Jazz in the Park series celebrates its 24th year

The talent is set and the amphitheater is ready for another season of music with Clark County Parks and Recreation’s Jazz in the Park concert series, which celebrates its 24th year. This year, the free series will feature the Las Vegas Academy Jazz Combo, which has invited Tom Scott to perform with it Saturday .

The series continues with Earl Klugh on June 1 and Pete Escovedo on June 8. Seating for those with picnic baskets, blankets and low-back chairs will open at 6 p.m. with performances beginning at 7 p.m. at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. Food vendors also will be available on site. Admission and parking are free.

“This series is an institution and a highlight of the year’s cultural calendar, often bringing the biggest names in jazz to Las Vegas,” County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak said. “It is also a lot of fun. People love to bring their lawn chairs, blankets and a bite to eat while enjoying great jazz in our beautiful amphitheater.”

The Las Vegas Academy Jazz Combo is the recipient of more Signature Grammy awards than any other high school fine arts department in the country. A part of the World Jazz Studies program at the Las Vegas Academy performing arts high school, it also was the overall winner at the 2012 Reno Jazz Festival.

Scott, a founder of the Blues Brothers Band, was the band leader on “The Pat Sajak Show” and “The Chevy Chase Show” and provided musical direction for the 68th Academy Awards in 1996 and several Emmy Award telecasts from 1996 to 2007.

Jazz in the Park continues with Klugh, an American smooth jazz, crossover jazz and jazz fusion guitarist and composer. Modern Guitar magazine wrote, in 2006, that he “is considered by many to be one of the finest acoustic guitar players today.”

Escovedo will close the series with a jazz experience that spans decades. Music thrives in the Escovedo family blood. The father of Sheila E. and Peter Michael Escovedo of “The Wayne Brady Show” band, Escovedo formed the Escovedo Brothers Latin Jazz Sextet before Santana hired him and his brother Coke for his group. His latest recording, the first since 2003, “Live From Stern Grove Festival,” was released in 2012.