JAZZ ON THE ROANOKE MUSIC FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 18, 19, 20
Welcome to Jazz On The Roanoke, your premier destination for unforgettable jazz festivals. Discover event details, artist lineups, tickets, and community activities that celebrate soulful performances and vibrant culture. Join us for an exceptional musical experience in Plymouth, NC.
MEET THE ARTISTS
James “Saxsmo” Gates is one of Richmond’s premier musicians, a saxophonist
whose fiery passion and bell-like tone resonates in every note. His sound
ignites the hearts and souls of true jazz enthusiasts across the world.
A Richmond native, Saxsmo graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in
1978. He began his studies at Virginia State University before transferring, on a full scholarship, to the
prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 1984. In 2011, also
on a full scholarship, he completed a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at North Carolina Central University.
Saxsmo is the Founder, Director, and Coordinator of the Dr. Billy Taylor Jazz Studies Program at Virginia
State University, and in 2015 he was nominated for the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation
Living Legacies Award.
Saxsmo has served as a Board Member of the Richmond Jazz Society, the Appomattox Regional Governor’s
School, Richmond Cultural Works, and The HBCU Jazz Education Initiative. He also serves as Performance
Chair of the Virginia East End Festival. He is a proud member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha
Sinfonia fraternities.
Throughout his career, Saxsmo has performed and toured extensively across the United States and abroad.
He has shared the stage with legendary artists including Joe Kennedy, Jr., Art Blakey and the Jazz
Messengers, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Walter Davis, Jr., The Temptations, Dianne Reeves, Jimmy Cobb,
Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Larry Carlton, Jeff Lorber, Alex Bugnon, Terence Blanchard, Delfeayo Marsalis,
Patrice Rushen, Steve Wilson, Lonnie Liston Smith, Steve Turre, and many more.
Dedicated to the preservation and teaching of jazz, Saxsmo credits the masters of the genre as the
foundation of his artistry, which he passionately passes on to the next generation of musicians.
As a recording artist, Saxsmo released his debut CD, “Yes I Can”, in 1993, followed by “C’Mon Over To My
House”. His 2009 recording, “It’s Time”, featuring the legendary Fred Wesley on the 804Jazz label, reached
#45 on the SmoothJazz.com Top 50 Indie Charts and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary
Jazz Album. His 2013 release, “Gates Wide Open”, featuring Fred Wesley, Freddie Fox, and Walter Beasley,
reached #18 on the Smooth Indie Charts and garnered two Grammy nominations for Best Arranger and
Best Soloist.
In 2017, his single and video “Together We Can Make It” climbed to #4 on the Billboard Charts and received
a Grammy nomination. His 2020 album “Stepping Out” produced multiple charting singles, including “Hero”
(#6), “Living for the Love of You” (#7), “I Want You” (#7), and “Killing Me Softly” (#4) on SmoothJazz.com’s
Listener Charts. His last single, “Georgia on My Mind” featuring Dr. Naima Burrs, was released on
September 21, 2024, and is included on his highly acclaimed new album “Saxsmo’s Den” which debuted on
July 25th, 2025, both on the 804Jazz label.
Contact Information: James “Saxsmo” Gates
Office: (804) 524-6420 | Cell: (804) 426-6305
Email: saxsmosden1@gmail.com | jgates@vsu.edu
P.O. Box #264148, Richmond, VA 23260 | Website: www.saxsmo.net
Video : “Stepping Out with James ‘Saxsmo’ Gates” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGGnqMMwD3Q
Brother Blues Band
Brother Blues Band delivers a powerful blend of blues, soul, funk, classic R&B, and a vibrant collection of original songs. Led by Hermon “Blues” Maclin — The Boogie Doctor and founding member of Elektra Records’ Trussel behind the hit “Love Injection” — the band moves effortlessly from the blues of Taj Mahal to the soul of Marvin Gaye and The Temptations, to the jazzy funk of Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, and Parliament-Funkadelic. With a multigenerational lineup featuring original Trussel musicians alongside their children, nieces, nephews, and longtime family collaborators, Brother Blues Band brings a fresh, energetic groove rooted in decades of musical legacy.
LOUIS WRIGHT
Born and raised in New York, Louis Wright began his musical journey at age nine playing percussion in neighborhood bands. By age eleven after being mesmerized by the super smooth sounds of guitarist Wes Montgomery, he developed a deep passion for the guitar. Ten years later Lou auditioned and was selected as the guitarist for the popular PolyGram recording group, The Fatback Band. " I Found Lovin " This allowed Lou to tour the US and Europe for a year, and perform on venues with artists such as Earth Wind and Fire, Chaka Khan, Smokey Robinson, just to name a few. Lou went on to be a band leader, writer, producer and to record for other artists. Performing all the instruments, vocals, programming and engineering himself, he gives God the glory always! You can listen to Lou's original music compositions on all major streaming platforms.
Lou now resides in the state of Delaware and performs mainly in the states between New York and Virginia. With over thirty years experience, his one man band performances have been getting rave revues.