Grammy award-winning group to perform Saturday at John Wood Community College

QUINCY — The Quincy Civic Music Association is welcoming säje to Quincy as part of its 2024-25 season at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at John Wood Community College.

A Grammy-nominated vocal supergroup, säje (rhymes with “beige”), is the brainchild of vocalist/composers Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick and Erin Bentlage. As individuals, each artist has crafted their own notable solo career. Now they are bringing their collective voices to this union, traversing a vast array of compelling original material, beloved jazz standards and contemporary re-imaginings (The Bad Plus, YEBBA, Björk, etc).

After debuting at the 2020 Jazz Education Network Conference in New Orleans, säje toured multiple jazz festivals and clubs from January to March.

During quarantine, säje received its first Grammy nomination for its composition, “Desert Song” in the Best Arrangement Instruments and Vocals category. They were awarded the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize Award for their second composition “Wisteria,” as well as their first Jazz Journalists Association Award Nomination for “Best Vocal Jazz Group.”

The collective also recently received support for their continued work through the Chamber Music of America New Jazz Works grant, the Super Patron Grant, the Jazz Road Creative Residencies grant and the USC Visions + Voices grant. Their debut album was released in August 2023, featuring original work and covers, highlighting collaborations with artists Jacob Collier, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ambrose Akinmusire and more.

The album landed a No. 2 spot on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart in its first week and peaked at No. 4 on the iTunes Jazz Chart.

Tickets may be bought at the door, at Square Music Company, Sturhahn Jewelers, HyVee and Niemann’s in Quincy. High school students and younger students may attend at no cost. Faculty, staff and students from JWCC, Quincy University and Culver-Stockton College gain free admission with their school ID. A single admission ticket is $25. Season tickets are $100. QCMA has ticket reciprocity agreements with the Hannibal Concert Association and the Keokuk Concert Association.

The Quincy Civic Music Association was organized in 1927 to present seasons of four to six concerts by professional musicians and dancers. It is the oldest existing cultural organization in Quincy devoted to professional entertainment. 

For tickets and more information, go to quincycivicmusic.org or scan the QR code below.