Spend Fourth of July in Greensboro, North Carolina. Celebrate America’s 250th with Great American Songbook live jazz on Saturday evening, a special Sunday brunch experience surrounded by amazing jazz artists and vocalists and an extraordinary hotel stay at O.Henry Hotel. The ultimate relaxed getaway to celebrate.
4th of July Jazz & Brunch Package
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Fourth of July Celebration—Surrounded by Jazz
Our American nation was born 250 years ago on July 4, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted to declare our new country’s freedom. Some 120 years later, in a town where the mightiest river in the United States ends its journey at the tip of Louisiana, jazz was born. Ironically, when New Orleans musicians such as Buddy Bolden experimented with improvisational freedom and gave birth to “America’s Music” had only a few years before been granted the freedom promised in the original Declaration. This is America, and this is jazz.
Jazz quickly spread its notion of freedom from European classical rules all over a nation that was now free from European government rule. At O.Henry Hotel in this 250th year of our nation’s founding, and 130 years after jazz was born, we celebrate America by celebrating jazz.
The Fourth of July Jazz & Brunch Package at O.Henry Hotel
Package Includes:
- An extraordinary overnight guestroom
- Limited Preferred Seating at the July 4th Jazz Performance*
- $50 dining credit
- Two tickets to Sunday Brunch with Jazz Artists (value $80)
- Guaranteed late checkout at 2 PM
*Please note that we are only able to hold limited preferred seats for packages up until 7:30 PM; after that time seating in the lobby will be first come, first served.
Fourth of July Jazz & Brunch Package Schedule
Saturday, July 4th — Jazz in the Social Lobby
Featuring the O.Henry Trio with Matt Kendrick (double bass), Drew Hays (saxophone), and Dave Fox (piano) and showcasing the following talented vocalists:
7 PM | Set 1 | Dr. John Henry
8 PM | Set 2 | Nishah DiMeo
9 PM | Set 3 | Alyson Williams
Sunday, July 5th — O.Henry Jazz Brunch & Meet the Artists
- 10 AM – 1 PM
- Caldwell Room at O.Henry Hotel
Start the day with an intimate meet-and-greet brunch with O.Henry jazz musicians and vocalists. Enjoy classic brunch dishes and specialty beverages by Green Valley Gill chefs while listening to the soothing sounds of the O.Henry Quintet: Matt Kendrick (bass), Drew Hays (saxophone), John Henry (trombone), Dave Fox (piano) and Kassem Williams (drums). While the quintet will play jazz standards and favorites, they will also be joined spontaneously by vocalists Nishah DiMeo, Alyson Williams, and of course, Dr. John Henry himself! Brunch begins at 10:00 AM, and the music starts at 10:30 AM!
About the O.Henry Trio
Matt Kendrick | Double Bass
Composer/double bassist Matt Kendrick is a North Carolina native from Winston-Salem. After attending the North Carolina School of the Arts in his hometown, Kendrick moved to New York City, where he played in a variety of avant-garde jazz groups. He then moved to Knoxville, TN, to study with renowned jazz educator Jerry Coker at the University of Tennessee and to perform with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Kendrick returned to Winston-Salem in 1981 and has since been a leader in North Carolina’s jazz scene.
Drew Hays | Saxophone
Originally from rural southern Ohio, saxophonist Drew Hays has toured throughout the US and in the UK with the New Century Saxophone Quartet. He also has performed with the Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Roanoke Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra and the Piedmont Wind Symphony. He was a founding member of the Piedmont Triad Jazz Orchestra and served as one of the ensemble’s in-house arrangers for seven years. Hays performs regularly throughout Greensboro and the surrounding area with jazz small groups, both as a leader and a sideman. Read more.
Dave Fox | Piano
The music of composer and pianist Dave Fox includes solo piano compositions, instrumental jazz, blues, and eclectic pop and rock. Fox has collaborated with a wide range of well-known musicians, including Frank Gratkowski, Melissa Reaves, Eugene Chadbourne, Scott Sawyer, Bruce Eisenbeil, Mike Wezolowski, Wally West, Ron Brendle, Greg Hyslop, and Kenny Soule. Since beginning his recording career in 1999, he has released five jazz recordings and one rock/Americana album to critical acclaim.
