The Old Dillard Museum 2012 Cannonball Jazz Series concludes with pianist Nat Adderley, Jr.

The Old Dillard Museum 2012 Cannonball Jazz Series concludes with pianist Nat Adderley, Jr.      

By Staff Writer

     FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — The Old Dillard Museum and The Old Dillard Foundation present the Cannonball Birthday Concert featuring pianist Nat Adderly, Jr. as the final concert in the 2012 Cannonball Jazz Series on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Arts Access program.

     Nephew of legendary jazz saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Nat Adderly, Jr. is best known for writing and arranging songs for Luther Vandross including “Stop to Love,” “Wait for Love” and the Grammy®Award- nominated “Give Me the Reason.” He has also written, produced and arranged songs for Beyonce Knowles, Kirk Whalum, Natalie Cole, Johnny Gill and Aretha Franklin.

     The concert celebrates what would have been the 84th birthday of acclaimed band leader, sideman and producer Julian Adderly. 

     Prior to finding fame, he taught music and directed the school band at Dillard High School, Fort Lauderdale’s first school for African-American students once located at current site of the Old Dillard Museum.  He later taught at the school’s current location before moving to New York in the mid-1950s where he established himself as a jazz great performing in the Miles Davis Sextet along-side John Coltrane, and creating his own music such as the hit” Mercy Mercy Mercy.”

     The Broward Center’s Arts Access program assists community-based organizations in presenting arts and cultural performances at the Broward Center. The program provides technical assistance and marketing support to local com-munity groups enabling them to develop and build their audiences. Arts Access has collaborated with over 50 performing arts companies, nonprofit organizations and cultural and community groups to present all genres of the performing arts including music, dance, theater, poetry and comedy.

     Tickets are $25, $35 and $50.Tickets are available through the Broward Center AutoNation box office at (954) 462-0222 or online at www.BrowardCenter.org. 

            The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.