Join us on Friday, February 14, 2025, for Main Stage Session 1 at 7:00pm.  Act 3 starts at 10pm with the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Orchestra featuring jazz royalty vocalist Carmen Bradford.

So, prepare for this thrilling opening night closer — the one and only Carmen Bradford who takes center stage with the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Orchestra (MAJO) at 10:00pm! Normally gracing the stage with the iconic Count Basie Orchestra, Carmen brings her Grammy-nominated voice, soulful energy, and deep jazz heritage to the festival, joining forces with MAJO’s top-flight ensemble. Known for her rich tones and captivating presence, Carmen will lead this powerhouse band through a set that promises to be nothing short of jazz perfection. This is one show you don’t want to miss!

The Main Stage ticketing is divided into Sessions. Each Session is comprised of three power-hitting Acts. Seating is divided into groups which include Premium 4-seater tables, General 6-seater tables and then General theater seating.  ALL GENERAL SEATING TABLES ARE RESERVED FOR VOYAGER PASSPORT HOLDERS, so please purchase your all-access Voyager Passport in advance. You can pick up your Voyager Passports at the Box Office after 3pm on the first day of the festival. All proceeds from the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival directly support efforts of the Jazz Academy of Music.

About Carmen Bradford

Carmen Bradford, a 2022 Grammy nominee and recipient of the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s Jazz Vocalist Award, is a renowned jazz vocalist with a deep musical lineage. Born on July 19, 1960, in Austin, Texas, and raised in Altadena, California, Carmen was destined for greatness, following in the footsteps of her musical family. Her father, Bobby Bradford, is a celebrated cornetist and composer, while her mother, Melba Joyce, is a renowned jazz vocalist and composer. Her grandfather, Melvin Moore, sang with Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band and the Ink Spots, making Carmen the third generation of jazz royalty.

At 22, Carmen was discovered by the legendary William “Count” Basie, becoming the featured vocalist for the Count Basie Orchestra from 1983 to 1991. During her time with the orchestra, she performed on two Grammy Award-winning albums and continued her collaboration with the group even after Basie’s passing. Carmen’s soulful voice captivated audiences around the world, and her iconic duet with George Benson on the Grammy-winning Big Boss Band album, featuring “How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” further solidified her place in jazz history.

As a solo artist, Carmen released critically acclaimed albums such as Finally Yours (1992) and With Respect (1995), showcasing her versatility and depth as a jazz vocalist. She has performed and recorded with a wide array of luminaries, including Wynton Marsalis, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, and Nancy Wilson, as well as symphony orchestras around the globe. Her collaborations span jazz, big band, and orchestral settings, with notable performances alongside the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra.

Carmen has also ventured into stage productions and film soundtracks, including lending her voice to Oprah Winfrey’s Beloved and starring in Duke Ellington’s folk opera Queenie Pie. In recent years, she has continued to collaborate with the Count Basie Orchestra, contributing to albums like the 2019 Grammy-nominated All About That Basie and the critically acclaimed 2022 release Live at Birdland.

In addition to her illustrious performing career, Carmen is passionate about education. She serves as the Director of the Jazz Voice Department at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and is a key faculty member in the Roots, Jazz, and American Music program. Her commitment to teaching and preserving jazz makes her an influential figure in the next generation of jazz musicians.

Carmen Bradford’s body of work reflects her technical brilliance, deep musical heritage, and her enduring contributions to the art form of jazz. Whether performing on the grandest stages or teaching the next wave of jazz vocalists, Carmen continues to embody the spirit and legacy of jazz.