Join us on Sunday, February 16, 2025, for Main Stage Session 5 starting at 7:00pm with the Paul Carr Quartet and special guest Billy Pierce.

This concert with the Paul Carr Quartet features special guest Billy Pierce, performing an unforgettable musical tribute to the late Benny Golson. Saxophonist, Benny Golson, a monumental figure in jazz who passed away on September 21, 2024, at age 95, left an indelible mark on the world of music.

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 the efforts of the Jazz Academy of Music.

About Billy Pierce

Billy Pierce is an acclaimed American jazz saxophonist and educator. He is best known for his pivotal roles in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers during the early 1980s and Tony Williams’s quintet from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. His work with these iconic groups cemented his place in the jazz lineage, offering him the chance to participate in the organic evolution of jazz music over time. He noted how playing with these groups transformed compositions into something greater than their individual parts, a unique experience he has passed onto his students. 

Billy studied under esteemed musicians such as Joe Viola, Andy McGhee, and Joe Allard at Berklee College of Music. His commitment to music education led him to become the chair of Berklee’s Woodwind Department, a role in which he has influenced generations of musicians. His informal teaching style reflects his philosophy of enjoying the process of making music, emphasizing communication, collaboration, and the importance of group dynamics.

As a band leader, Billy Pierce has released numerous albums and mentored students who have gone on to become prominent figures in jazz, including Antonio Hart, Mark Gross and Miguel Zenon. Pierce’s dedication to fostering not just musical talent but also good citizenship in his students remains a significant aspect of his teaching legacy. His goal continues to be ensuring that Berklee’s department honors the ideals of its founder, Joe Viola, preparing students for success in the modern music world.