Andy James with the Jon Cowherd All-Stars
We’re back in Atlanta in June with an Internationally Acclaimed Artists at Spivy Hall!
Andy James brings the smoky elegance of her jazz vocals with her latest album, Happy People, in debut. Happy People represents a bold new chapter for Andy, showcasing her unparalleled artistry and storytelling through a vibrant tapestry of original songs and reimagined classics. Driven by flamenco-inspired compositions, and brought alive by an unparalleled, all-star quintet, including Jon Cowherd, Alex Acuna, Vincente Archer, & Terreon Gully, Andy has created a sonic celebration of rhythm, passion, and optimism--a perfect antidote for the times. Get ready to experience the electrifying fusion of jazz improvisation, flamenco rhythms, and Andy's soul-stirring vocals.
An All-Star Band
Terreon Gully
Grammy winning, musician extraordinaire, Terreon Gully is one of the most influential artists of his generation. Widely recognized for his creativity, versatility and authenticity, Terreon is in high demand. His innovative and distinct sound has inspired artists such as Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Stefon Harris as well as John Beasley’s Monk’estra to make him a member of their bands.
From jazz legends and modern masters to the hottest hip hop icons, Terreon has worked with the best: Kurt Elling, David Sanborn, Nicholas Payton, Kenny Barron, the Stones Project, Sting, Keyon Harrold, Queen Latifa, Yerba Buena, Charlie Hunter, Abbey Lincoln, Marc Cary, Russell Gunn, Lizz Wright, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Maria Schneider Big Band, Jacky Terrasson, Eldar, Me’Shell NdegeOcello, Lauryn Hill, Pharoahe Monch, Mos Def, and Common as well as a host of other artists. In addition to live performances, Terreon is also known for his exceptional work in the studio, producing and recording for CDs, films, and commercials; including his first solo project “TANKTIFIED”.
Originally from East St. Louis, Illinois, Terreon refined his musical talent in New York City, after completing college at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. Currently, Terreon makes Atlanta, Georgia, his home, where he continues to enhance and develop his craft.
Vicente Archer
Vicente Archer is a bassist, guitarist, composer and producer hailing from the culturally-rich Woodstock, New York. Having absorbed much of the historical town’s arts culture, this has made his work diverse ranging from folk to jazz to hip-hop. He attended New England Conservatory of Music and Northeastern University in Boston, where he earned a degree in business. While in college, he picked up the double bass with swiftness. Within 8 months, he was asked by great alto saxophonist, Donald Harrison, to join his group. Archer's first recording appearance is on Harrison’s Impulse recording “Free to Be”.
Soon after he began recording/performing with a long list of luminaries including Pat Metheny, Norah Jones, Common, H.E.R., Terence Blanchard, Mary J Blige, Al Foster, Brad Mehldau, Wynton Marsalis, Amos Lee, Kenny Garrett, Willie Nelson, Peter Bernstein and many more.
Today, he’s as prolific as ever and has been hailed as one of the most sought bassist of his generation appearing on over 150 records. Currently he is touring with Grammy award winning artists: Robert Glasper, Nicholas Payton and John Scofield.
Jon Cowherd
Jon Cowherd is the definition of “a musician’s musician”. While the Kentucky-raised, New Orleans-schooled, New York-honed, and currently Nashville-based Cowherd is best known for his long-running partnership with drummer/bandleader Brian Blade (with whom he co-founded the Grammy nominated Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band), he is equally at ease in the roles of musical director, side man, or studio wizard. Cowherd's stellar keyboard work and singular compositional skills are driven, simply, by a lifelong drive to “just be a great musician.”
In 2013, ArtistShare and Blue Note records released “Mercy”, Cowherd’s first album as a leader. The record features Bill Frisell, John Patitucci and Brian Blade. Cowherd and Blade also directed the all-star Joni Mitchell tribute “Joni 75” along with such artists as Brandi Carlile, Glen Hansard, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Chaka Khan, Diana Krall, Kris Kristofferson, Los Lobos with Marisoul, Graham Nash, Seal, James Taylor and Rufus Wainwright. In 2017 Cowherd released “Gateway” on the exclusive “vinyl only” Newvelle record label. “Gateway” consists of seven compositions by Cowherd and one from Brian Blade, and features Steve Cardenas and Tony Scherr. As an arranger, Cowherd has scored for big band, strings and symphony orchestra for Brandi Carlile, Cassandra Wilson, Lizz Wright, the Fellowship Band and the Shreveport Symphony and the Loyola University Symphony Orchestra. In 2023 The Jon Cowherd Trio released “Pride & Joy”, featuring John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Chris Potter, and Alex Acuna.
