DocFest ’26 Press Release

The Mission of DocFest, Inc. is to support higher education for HSPVA jazz alumni…This is primarily accomplished by an annual series of benefit concerts featuring successful HSPVA graduates and renowned guest artists.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANNOUNCING DOCFEST ‘26

HOUSTON, TX – MAY 27, 2026

Featured will be two renowned alumni, one representing the dawn of HSPVA’s now-legendary jazz instruction program, the other representing the program’s “noon,” when it began attracting national and international attention.

“International attention” indeed applies to drummer Chris “Daddy” Dave.  After graduating from HSPVA (1990), he attended Howard University (full scholarship) where a chance encounter with super-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis led to his joining MintCondition, thereafter Kenny Garrett, and then exploding into perhaps the most eclectic successful career of any drummer ever.  An A-Z list of artists with whom Chris has toured/recorded would begin with Adele and conclude with The Winans, with countless in-between including Robert Glasper, Maxwell, Jason Moran and Ed Sheeran; all of this in addition to his popular Grammy-nominated group, Chris Dave and The Drumhedz(Blue Note artists).

Accompanying Chris will be Cleo Sample (B3), Emmanuel Michael (guitar) and David Ginyard (bass).

Scott Hardy was a member of HSPVA’s second graduating class (1975), by which time he was already one of the most in-demand jazz guitarists in Houston.  Mentored by Arnett Cobb, he was a prominent member of the wildly popular group, Roseanna and Strings and Things.   Moving to New York in 1977, he quickly shared bandstands with Red Mitchell, Grady Tate, Kenny Barron, Jack McDuff and many others.  The bass became more of a focus in the mid-‘80s, leading to an association with pianist Leslie Pintchik, at first professional, later personal (they wed in 1986).  The Leslie Pintchik Trio (Scott, bass) has released eight albums, all to critical acclaim; for example, “Getting lost in this music is simply a joy.” (All About Jazz)

DocFest ’26 will feature the Leslie Pintchik Trio and Quartet, with Michael Sarin, drums.  Added for the

Quartet will be David Craig, bass; Scott, guitar.

During the evening, Chris Dave and Scott Hardy will be inducted into the HSPVA Jazz Hall of Fame.

If you would like more information, please visit our website at docfestjazz.org or follow us at facebook.com/docfestjazz. You can also contact us by phone at 832-784-1781 or email at info@docfestjazz.org.

This event is being performed at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, sponsored by Houston Area Lexus Dealers.

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