Marblehead Summer Jazz opens 30th and final season tonight

MARBLEHEAD – Marblehead Summer Jazz returns to the Unitarian Church tonight for its 30th season, beginning with pianist Makoto Ozone at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St. in Marblehead.Series founder and Producing Director Gene Arnould said, “For our 30th season we wanted to do something special. We’re calling it our ?Coming Full Circle Season’ – going back to where we began in 1985 and bringing back the first three performers we presented that year.”Arnould added, “It is with both regret and relief that we also announce this final season of Marblehead Summer Jazz in 2014. It has been an incredible 30 years with dozens of great performances but 30 years seems a good place to call it quits and to celebrate what we’ve done.”Ozone, the talented Berklee-educated pianist who joined Gary Burton’s group shortly after his graduation from Berklee 30 years ago, was the inspiration to start a jazz series in Marblehead in 1985. He has been back several times over the years, performing with Gary Burton, bassist John Lockwood and with his own trio. He will return from Japan to kick off the series tonight, performing solo on his concert grand Yahama piano.Grammy nominated vocalist/pianist Karrin Allyson, who was not a part of that first year but has visited the venue several times, joins the lineup on Friday, July 25.Trumpeter Greg Hopkins, also a longtime Berklee professor of music, will return with his Nonet Group on Saturday, Aug. 9, playing both original material and jazz standards.Rebecca Parris, whom Arnould fondly calls “The First Lady of Marblehead Jazz,” will return for her 30th summer appearance on Saturday, Aug. 23.”Rebecca has been such an important part of our series from that first year … We wanted her to sing our ?swan song,’ so in addition to her regular trio featuring Brad Hatfield on piano, Peter Kontrimas on bass and Jim Latini on drums, Rebecca will be joined by Steve Marvin on vocals and Michael Moneghan on reeds.”