About the Guest Jazz Vocalists & Musicians
Dr. John Henry, Vocalist & Trombone
Dr. John Henry, Jr., was born in Cleveland, OH. He graduated from Berea High School in Berea, OH, completed both the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Music Education at the University of Akron, in Akron, OH; and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Music Education at the University of Houston. He is currently pursuing a Master of Christian Education Degree at Apex School of Theology. Dr. Henry has taught public school music (Band, Choir, and General Music) in Ohio. He served as an Assistant Director of Bands at Texas Southern University in Houston, TX, from 1994 to 2001. Since 2001, Dr. Henry has been teaching at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in Greensboro, NC, where he has served as an Assistant Director of Bands and Music Education Coordinator. He is currently the Director of the Music Program, and he also teaches the History of Gospel Music, Introduction to Music Literature, Sight-Singing and Ear Training, and upper level Music Theory courses. As an active arranger and musician on piano, organ, keyboard, and trombone, Dr. Henry has worked with numerous musical groups in various cities in Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Dr. Henry plays bass trombone and sings in the Greensboro Big Band; and he also leads his own group, The John Henry Ensemble, with whom he is currently planning a recording project. In addition, Dr. Henry currently serves in the Music Ministries at Maple Grove Baptist Church in Burlington, NC, and Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC. He is active in the North Carolina Music Educator’s Association (NCMEA), serving on the board as the Historian, and serving as a Member-At-Large on the Higher Education Board. He also serves as the Chair for Region 7 of the National Association of School of Music (NASM).
Nishah DiMeo, Vocalist
With unique vocal stylings and a seemingly limitless range, Nishah DiMeo has been studying, recording, and performing music for over three decades, covering genres from alternative to zydeco—though jazz has slowly become her favorite. Born in New Jersey in 1977, she began her studies at the age of four at the Freedom Theater in Philadelphia. Her family came back to its roots in Greensboro, NC, in 1988, and she continued her study of the arts through dance, theater, piano, and flute, both in choirs and through private classical voice training. Since the age of 18, DiMeo has recorded and graced stages across the country with numerous artists, winning Battles of the Bands, headlining shows, and opening for international artists, including The English Beat, Eek-A-Mouse, Jeff Lorber, and Four80East. She has been chosen more than once to perform in the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival, a concert boasting a list of notables such as George Benson, Boney James and Al Jarreau year after year. She currently performs with a network of talented musicians and bands across the Triad, Triangle, and Charlotte metro areas, a SC-based big band, and corporate events bands out of Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA.
Alyson Williams, Vocalist
Alyson Williams is an Emmy-award-winning jazz and R&B singer.
With a voice so hauntingly pure, Alyson is able to transport you to your very own utopia while effortlessly showcasing she really can do it all.
Actress, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and radio host are just a few of the other hats this renowned Harlem raised recording artist wears.
Growing up, Alyson was surrounded by and exposed to great music. Her father, celebrated Jazz trumpeter and bandleader Bobby Booker was a major influence in her life. It was at four years old when Alyson first demonstrated her stage talents. With a strong passion for performing, she was inspired to study dance under the supervision of Arthur Mitchell, founder of The Dance Theatre of Harlem. She also studied with Alvin Ailey and performed with numerous other dance companies with the determination to enhance her skills. After years of hard work and dedication to perfecting her craft, Alyson was granted a scholarship to Marymount Manhattan College. She later attended City University of New York as a member of the Aaron Davis Center for the Performing Arts Program and studied under John Lewis, of the Modern Jazz Quartet. It was in college that Alyson also joined Institute of New Cinema Artists (INCA), headed by Ruby Dee, Ozzie Davis, and Cliff Frazier. Through INCA, Alyson was awarded an internship to work with Benny Ashburn, manager of the world-famous Commodores. Before she knew it, she was singing background in the studio with iconic artists such as Melba Moore, Evelyn Champagne King, and Kurtis Blow. After a plethora of collaborations with Kurtis Blow, Alyson became the quintessential “hook girl” for the rap and hip hop genres. Her internship turned out to be life-changing: In just a short time, her talent was more widely recognized and she became an in-demand studio session singer, as well as a featured member of the 1980s vocal group High Fashion (Capitol Records). Read More.
Kassem Williams, Drums (Sunday)
Kassem Williams was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, where he began learning to read music at the age of eight. By 12, he knew that drumming was his passion. At 13, Kassem relocated to Charlotte, NC, with his father and attended Northwest School of the Arts. He later earned his degree from the Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Kassem performs extensively throughout the region, bringing energy and creativity to every stage.
Fun Things to Do in Greensboro
Our Friendly Neighborhood is a pretty cool place, so we’ve cooked up a few places to visit while you are in town!
- Go two blocks to 125+ shops at Friendly Center.
- Take a little drive to shop and tour the world’s largest retailer of china, crystal, flatware, and collectibles at Replacements, Ltd.
- Take a walk through history at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park or discover the beginning of the sit-in movement, which began February 1, 1960, at Woolworth in Greensboro (now the International Civil Rights Museum).
- See more Greensboro Attractions!