Eric Darius to perform at Downtown Jazz Presented by the Winston-Salem Federal Credit Union this Friday night

Eric Darius

"Winston-Salem, N.C. – The Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership (DWSP) has united with Post Entertainment to present the 2016 Downtown Summer Jazz Series. The featured artist will be smooth jazz Saxophonist Eric Darius.

Eric Darius is one of the true rising stars of Smooth/Urban Jazz. Adored and treasured by his growing legion of fans. Eric tours constantly with such superstars as Maxwell, Joe, Mary J. Blige, and many others. Additionally Eric is a mainstay of Smooth Jazz radio, having already had 8 Top 10 hits in his young career.

Eric s first single from Retro Forward, a remake of Pharrell’s Happy is already climbing up the Smooth Jazz radio charts, and promises to be Top 5 at the time of the album s release.

Superstar producers Tony Dixon(Babyface, Beyonce) and Bluetooth (Chris Brown, Jordin Sparks) ensure that Retro Forward is brimming with today s hit sounds while still retaining a firm footing in the world of Jazz. Highlights include Eric s hit single Happy, the heartfelt ballad Never, the funky title track Retro Forward, and much more.

The opening act will be Sandra Crenshaw. The concert will be held on Friday July 8, 2016 at Corpening Plaza.  Start time is 6:00pm.  This is a free event. The Triad is welcome to come out and enjoy this national smooth jazz act. For more information about the concert series go to www.postjazz.com or www.downtownws.org/music/ "

- A Press Release

Downtown Summer Jazz Series 2016 continues this Friday with Matt Marshak

"Winston-Salem, N.C. – The Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership (DWSP) has united with Post Entertainment to present the 2016 Downtown Summer Jazz Series. The featured artist will be smooth jazz Guitarist Matt Marshak.

Matt Marshak infuses new energy into the golden era of contemporary jazz and R&B of the late 1970s and 1980s. Lifestyle, the guitarist’s strongest release, mixes the old school robust sounds of George Benson, Larry Carlton, James Brown, David Sanborn, Prince and BB King with Matt’s modern style.  And the result is a CD rooted in the grandest tradition of jazz and groove music.

“To me, the 70s and 80s were the golden era of instrumental music,” said Marshak. “These natural recordings remain timeless. The energy and soul they captured were something so special, and I hope is to revisit the formula used on a lot of those older records.”

The opening act will be Titus Gant. The concert will be held on Fri., June 24 at Corpening Plaza.  Start time is 6:00pm.  This is a free event. The Triad is welcome to come out and enjoy this national smooth jazz act. For more information about the concert series go to www.postjazz.com or www.downtownws.com/music/ . "

- A Press Release

Downtown Jazz kicks off 19th Season on June 10, 2016 in Corpening Plaza from 6pm to 9pm

"The 19^th Season of Downtown Jazz Presented by the Winston-Salem Federal Credit Union kicks off on June 10, 2016 in Corpening Plaza at 237 W. First Street in downtown Winston-Salem.  Downtown Jazz is a production of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership in collaboration with Carl Denerson of Post Entertainment.  Mr. Denerson, a jazz aficionado and promoter from Georgia, has strong ties to national artists within the smooth jazz genre and has grown the jazz music scene in Winston-Salem and the Triad Area. We are looking forward to another great summer of COOL JAZZ!

The first schedule event date is June 10^th and will feature two nationally known headliners with a local Opening Act.  The performers are listed below with a bio (photos attached): 

