The North Scottsdale jazz music scene is getting a new neighbor.
Lakeshore Music, which has grown into one of the most-respected jazz concert series in the U.S. during its 12 seasons at Tempe Center for the Arts, is moving to Ravenscroft Hall, a beautiful new state-of-the-art venue in North Scottsdale.
The nine-concert season, which opens October 16, runs through May 2022. Tickets, with a variety of packages and pricing, are on sale at lakeshoremusic.org.
“It’s an exciting new beginning for us in an area thirsting for cultural activity and live music,” says Woody Wilson, Lakeshore Music founder and president. “It has been a long and painful ordeal since February of 2020 when we were forced into shutdown by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the saying goes, ‘When one door shuts, another one opens.’ Our new door is the beautiful new Ravenscroft in Scottsdale. We are very excited to build a new audience of live jazz patrons in the North Valley. Our shows are not only great performances but also social occasions where friends meet to catch up and share the experience of live jazz done well.”
Ravenscroft, at 8445 E. Hartford Drive in the Scottsdale Perimeter Complex, just off Loop 101 at Princess Drive, is a 30,000-square-foot campus with a music venue and multi-use space. Its Ravenscroft Hall is an intimate 200-seat concert venue. The campus includes Jazzbird, a first-class jazz lounge, which, starting Fridays this month, will host music from popular and up-and-coming local musicians accompanied by a fine selection of wine and local craft beers.
Ravenscroft Hall will offer an unparalleled musical experience with superb acoustics, featuring the renowned Meyer Constellation sound system. Fans will enjoy an optimal listening experience and perfect viewing from any seat. Some shows will also feature projected visuals that accompany the music, creating a multi-sensory experience for the audience.
“Ravenscroft is going to be a draw,” Wilson says. “There is a lot of interest and people are going to want to see this incredible new facility. It is only fitting that we should open this incredible new building with one of world’s greatest jazz artists—Kenny Barron.”
Barron, a National Endowment for the Arts and American Jazz Hall of Fame pianist, opens the building on October 16 with an already sold-out performance. Cuban pianist Harold Lopéz-Nussa, whose work reflects the range and richness of Cuban music and its embrace of jazz improvisation and interaction, is up next on October 30.
More information about Lakeshore’s 2021-22 season can be found at lakeshoremusic.org. Learn more about Ravenscroft at theravenscroft.com.