Alex Acuna
Born to a musical family in Lima, Peru, Alex Acuna started playing in local bands at 10, and by 18 was playing in the great Perez Prado’s band. In 1967 he moved to Puerto Rico, where he studied at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, and played under the direction of the famed Spanish cellist master Pablo Casals. Alex moved to Las Vegas in 1974, where he played with such greats as Elvis Presley and Diana Ross. Between 1975 and 1977, he cemented his place in jazz history when he became both drummer and percussionist for one of the most innovative and pioneering jazz groups of all time, Weather Report.
Alex moved to L.A. in 1978 where he quickly earned the position of a valued session drummer and percussionist for recordings, television and motion pictures. His countless album and live credits include such diverse artist as U2, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Corea, Placido Domingo, Tito Puente, Santana and many, many more. Alex has received countless awards and honors throughout his career, including the Emeritus MVP award from NARAS (National Academy of Recording for the Arts and Sciences) and “Best Latin/Brazilian Percussionist” in the Modern Drummer’s Readers Poll for five consecutive years.
Chico Pinheiro
An exceptional guitarist with a beautiful sound and great fluidity, a unique composer that blends Brazilian Music, Classical Music, and Jazz, Chico's been nominated twice for the American Grammy Awards (in 2019 & 2020).
Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, he started playing the guitar when he was 6. At 14, he started working as a studio session guitarist and soon began to be called to collaborate with a wide range of artists in his hometown, then in Brazil, then abroad.
In 2002 Chico put together a band of his own and started recording as a leader. His first album, 'Meia Noite Meio Dia' (Sony Music/ 2003), was released in 2003 with great reviews at all the most important newspapers and music magazines in Brazil and abroad and was included in the 'Top 10 Brazilian albums of the year' in the major newspapers of Brazil: 'O Estado de São Paulo,' 'A Folha de São Paulo' and 'O Globo.' This well-received debut included special guest vocalists Lenine, Ed Motta, Chico César, and Maria Rita.
His second release, 'Chico Pinheiro' (Biscoito Fino/ 2005), enjoyed great critical and audience acclaim, once more being included in the 'Top 10 Brazilian albums of the year' by newspapers' O Estado,' 'O Globo' and 'Folha de São Paulo.'
The third album, NOVA, was released in Dec/ 2007 in collaboration with the American guitarist and composer Anthony Wilson.
More on Andy James
After many years as an internationally acclaimed flamenco dancer, based in Madrid, and traveling the globe with some of the genre’s most acclaimed musicians and performers, Andy James made an artful transition into jazz, both as a singer of heartfelt originals and stellar interpreter of timeless classics and cool renditions of the Great American Songbook era and beyond.
From her debut album, Caravan, through her latest release, Let Me See Your Heart, Andy’s impactful emergence as a vocalist and songwriter is the culmination of a lifelong passion that began when she was growing up in Melbourne, Australia. She was influenced by the exquisite tastes of her flamenco-loving father and jazz singer mother, who would play their favorite music every morning around the breakfast table. Always believing that “Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald were in my soul at birth,” Andy has equally fond memories of singing with her mom, Lois Lorraine Lang, from the age of three and hearing Sarah and Ella records all day long during those formative years.
Encouraged by her life and creative partner Piero, Andy’s ongoing evolution as a songwriter is a wonder to behold, spotlighted here on three compelling tunes - the lively, optimistic “Let’s Talk of Love,” which Andy calls “our take on a 1940s style swing tune, a nice little happy gay romantic ditty”; the haunting, melancholy “Let’s Try”; and the charming and life-affirming, mid-tempo bluesy ballad, “Let Me See Your Heart.”
It is a testament to the esteem Andy has generated in the jazz world these past years, that she once again works with some of the genre’s most venerable and legendary studio musicians on Let Me See Your Heart. Her ensemble includes four greats who also played on her most recent project, 2022’s acclaimed Rhythm in New York – Cowherd, drummer Nate Smith, percussionist Alex Acuna and bassist John Patitucci, who also collaborated with the singer on her 2021 live album An Evening with Andy James & John Pattitucci.
The Perfect Venue
Spivey Hall, located on the campus of Clayton State University, is a 400-seat, acoustically-superior performing arts venue that has presented the best in jazz and classical music to the metro Atlanta area since 1991.
The Info
VENUE:
Spivy Hall
2000 Clayton State Boulevard,
Morrow, GA 30260
DOORS OPEN: 7:00 PM
SHOW TIME: 7:30 PM
EVENT DATE: Saturday, JUne 14th, 2025
MINIMUM AGE: This is an all-ages show.