On Saturday, September 16, at Edmond Town Hall Theatre, 45 Main Street, three performers will offer live entertainment while raising funds for The Ana Grace Project and Chelsea’s Charity.

The evening will feature world renowned jazz artists The Steve Kroon Latin Jazz Sextet, Ty Stephens & The SoulJaazz, and special guest Grammy nominated Carla Cook.

The evening will be hosted by Monica MamaSoul Williamson of Rhythm and Soul Radio.

Regular tickets are $50, and there are also a limited number of VIP tickets for $150. VIP tickets include up-front seating, a preshow meal, meet and greet with Stephens, Kroon and Cook, two drink tickets, and a swag bag. Presales for the VIP tickets close on August 20.

All tickets must be purchased in advance; the box office will not be selling tickets the evening of the show.

Tickets are available through edmondtownhall.org.

The Performers

Steven Kroon has been a professional percussionist for over 50 years. He has worked with such notables as the late great Luther Vandross (1981-2001).

He has also appeared on seven platinum albums, 15 world tours, an array of television performances from The Tonight Show and David Letterman to the Grammys.

Kroon also performed with the legendary Ron Carter from 1987-2004 and has recorded with some of the Who’s Who big names in popular music such as Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Diana Krall, Stanley Turrentine, Bette Midler, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, to name just a few.

More recently Kroon has been turning out a catalog of incredible jazz albums with a Latin flair that is uniquely all his own. He has appeared worldwide and several times in Connecticut, including Greater Hartford Jazz Festival and Palace Theater in Waterbury.

Ty Stephens is an award-winning singer-songwriter, entertainer and recording artist who can do it all.

Over the past 20 years Stephen has won several awards not only for his songwriting skills, but also for his choreography. He has appeared on Broadway in the original productions of Sophisticated Ladies and Marilyn: An American Fable.

He has recorded with industry legend Harry Belafonte, Peggi Lee, Dan Hartman, Nile Rogers, Chuck Mangione, Gwen McCrae and The First Lady of Def Jam Alyson Williams, among others. He and his band SoulJaazz are known all over the world and have opened for such acclaimed acts as Celine Dion, Diana Ross, Carlos Santana, Liza Minelli, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Norah Jones, Elton John, Larry Coryell and Vanessa Rubin.

Carla Cook has been influenced by the jazz vocal masters but equally influenced by phenomenal instrumentalists like Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, and The Crusaders.

The Detroit native also finds inspiration in R&B, Motown, pop, gospel, and country music. As a result, Cook has an improvisational style steeped in the swing tradition yet eclectic and brimming with fresh interpretations.

The Beneficiaries

Founded in 2013 in memory of Ana Grace Márquez-Greene, The Ana Grace Project was born as a response to the tragedy that took her life in Sandy Hook on 12/14.

“Love Wins” is the slogan adopted by her family immediately after that day, and it has been a rallying cry.

The Ana Grace Project is dedicated to promoting love, community and connection for every child and family through three lead initiatives: partner schools, professional development, and music and arts.

Chelsea Phaire is a philanthropist from Danbury, who at the age of 10 realized that art can uplift spirits.

She started her charity to provide art supplies and art lessons to children not only in Connecticut, but also nationwide. Phaire believes the social-emotional and mental health development of children can be supported through art.