DOCFEST: THE TEN-YEAR CELEBRATION CONTINUES!
PRESENTING THE DOCFEST HOLIDAY CONCERT SATURDAY, DEC. 21, 2024; 7:00 PM; DENNEY THEATRE KINDER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS 790 AUSTIN STREET; HOUSTON, TEXAS
JEANE JULY (HSPVA ’79), EMCEE
TICKETS AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 1ST AT DOCFESTJAZZ.ORG
DocFest concert series was conceived in 2013 by HSPVA alumni Chris Walker (’86) and Ashley Támar Davis (’98) to honor the career of Robert “Doc” Morgan, HSPVA Director of Jazz Studies, 1976–1999. After a year of planning, the inaugural event was presented on Dec. 27, 2014, igniting one of Houston’s most exciting concert series. Each DocFest features renowned HSPVA jazz alumni, as well as occasional renowned guest artists. To date, there have been thirteen DocFests, all highly successful, including one in New York City. The 2024 Holiday Concert promises to be no exception – headliners will be the founders themselves!
Vocalist Ashley Támar Davis is an alumna of HSPVA’s Vocal Music Department. As a senior, she received the highest honor possible for a high school musician – designation as “Presidential Scholar in the Arts,” including a reception at the White House and concert appearance at the Kennedy Center. Following HSPVA, she attended the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, graduating in 2002.
After USC, Ms. Davis quickly found success, highlighted by her close association with Prince. As is widely known, “He was my mentor, I was his muse” – evidenced in their co-writing the Grammy-nominated Prince/Támar duet, Beautiful, Loved, and Blessed. Countless other credits include NBC’s “The Voice,” the Stewart Copeland Orchestra, Music Supervisor (NETFLIX, HULU, HBO MAX), Broadway, three albums released, and appearances on Saturday Night Live, Good Morning America, the BRIT and BET Awards.
Davis is also a successful entrepreneur, the Syren Entertainment and Media Group, College, Career and Empowerment Summit, Tamar Talks Podcast and Syren Arts Academy being prominent in her portfolio.
Chris Walker is a double-threat – magnificent as a singer (his Holiday Concert role), magnificent as a bassist. In the latter capacity, he was with Al Jarreau for 22 years, and is currently with George Benson. He has also held the bass chair with Ornette Coleman, Bob James, Michel Petrucciani, Chico Freeman and many others.
Early in his vocal career, Mr. Walker had two top-five R & B singles: Giving You All My Love and Take Time (early ‘90s). After joining Jarreau, it did not take long for Al to discover Chris’s vocal talents, and Al/Chris duets became a popular Jarreau concert staple for many years.
Walker is currently solo vocalist with the dynamic new R & B group, TMF (“The Music Forever”), and also finds time for several laudatory personal projects.
Opening the concert will be the multi-talented Stephanie York Blue, HSPVA ’81. Ms. Blue is a widely-respected keyboardist, composer, arranger and conductor, with credits at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars and HSPVA. She is pianist with the Conrad Johnson Jazz Orchestra and Minister of Music at Bethel IMBC.
An alumna of Texas Southern University, Blue recently retired after a remarkable 36-year career at Houston’s MacGregor Elementary School, where she was an integral part of their renowned music magnet program.
Stephanie’s set will feature her jazz trio, to be joined by vocalists for excerpts from her composition, More Than Christmas, commissioned by the Ensemble Theatre.
During the evening, Stephanie York Blue and Ashley Támar Davis will be inducted into the HSPVA Jazz Hall of Fame (Chris Walker was inducted in 2015). Previous inductees may be seen at docfestjazz.org.
Funds generated by DocFest support Helen and Robert Morgan Jazz Scholarships at New York’s New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and Boston’s Berklee College of Music, as well as current HSPVA jazz projects. Donations of any amount are welcome c/o docfestjazz.org.
The Holiday Concert will be dedicated to Doc Morgan’s brother, William (Bill) A. Morgan, Jr. (1935-2023), and will include a performance of Doc’s A Christmas Trilogy, written for Bill’s Village Big Band (Hot Springs Village, Arkansas); performed by the HSPVA Jazz Ensemble with special guests.
For further information, please call (832)784-1781.
Tickets will be available September 1st at Docfestjazz.org
DocFest Houston 