ELAN TROTMAN

• Brian Simpson (Headliner) - Keyboardist and composer Brian Simpson is a sought-after studio musician and musical director who has regularly crossed from jazz to pop and R&B. Raised in Gurnee, Illinois, Simpson grew up in a musical family and eventually earned his music degree from Northern Illinois University. After graduating, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he found work performing with such artists as Boney James, Norman Brown, and Everette Harp. This led to stints touring with a variety of pop artists, including Janet Jackson and Teena Marie. In 1991, Simpson garnered more attention after co-writing Surface's number one hit R&B single "The First Time." As a studio musician, Simpson has worked with such artists as Stanley Clarke, Kirk Whalum, and George Duke. Since the late '90s, he has acted as musical director for saxophonist Dave Koz. Simpson has released several albums as a solo artist, including 1995's Closer Still and 2005's It's All Good. Two years later, Simpson delivered the album “Above the Clouds”. In 2013, Simpson released his fifth solo album, “Just What You Need”, and in 2015, his sixth album, “Out of a Dream”.
• Elan Trotman (Headliner) - Saxophonist Elan Trotman, has quickly become one of jazz’s most thrilling and emotive performers as he continues to stand out and push boundaries as a composer, performer, teacher and recording artist. Trotman’s playing, though inspired by Grover Washington, Jr., Kirk Whalum and Arturo Tappin (Elan’s childhood mentor), displays his own fresh ideas and distinctive tone. So much so that the New England Urban Music Awards, and The Barbados Music Awards both named him Jazz Artist of The Year on multiple occasions. Trotman is also the founder and host of the Barbados Jazz Excursion, a weekend of jazz in his homeland every Columbus Day Weekend which has featured artists like Jeff Lorber, Gerald Veasley, Peter White and Jeffrey Osborne.Born and raised in Barbados, the native island of pop star Rihanna, and educated at the world-renowned Berklee College Of Music in Boston, Trotman approaches jazz in his own way. Blending Caribbean rhythms from his roots with skillful horn textures, his playing is full of surprises.
• Reggie Buie Trio (Opening Act) - Rapidly becoming one of the Triad's premiere jazz groups, the Reggie Buie Trio started as weekly performers in a local coffee shop in 2004, Reggie Buie and his trio have made their presence known by performances at local and regional jazz festivals, in fine dining establishments, in jazz venues, formal banquets, political fund raisers, wedding receptions, and other performances for any occasion. Their success has been largely due to the group's versatility and their ability to move effortlessly between playing soft background music, performing jazz standards, music for dancing, or delivering passionate jazz performances and improvisation during live concerts. The RBT released its debut CD in early 2006. "The First Time" has received many great reviews and numerous accolades from the groups many fans. 

Remaining Downtown Jazz Performances in 2016

June 24:  Matt Marshak
Opening performer – Titus Gant
July 8: Eric Darius
Opening performer – Saundra Crenshaw
July 22: Urban Jazz Coalition & Will Donoto
Opening performer – Will Donato
August 12:  Dee Lucas
Opening performer – Vince Crenshaw 
August 26:  Joey Sommerville
Opening performer – Galvin Crisp"

- A Press Release

Fight breaks out on Burke Street in Winston-Salem

"On Dec. 6, just after 2am, Officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department responded to 1110 Burke St. (Burke Street Pub) on a reported Fight in Progress involving approximately ten people.

Upon arrival, Officers engaged two subjects that were actively fighting.  One Officer deployed their issued OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) spray and dispersed the fight.  The investigating Officer determined that Mr.  William Wade Roseboro, 25, and Mr.  Bruce Wesley Spraggins, 36, were inside the Burke Street Pub creating a disturbance.  The two individuals were asked to leave the business and both refused. Roseboro and Spraggins were forcibly removed from the business by staff . Once outside, Roseboro and Spraggins were assaulted by Joseph Kyle Spring, 29, and Matthew Trenton Davis, 30.

Roseboro, of 128-3 Westdale Ave., Winston-Salem, was knocked unconscious and suffered a broken jaw.  Spraggins, of 1642 Village Place, Winston-Salem, sustained a laceration to his face.

Approximately nine Officers were dispatched to the scene and remained there for slightly over an hour.

Spring was charged with Assault Inflicting Serious Injury and put under a $1,000.00 Secured Bond

Davis was charged with Assault and Battery / $1,000.00 Secured Bond

Roseboro was charged with 2^nd Degree Trespassing / Disorderly Conduct  - Cited to Court

Spraggins was charged with 2nd Degree Trespassing / Disorderly Conduct – Cited to Court

           

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Winston-Salem Police Department at 773-7700 or their local law enforcement agency."

