Events

Prepare to be immersed in an atmosphere of artistic freedom that will take you on a journey through the striking melodies and uncharacteristic rhythms of jazz intertwined with spoken word. This platform will showcase a collaborative experience of the music, art, culture, heritage, and forms of jazz including renaissance jazz, be-bop, cool, and more. Experience the electrifying sounds of various legends such as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakely, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, and others. Get ready to be caught up in the mix of Notez&Flow!

John Ellis' February 8th performance in The Green Room at Crosstown Arts has been postponed. Stay tuned to Crosstown Arts' socials for a new date. Thank you for understanding!

The City of Tomorrow is a wind quintet that is always more than a wind quintet. Live shows feature lighting, staging and set pieces, electronics, and the kind of ritualistic feel reminiscent of a Yoko Ono or Marina Abramović conceptual performance. The City of Tomorrow: Waves, Breaths, Dead Cities is no exception, featuring a custom set by Memphis carpenter Celeste Von Ahnen, video work by Breezy Lucia, also of Memphis, and choreography by the ensemble's horn player, Leander Star.

Quickly blazing a name for themselves with their progressive approach to American folk music, Fireside Collective delights listeners with memorable melodies and contemporary songwriting. Formed in the mountain city of Asheville, North Carolina, the band plays original songs on stringed instruments, intended for a modern audience. Following the release of their debut album “Shadows and Dreams,” the band hit the road seeking to engage audiences with their energetic live show built on instrumental proficiency, colorful harmonies, and innovative musical arrangements.

This event is postponed until further notice.

Sound Fuzion is a University of Memphis band composed of students from all majors and musical backgrounds. In its 30+ year legacy, this band has been known for performing covers of popular songs locally as a way to recruit for and represent the university. Most recently, this band has also released a single, “Say Nothing,” on all streaming platforms, soon to be followed by their seven song debut album, “Insight.”

BlueTom Records, the student-run record label at the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, is proud to present BlueTom artists Alexis Jade and Massey Lane. Join us at The Green Room at Crosstown Arts as BlueTom features two artists from the label performing R&B, Pop, and Hip-Hop.

Join Black Bettie in his first live show performance since early 2020. Listen as he walks through the nostalgic stories of his songs, which range from the joys of childhood to the hardships of growing up. He'll be bringing a visual and intimate element to the performance and songs.

Crosstown Arts presents the Alex Nollan Jazz Quintet, featuring international award-winning jazz pianist and composer Alex Nollan and distinguished musicians Don Aliquo (saxophone), Neal Bowen (bass), Renardo Ward (drums), and Johnny Yancey (trumpet).  Alex has performed throughout the South, including Austin, Lubbock, Knoxville, Pensacola, and Gulf Shores.  Tennessee-based, the quintet has performed together many times. The Alex Nollan Jazz Quintet works closely with jazz great Donald Brown, who produced the group's latest album, Stand.

An extraordinary artist, Lily Afshar has grounded her career on a strong foundation of excellent formal education, upon which she has built an exceptional record of innovative achievements. With a bachelor's degree from The Boston Conservatory, she earned her Master of Music at The New England Conservatory and went on to study at Florida State University, where she became the first woman in the world to be awarded the degree of Doctor of Music in guitar performance. She pursued greater proficiency with summer studies at the Banff Centre for Fine Arts and the Aspen Music Festival, advanced training at Gargnano, Italy, the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, and master classes with Andrés Segovia at the University of Southern California.

Join us for a very special evening to celebrate the release of Mark Edgar Stuart's brand new album, "Until We Meet Again," from Madjack Records. Mark will be playing a full band show with Memphis' finest, including Reba Russell, Will Sexton, Art Edmaiston, Landon Moore, and Shawn Zorn, plus a few surprises. There will also be a very special guest opener, critically acclaimed, singer-songwriter and former Memphian Kelley Mickwee from Austin, TX.

The University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music treats the audience to a special performance by Southern Comfort Jazz Orchestra with featured guest Charlton Johnson. This 17-piece jazz ensemble will thrill music lovers with the sounds of legendary Harlem Renaissance artists such as Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday, along with modern composers such as Jim McNeely and Bob Brookmeyer.

Crosstown Arts presents Doll’s Playlist, a show where the audience picks the music! Doll McCoy has curated a playlist of songs you can find on Apple Music & Spotify that are compiled of her favorite B-side music, requests from you, and original music! Follow the playlist, send your request, and she’ll perform it at the show! This show features a special opening performance by Nashville saxophonist/singer/producer Michael Holt.