This year’s special guest will be Alfred ‘Al’ Waters. Mr. Waters, from Jacksonville, Florida, began his musical education while in the seventh grade. While attending junior high and high school, he played in the Marching, Symphonic Bands and many small ensembles. After high school, he went to Florida A&M University (F AMU) where he performed in the Symphonic Band and was a member of the “Marching 100.” During his junior year, he joined FAMU’s Jazz Band and performed with major artists like Donald Byrd and ‘Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells.’ After earning a music degree, he accepted a job as Band Director at Virginia Union University. After teaching for three years he began to devote all his energies to becoming a full-time musician, performing in bands playing Dixieland, Big Band, Blues, Rock and Jazz Bands. He also played with the Richmond Symphony. He has opened for or accompanied Milt Jackson, Frank Foster, the Temptations, Rita Moreno, Florence Henderson and Barry Manilow.

In 1987, he toured nationally as a member of the Savoy Sultans and in 1990, he became a member of the “Ray Charles Band” for ten years. Subsequently, he began performing with groups led by Teddy Washington, Gino Gonzales Les DeMerle, Doug Carn and Terry “Doc” Handy.

The Savannah Jazz Orchestra, under the leadership of Drs. Randall Reese and Teddy Adams, is comprised of the area’s best musicians and can be heard on SJO’s dazzling CD, Satin Doll, (The music of Duke Ellington & Johnny Mercer). The large ensemble includes trumpets, trombones, saxophones, piano, bass, drums and fabulous vocals. The ensemble proudly features the music of many regional and national composers & arrangers, including: Kevin Mahogany, Diane Schuur, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Deborah Brown, Vanessa Rubin, Ed Calle, Marlena Shaw, Joey DeFrancesco, Claudio Roditi, Bobby Watson, Vincent Herring, Simone, Marcus Printup, Wycliffe Gordon, Ron WilkensSam Skelton and Nick Brignola.