Nine-piece powerhouse band Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds will headline this year's Heartland Summit Jazz series, a collaboration between The Performing Arts Studio and Jazz In June, Inc. Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds puts a modern spin on classic soul. The band is led by Arleigh Kincheloe, whose powerful voice and sly demeanor make for a spellbinding onstage presence. She is backed by the mighty force of The Dirty Birds, eight men--including Oklahoma bass-master Aidan Carroll--who masterfully lay down thundering grooves and soaring melodies. The band?s high energy and horn-fueled live performances have drawn comparisons to Amy Winehouse and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. Opening the show will be the unique sounds of local legends John Calvin and David Leach who are, togther, known as Cooking with John and Dave. The instrumental jazz duo, with a sound it calls Latin jazz hip-hop, takes influences from Ray Brown, John Coltrane, The Weather Report, The Bad Plus and old school hip-hop sensibilities. The Heartland Summit Jazz series is made possible by support from the Norman Arts Council, Norman Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma Arts Council and Northeast Blanco Development Corp.
