Jazz is the original American art form—born here, celebrated worldwide, and alive at Cameron Art Museum.
The 2026–27 season features musicians from North Carolina and beyond, presenting a wide range of jazz traditions and contemporary approaches. Audiences will experience the polyrhythmic sounds of Mangroove, the powerful vocals of Yolanda Rabun, the soulful improvisation of pianist and organist Le’Andra McPhatter, the melodic vibraphone of Brandon Mitchell, the expansive musical experience of the Matt Booth Quartet, and the energetic interplay of the James Fernando Trio.
Jazz at CAM is held on the first Thursday of each month, September through April, except in November.
Upcoming Performances
Pricing & Packages
CAM Members: $40 individual ticket / $280 series package
Not Yet Members: $60 individual ticket / $420 series package
Students or Educators (w/valid ID): $15 individual ticket / $105 series package
Members Save!
As a member, you can receive $20 off individual tickets and $140 off series package
Sponsorship
Jazz at CAM is funded in part by
and through the generosity of these individuals:
Mr. M. Ricardo McCrimmon
Nancie and James Kennedy
Dr. William Malloy and Ms. Maxine Terry
Dr. Acquenetta Wheeler
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Contact Helen Stukenborg at [email protected] or call (910) 910-726-9485
Series 2026-27 Schedule
September 3, 2026 – Benny Hill Quartet
Wilmington saxophonist Benny Hill has performed with a diverse range of musical groups for more than thirty years. A specialist in jazz performance, Hill has shared the stage with Ray Codrington, Melvin Sparks, Slide Hampton, Percy Heath, Winard Harper, Ron Blake, Randy Johnston, Eddie Henderson, and New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen Brass Band. He has also performed with James Brown’s “Soul Generals” and opened for Edwin McCain and RatDog.
October 1, 2026 – Mangroove
Manny Santos is a jazz percussionist, bandleader, and vocalist from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Of Cape Verdean descent, Santos began performing professionally at age 15 and developed a musical approach grounded in polyrhythmic expression and the jazz and Latin traditions. While living in Boston, he developed his craft at New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music and became a proficient conga player through his studies and performances with Les Lumley and Brandon Guillermo.
December 3, 2026 – Yolanda Rabun
Singer and storyteller Yolanda Rabun brings energy, vocal power, and inventiveness to performances encompassing straight-ahead and contemporary jazz, blues, folk, pop, and gospel. She has opened for and performed with Jennifer Holliday, Howard Hewett, Ron Isley and the Isley Brothers, KEM, and Sheila E. Rabun has also performed with North Carolina Opera, the Durham Symphony, and the Raleigh Symphony Free Spirits and has appeared on regional theater stages.
January 7, 2027 – Le’Andra McPhatter
Pianist and organist Le’Andra McPhatter creates music shaped by gospel, soul, and jazz. Born in Kinston, North Carolina, and based in Hartford, Connecticut, McPhatter began her musical journey at age three, immersed in the sounds of her family and church. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from North Carolina Central University and completed a Master of Music in Jazz Studies at the University of Hartford. Her improvisational style honors the legacy of Black American music while embracing forward-thinking expression.
February 11, 2027 – Brandon Mitchell Quartet
Brandon Mitchell is a jazz musician and educator who performs primarily on vibraphone as a bandleader and on drums as a sideman. His debut solo album, Black Guardian, was released in 2020, followed by On Brand in 2025. Mitchell has performed throughout the United States and in Italy, including appearances at the Jazzit Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, the John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival, and the Ocean City Jazz Festival. He has performed alongside Branford Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Jon Metzger, and John Fedchock.
March 4, 2027 – Matt Booth Quartet
Matt Booth is a bassist, composer, and educator based in Durham, North Carolina. Over the past seventeen years, he has performed in a wide range of musical styles, both in his former home of New Orleans and on tours around the world. His projects include the quintet featured on his album Sun Prints, the piano trio Extended, the quartet Palindromes, and the guitar trio Some Antics. Booth has performed at the Ottawa Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, South by Southwest, and Burlington Jazz Festival.
April 1, 2027 – James Fernando Trio
Based in Philadelphia, the James Fernando Trio creates music grounded in the traditions of Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, and Thelonious Monk. Pianist and composer James Fernando formed the trio in 2023 after receiving a call to assemble a group for a Kennedy Center performance with three days’ notice. The musicians met onstage for the first time and quickly discovered a powerful musical chemistry. Their debut album, Philly 3, was released in 2026. The trio combines original compositions, fresh interpretations of jazz standards, inventive improvisation, and playful arrangements.
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