Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center is offering a stellar series of jazz performances with more than two dozen musicians, vocalists, and dancers appearing in West Chester this September through December, hosted by local jazz and blues artist, Sara Michaels.

Michaels curates the Jazz Cocktail Hour presenting local and international jazz artists with a special focus on women artists. Audiences will enjoy the performances in one of two intimate spaces – the 85-seat Univest Cabaret and the 327-seat A. Roy Smith Mainstage theater.

“Jazz was born and raised in America, and it is a living art form,” said Jazz Cocktail Hour host, Sara Michaels. “One may call it a spiritual experience with powerful learning moments, mixed with laughter and great imagination as these jazz musicians, vocalists and dancers take to the Uptown stages. Will there be an uplifting of your soul? The answer is, yes!”

The series begins in September with an appearance by The Hailey Brinnel Quartet. Brinnel, a Philadelphia-based artist, comes to Uptown on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 PM.

Soulful artist Lili Añel appears Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 PM. There is a double dose of music in November with a Sinners & Saints Weekend featuring the Aaron Graves Jazz Ensemble and Miche Braden on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 PM and rounding out the weekend are Sherry Wilson Butler & the Hot Saints of Jazz, featuring dancer Lauren Putty, on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 13 at 3:30 PM.

To kick off December, audiences can get into the holiday spirit with a family-friendly concert, The Cartoon Christmas Trio, with local children’s choirs joining the musicians on-stage, on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 PM. December wraps up with The Last Big Band Holiday Show with Erich Cawalla and Larry McKenna, on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 PM.

“There is an incredible history of jazz in this region,” said April Evans, Executive Director, “and we want to be part of keeping that legacy alive. We feel very lucky that both of our performing spaces offer the kind of setting where these artists can really connect with listeners.” 

All Jazz Series shows are at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center located at 226 N. High Street. Ticket prices vary by show. For more about Uptown shows and concerts, Theatre Society Subscriptions, Friends of Uptown, and more, please visit uptownwestchester.org.