Follow The Music With The Michigan Jazz Trail

Molly McFadden Speaks To The Chamber Eye Opener

May 1, 2012
By: Josh Sharrow

The crowd gathered at Bay Valley Resort for The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Eye Opener, were on their feet when Eric Jylha received the Presidents Award! Eric Jylha, weather reporter on WNEM-TV 5 has been heavily involved in The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce since 2002. Jylha proudly accepted The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce's Presidents Award, honoring Jylha for his dedication and service to The Bay Area Chamber pf Cp,,erce.

Brick Awards were presented to Johanne Luth owner of several McDonald's Restaurants in the Great Lakes Bay Region, for her investment in remodeling her establishments and incorporating the Great Lakes Bay Region into the design. Also, presented with a Brick Award was Kim Coonan, Owner of Coonan's Irish Hub on Johnson in Bay City.

McFadden is a 2004 transplant from New York City, a jazz singer who sang and performed in cabarets. McFadden and her husband own and operate Molly's Bistro, which presents jazz music every weekend, ranging from jazz trios, guitar soloists and jazz horns to the Harlem String Quartet.

"Bay City does it right, you have phenomenal music on the river!" said McFadden. "We have a phenomenal resource in the Great Lakes Bay Region, so I thought why can't Michigan have the Michigan Jazz Trail?" McFadden continued.

Imagine, someday in the not-too-distant future, getting in a car and traveling to a series of inter-connected jazz festivals up and down the coasts of .... Michigan.

From Traverse City ... to Bay City....to Detroit, and other points in between and beyond. National headliners sharing stages with regional jazz musicians as well as high school and college students. Venues outdoors and in historic theaters. Blues, Dixieland, soul mixed in. Workshops and after-hours jam sessions.

The Michigan Jazz Trail has announced their lineup:

Friendship Shell in Wenonah Park, Bay City
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - 5:00 PM
Featuring Soul Express & the Great Lakes Bay Best Jazz & Blues Talent

Jazz On The Green
Saturday, June 23, 2012 - 5:30 PM
Dow Gardens, Midland
Featuring Michigan Jazz Trail Band & Ramsey Lewis & Sunshine Band.

Heart & Soul at The Dow Event Center
Sunday, June 24, 2012 - 3:00 PM
Featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater & Patrick Yandall
$45 Festival Pass Or $25 Per Event

All Tickets Are General Admission

For more information & tickets visit www.michiganjazztrail.org