Leimert Park Jazz Festival brings its popular Sunday Jazz monthly concert series to The Ford to celebrate the centennial birthday of the legendary trumpeter Miles Davis. Grammy-nominated pianist John Beasley, a former member of Miles’ band, traces the evolution of Miles through distinct creative eras. He and his band illuminate Miles’ relentless commitment to reinvention, from the groundbreaking Birth of the Cool to the lyricism of Kind of Blue to the electric and fusion explorations of the 1970s and beyond. On the program’s second half, innovators from the Leimert Park Jazz Festival Emerging Artists Collective enter into new artistic terrain, following the tradition of evolution that Davis embodied. Join us for a night that is a living exploration of Miles Davis’ spirit of risk, experimentation, and forward motion.

John Beasley’s UNLIMITED MILES: MILES DAVIS AT 100

The Ford

### Event Description: School Day Performance - Etienne Charles: Earth Tones

**Date and Time:**  
Friday, January 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM

**Venue:**  
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre  
911 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

**Event Overview:**  
Join us for a captivating School Day Performance featuring Trinidad-born jazz musician, composer, and storyteller Etienne Charles. This special event, titled "Earth Tones," is designed for students in grades 6-12 and offers a unique multimedia jazz experience. The performance will include original compositions, images, and film, taking students on a sensory journey through sounds, video, and stories from at-risk coastal communities. The narrative will highlight the effects of global warming from tropical islands to the Louisiana Bayou, featuring musicians from the very communities most at risk.

**Themes:**  
- Music
- Jazz
- Multimedia
- Climate Change
- Environmental Activism

**Duration:**  
Approximately 60 minutes

**Age Recommendation:**  
Grades 6-12

**Featured Artists:**  
- Etienne Charles: Music Director, Trumpet, and Percussion
- Marcus Strickland: Woodwinds
- Warren Wolf: Vibraphone, Marimba, and Piano
- Eva Scow: Mandolin
- Jorge Glem: Cuatro
- Jonathon Muir-Cotton: Bass
- Val Jeanty: Turntables and Percussion
- John Davis: Drums

**Registration and Tickets:**  
Reservations are now open. To register, visit the event page or call the ticket office at 734-764-2538. Student, senior, and group discounts may be available.

**Sponsors:**  
- Supporting Sponsor: David Leichtman and Lauran McGinn
- Patron Sponsors: Anonymous, Laurence and Barbara Baker, David and Kiana Barfield Family Foundation, James and Nancy Stanley, Marianne Udow-Phillips and Bill Phillips

**About Etienne Charles:**  
Etienne Charles is renowned for his lush trumpet sound, varied compositional textures, and pulsating percussive grooves. A 2015 Guggenheim Fellow and 2022 Creative Capital Awardee, Charles is dedicated to connecting the Afro-descendant diaspora and highlighting marginalized communities through his music. His work often addresses touchy and controversial subjects, aiming to provoke thought and dialogue.

For more information about Etienne Charles, visit [etiennecharles.com](http://etiennecharles.com).

Don't miss this opportunity to engage, enlighten, and educate students through an energized multidisciplinary performance that addresses the critical issue of climate change. Reserve your seats today!

EPSG:4326

School Day Performance for Grades 6-12: Etienne Charles: Earth Tones

University of Michigan

Returning to the Barclay stage for the third time, Joey Alexander is an extraordinary and uniquely gifted pianist from Indonesia. He is a musical star whose expressive range and musical maturity inspire seasoned jazz fans.

John Davis

Events

Past events

Jul 19, 2026

John Beasley’s UNLIMITED MILES: MILES DAVIS AT 100 · The Ford

17 - 18 Jan, 2025

School Day Performance for Grades 6-12: Etienne Charles: Earth Tones · University Musical Society

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