver, saxophonist Javon Jackson has carved out a celebrated career blending soulful expressiveness with impeccable jazz artistry. At the age of 10, Jackson began playing saxophone, switching to tenor at age 16. He studied at the University of Denver and Boston’s Berklee College of Music before joining Art Blakey’s legendary Jazz Messengers in 1986. During his time with the Messengers, Jackson shared the stage with jazz luminaries like Benny Green, Philip Harper, Robin Eubanks, and Peter Washington, remaining with the group until Blakey’s passing in 1990.
Jackson’s 1991 debut album, Me and Mr. Jones, featured an all-star lineup including James Williams, Christian McBride, and Elvin Jones. He went on to release a series of acclaimed recordings for Blue Note and Palmetto Records, showcasing his ability to move seamlessly between straight-ahead jazz, soul, funk, and eclectic interpretations of artists from Stevie Wonder to Frank Zappa. In 2009, Jackson composed a full-length score for Alfred Hitchcock’s silent film The Lodger, debuting the work live with his band at the Syracuse International Film Festival.
As an educator and mentor, Jackson currently serves as Professor of Jazz Saxophone and Director of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz Studies at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music. His most recent albums, including The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni (2022), continue to explore the intersections of jazz, poetry, and social consciousness. With a career spanning decades, Jackson remains a vital force in contemporary jazz.
This performance is part of the Cornell Series, made possible by Sharon and Lance Beshore.
Learn more and get your tickets here.
An American Love Song with Glenda Austin
Saturday, February 14 | 4:00 pm | Tickets: $15–$20 | Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex
Dust off your red, white, and blue and add an extra touch of red for Valentine’s Day. Join Glenda and friends for a once-in-a-lifetime musical tribute honoring America’s 250th birthday. This performance celebrates the sounds of our nation, from stirring spirituals and cherished hymns to patriotic favorites, timeless folk tunes, lively ragtime, New Orleans jazz, and hits from decades past. And no American celebration is complete without a little romance, so we’re also honoring Valentine’s Day with classic love songs. Whether you’re nostalgic or just love great music, this is one tribute you won’t want to miss!
Glenda Austin is a respected composer, arranger, pianist, and teacher known for her popular piano music. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s in piano performance from the University of Missouri (Columbia). A dedicated educator, she has taught at both elementary and high school levels and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Music Teachers National Association and Missouri Music Educators Association.
In addition to her teaching, Glenda is a frequent adjudicator and clinician, presenting workshops throughout the U.S., Canada, and Japan. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Missouri Southern State University, where she accompanies jazz and choral ensembles and vocal students.
Find out more and purchase your tickets here.
Aquila Theatre in Sire Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of The Baskervilles
Thursday, February 26 | 7:00 pm | Tickets: $50–$55 | Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex
Aquila Theatre will journey out onto the fog-shrouded moors of England with this spine-tingling tale written by the acclaimed Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This brand-new take on the legendary Sherlock Holmes mystery is a comedy-driven and utterly suspenseful theatrical adaptation. A play within a play, Holmes and Watson return to the scene of the crime to recreate their case of The Hound of the Baskervilles, at The Dartmoor Village Theatre and Tea Rooms. They are joined in this endeavor by the beloved Mrs. Hudson, and the self-acclaimed actor, Sir Anthony Knee-Cap. The audience may need to get in on the act in this participatory night to help the legendary Sherlock Holmes and trusted companions replay and resolve the loose ends of the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, rumored to be the victim of a supernatural and savage hound. Don’t miss this unforgettable theatrical experience—where mystery, suspense, and Aquila’s trademark excellence are sure to leave you on the edge of your seat.
Aquila Theatre is one of the foremost producers of classical theater in the United States visiting 50–60 American cities per year with innovative classical productions, workshops, and educational programming since 1991. Under the Artistic Directorship of Desiree Sanchez Meineck since 2012, the company has been awarded numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; The National Endowment for the Humanities, from which it received a Chairman’s Special Award; the New York State Councils for the Arts and Humanities; and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Aquila has performed at the White House under the Bush and Obama administrations, has performed for the U.S Supreme Court, and for the National Council on the Arts. Aquila was also invited by Lin-Manuel Miranda to perform at the U.S. Capitol in support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, for its groundbreaking applied theatre and humanities program: The Warrior Chorus.
This performance is part of the Curtains Up Series, which is made possible by Freeman Health System.
Save your seats here.
About Connect2Culture:
Connect2Culture (C2C) is a not-for-profit arts organization founded in 2009 to enhance community through culture. Unlike any organization in the Joplin area, C2C is a respected community arts agency, a champion of the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, and a performing arts presenter. C2C strives to expand audience and resources needed to “ignite a passion for the arts, culture, and entertainment” in the Joplin area.
Reference:
Emily Frankoski, Executive Director
Connect2Culture
417.501.5550
emily@connect2culture.org
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