- A Police Report

Soccer Unlimited Raises the Pitch and Establishes New Turf in Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem’s new upscale retail soccer store

with indoor turf field is one of a kind

               

"Soccer Unlimited has moved to a new, fully renovated building at 3033 Trenwest Drive in Winston-Salem featuring a 15x30 foot indoor turf soccer field and 3000 square feet of retail space.  The upscale store is just two doors down from the old location where customers have been shopping for 30 years, and just across the Stratford Road intersection from the new HanesTowne shopping center.  Owner Brian Fitzgerald says, “There is not another soccer store like it anywhere in the region.  The turf field allows players to try out their cleats and other soccer gear before purchasing, to ensure the best possible fit.  We have always offered our customers excellent, personalized service, but now we’re taking the experience of shopping for soccer gear to a whole new level.”

                Shoppers frequently stay to watch games on the two large televisions that are always tuned to soccer games and to talk about the latest soccer news with other fans.  Fitzgerald says, “We’re more than just a store.  We’re a part of the community.  In our new space, parents are able to enjoy a relaxed shopping experience while their children play in the enclosed turf field, taking shots on goal or juggling a soccer ball.” 

 In addition to the retail customer, Soccer Unlimited furnishes uniforms, goals and other equipment to local high schools, clubs and colleges including, among others, Twin City Youth Soccer Association, Wake Forest University, Guilford College, and Kernersville Soccer Association.   The store carries a large selection of major soccer brands like Adidas, Nike, Under Armour, Brine, Kwik Goal, and Select.  A fixture in the soccer community for 33 years, future plans for Soccer Unlimited include bringing services in-house that are currently outsourced, including embroidery, screen printing and transfer fabrication.   Fitzgerald says, “For some schools, like Westchester Country Day, we provide uniforms for all the school’s sports.  Our goal is to be a one stop shop for all your soccer and uniform needs.”

With an industrial feel, exposed brick walls and an open ceiling, the new Soccer Unlimited showcases the design vision of its owners, who were assisted with initial plans by local talent, Gibbons Architecture and Lisa Wade at Design Solutionz.  Fixtures were designed and manufactured by the locally owned design team at RyanScott Displays.   Eldridge Construction handled the transformation from gutting the old Hilde’s Interiors building to its finish as a contemporary retail venue."

- A Press Release

Man pulls gun, demands money, cigarettes in robbery of Winston-Salem store.

"Officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department responded Nov. 30 at 5:44pm to 430 Haled Street (T & B Mini Mart) in Winston-Salem in reference to a Panic Alarm.

Upon the officers arrival it was learned that the business had been robbed. The clerk advised that two black males wearing all dark clothing entered the store. One of the suspects removed a handgun from his coat and approached her at the counter. That suspect then demanded money and cigarettes.  An undisclosed amount of money and cigarettes were obtained and the suspects left the store running west on Waughtown Street.

No one was injured during the robbery.

This case was referred to our Criminal Investigations Division.

The Winston-Salem Police Department requests that anyone with information regarding this crime contact CrimeStoppers at 336-727-2800."

- A Press Release

Winston-Salem woman forced into car and taken. Police report Kidnapping

"On Nov. 29 at 12:38am Officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department responded to the 7100 Block of Brandemere Lane, the Brandemere Apartments on an unknown trouble call.

The caller reported hearing a female yelling for help. When the caller looked outside, they observed an unknown black female being pulled into a black Toyota Camry by an unknown male described as a bald, black male who was on the passenger side of the vehicle. The caller said the female was forced into this vehicle by this subject before the vehicle left the area. The vehicle was last seen heading toward Bethabara Park Boulevard.

At this time, no further information has been developed and the investigation is continuing.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident or similar crimes is asked to call the Winston-Salem Police Department at 336-773-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800. En Español: (336) 728-3904."

- A Press Release