Cynthia Layne Trio to kick off Jazz at the Duck season

DePauw Jazz at the Duck will present the Cynthia Layne Trio for its inaugural show of the season.

The performance is slated for 9-11 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 at The Inn at DePauw's Fluttering Duck. All Jazz at the Duck performances are free and open to the public.

The Cynthia Layne Trio features Layne, Reggie Bishop and Kenny Phelps.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Layne has made her home for many years in Indianapolis, where she has garnered quite a following as an R&B and jazz singer.

Layne has loved live music since the moment she attended her first concert at the tender age of seven. Since then, live music has become a regular part of her life with both the general public and media impressed by her performances.

She has released a pair of records on Indianapolis-based Owl Studios: "Beautiful Soul" and "Reality."

The latest album "Beautiful Soul" is more R&B-influenced than her previous work.

"I listen to a lot of music styles and grew up on R&B music," Layne said. "I wanted to do an R&B album to reach more audiences and listeners. I think there is a little something for everyone on the album."

Thursday's performance will feature "Beautiful Soul" co-producer Bishop on keyboards and Phelps on drums. Both of the Indianapolis-born musicians are regular members of Layne's band.

Fans should note that Jazz at the Duck will resume its normal 8:30-10:30 p.m. hours beginning Thursday, Sept. 12.

The schedule for the remainder of the semester includes:

-- Sept. 12: Jam session.

-- Sept. 19: Faculty jazz.

-- Sept. 26: Jam session.

-- Oct. 3: Robin Hopkins and Kathleen Miller.

-- Oct. 10: Jam session.

-- Oct. 17: Frank Smith Trio.

-- Oct. 24: Fall break, no jazz.

-- Oct. 31: Bleau Django.

-- Nov. 7: Convergence.

-- Nov. 14: Jam session.

-- Nov. 21: Jam Session with special guest to be announced.

-- Nov. 28: Thanksgiving, no jazz.

-- Dec. 5: John Spicknall Trio.