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Jazz in March Features Ohio Saxophonist, Stacy Dillard

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TROY - “Jazz in March” is an annual concert series at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center that is hosted by Ohio jazz pianist, Keigo Hirakawa. Each year Hirakawa brings exciting ensembles to Troy to celebrate what is happening in the world of jazz music. On Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7:00 pm, Jazz in March will bring Stacy Dillard back home to Ohio to share his brilliant saxophone.  He will be joined on stage by Hirakawa on piano, George Delancey on upright bass and Cedric Easton on drums. Before the concert there will be a thirty-minute interview with Stacy to learn more about his inspiration, his journey and his life in jazz. 

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   Stacy Dillard was raised in Muskegon Heights, Michigan and studied saxophone at Central State University. He studied with Dr. William Denza, Jim Smith, Chris Berg and Lenard Moses. His first recording was in Cincinnati with trumpeter, Mike Wade. It was a fortunate encounter with Wynton Marsalis over two decades ago in Dayton, Ohio that directed his career to New York. Dillard says that Wynton looked him in the eye and said, “Hey man, this (guy) can play. This (guy) can PLAY!" They had a long conversation in which Wynton inspired him to leave for New York where he has had the opportunity to play with Winard Harper, Cindy Blackmon, Lenny White, Lewis Nash, Mark Whitfield, the Mingus Big Band, and a host of others in different genres of music, including Shirley Caesar, Alex Bugnon, Stephanie Mills, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and many more.

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   He currently leads three bands of his own. cPhyve and cPhour are jazz based bands. His band called The Other Side is R&B/funk/hip-hop oriented.  Stacy is known for his large, rich tone and his gutsy approach to the tenor and soprano saxophone. He plays without cliché and is known for his well-developed ideas and technique. He has become an important part of the New York jazz scene.

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   George Delancey, a native of Cambridge, OH, is active nationally as a bandleader and educator and is the director of the Midwestern arts initiative Appalachian Muse. He is the owner of the Sunrise Music Center in Zanesville, Ohio. Cedric Easton is a creative and inspired percussionist out of Columbus, Ohio who got his start in the Pentecostal church. Over the course of Cedric’s journey he has had the opportunity to perform alongside the likes of: Hannibal Lokumbe, Thiossane West African Dance Co., Dorinda Clark-Cole, Marvin Sapp, Pharez Whitted, Wes Anderson, Aaron Diehl, Christian Howes and more. Keigo Hirakawa has played for over 20 years as a professional jazz pianist. He is well-known throughout the Midwest for his work with the Keigo Hirokawa Trio as they explore original compositions and redefine jazz standards.

 

   Join this unique musical experience on Sunday, March 2nd at 7:00 pm at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center at 301 West Main Street, Troy, Ohio. The concert is free due to the generosity of the citizens of Troy. Learn more about this concert and the Hayner at www.TroyHayner.org.

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