The annual series Jazz on the Triangle celebrates its Twenty-sixth Season at the Church of the Holy Trinity. Concerts will be April 16, May 21, and June 18, featuring some of Nashville’s finest and most respected talent. Tickets may be bought at the door or through Holy Trinity members or the Church Office – 615-256-6359. They are $25 each, or three for $60, and those may be used in any combination. Cards are now accepted.
April 16 – Kim Fleming
Kim Fleming was born and educated in Nashville, Tennessee where she attended Fisk University, Belmont University, and Tennessee State University; receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Music from the latter. She effectively combined her studying with her musical performances and tours. During this time she gave her first major stage performance when she appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York City with the world famous Fisk Jubilee Singers, under the direction of Dr. Matthew Kennedy. Soon after graduating, Kim began her professional career in music; touring with Amy Grant; one of Christian music’s top recording artists. This was the start of a very impressive and extensive career in music. She has been the number one call for contracting and arranging background vocals for recordings in film, television, and radio. Kim Fleming has had the opportunity to work with some of music’s greatest names. Her credits include; Patti Austin, Patti Labelle, Bette Midler, Jon Bon-Jovi, Michael Jackson, BB King, George Harrison, Keith Richards, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Shirley Caesar, Andrae Crouch, and on and on. This extract of her credits demonstrates her incredible vocal skills and the ability to adapt to various genres of music. In addition to this, she has appeared on numerous recordings, jingles, and film scores. Her talent is not limited to music; she has also made an impact in the theatre as an actress, a casting director, and a songwriter. One of her most memorable roles was that of “Armelia” in the Broadway musical “Ain’t Misbehavin.” She was casting director for the musical “Marrying Up”; based on the novel written by Nina Fox. Kim assisted composer John Forbes (Tyler Perry’s “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”) and together they wrote the score for the play. County music fans will know Kim from her 14 years of touring with Wynonna Judd. Other tours include Trisha Yearwood and Randy Owens, former lead singer for the group “Alabama”, Joe Johnson, and Angela Winbush. Kim has a simply amazing voice. She grew up singing jazz and gospel and she’s in comfortable with country, smooth Jazz and R&B, with a neo-soul edge.
May 21 – Crystal Miller
Crystal Miller will move you with the music that moves her. That’s why, when you hear Crystal, you hear the combination of ALL of her musical experiences. When asked which genre of music she prefers, she’ll tell you, “That’s like asking a woman to choose one favorite pair of shoes–It’s virtually impossible!!–different genres speak to me for different reasons”–like the memories of the R&B, Pop and Rock of her youth, to the stories and harmonies of Country and Bluegrass, to the impassioned lyrics and sensual, soul-affirming rhythms of the Latin music that she’s grown to love performing. Combining those beats and rhythms with jazz sensibilities is Crystal’s current passion. An alum of the Nashville Jazz Workshop, Crystal has also spent years honing her craft, singing at various venues and with various local bands, such as the EZ Jazz Quartet, Diane King & Littlestone, Cliff Richmond, Marcela Pinilla and more recently, the Craig & MacGregor Band (Berkeley, CA). Music lovers will surely enjoy their favorites and be introduced to new faves, when Crystal Miller performs.
June 18 – Thomas Cain
Thomas Cain returns to Holy Trinity this year as our “Gentleman of Jazz,” and what a gentleman he is. Known by many as the Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations for BMI, Thomas Cain is first and foremost a great musician. He plays piano, organ and trumpet; he has a Bachelor’s degree in music education from TSU.
He’s a singer, publisher, producer and songwriter, in addition to having opened shows for artists such as Ray Charles, George Benson, Bill Withers, Ramsey Lewis, Donny Hathaway, Dave Brubeck, Melba Moore and Johnny Mathis. In 1991, Thomas was honored with the Choice award and in 1999 he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He’s written and or performed on jingles for national products, and he performs with his group, The Thomas Cain Band.
Cain received the HAL (Heroes and Legends) Cornerstone Award in 2008. The following year, he performed at Lincoln Center in New York City for the National Endowment for the Art’s Jazz Masters Live series. Also in 2009, he was honored as part of the 105 Voices of History HBCU celebration at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In 2012, Cain retired from his 29-year stint at BMI/Nashville and joined the music faculty at Tennessee State University to teach music publishing. Cain continues in his career as a songwriter, musician, and music publisher helping to manage songs as the intellectual property of creative artists in Nashville. He remains an active performer and studio musician in addition to his publishing work.