Concert special fuses rich traditions of jazz with the rhythms of the Caribbean
Maryland Public Television (MPT) will premiere its original special Dion Parson & 21st Century Band in Concert at 9 p.m. on Friday, June 9 on MPT-HD and the MPT live stream. The program will also air at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 11 on MPT2/Create® and at 10 p.m. on Thursday, June 15 on MPT-HD. It will be available for members with MPT Passport to view on-demand using MPT’s online video player and the PBS App following its broadcast premiere.
In Dion Parson & 21st Century Band in Concert, GRAMMY® Award-winning drummer and composer Dion Parson leads a seven-member ensemble in delivering a high energy performance of sophisticated Caribbean jazz – or “jazzribbean” – to a live studio audience gathered in The Irene and Edward H. Kaplan Production Studio at MPT in Owings Mills, Maryland.
Dion Parson & 21st Century Band features a fresh and innovative sound that mixes Caribbean traditions with American music tastes to deliver a special brand of jazz that attracts audiences young and old. Their sold-out performances at prestigious venues such as Dizzy’s Club, part of Jazz at Lincoln Center, have paved the way for the genre’s recent popularity boom.
Parson will join MPT on-air personalities Tony Hill and Maggie Linton at MPT during a live pledge event taking place throughout the program’s June 9 premiere.
About Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates and distributes local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.
