School of American Music 2026 Jazz Brunch
Jazz Fest 2026 – The Art of the Song
Celebrating the voices, stories, and spirit of jazz.
Friday, September 18
Wildflowers: Kurt Elling with Ben Paterson
@ The Acorn – 107 Generations Drive, Three Oaks, MI
Saturday, September 19
A full day of music!
@ The Vickers Theatre – 6 N. Elm Street, Three Oaks, MI
- 1pm ET: Merrimans’ Play-House Open Mic Showcase featuring the Merrimans’ Play-House Players
- 6pm ET: Patti Shaffner with Buddy Pearson & Leandro Lopez Varady
- 8pm ET: Sam Burckhardt with Jeremy Kahn + Jake Vinsel
Sunday, September 20
Jazz Sunday Brunch featuring Jeanne Franks with Mark Burnell and Joshua Ramos
@ Commune + Market – 105 N. Elm Street, Three Oaks, MI
WEEKEND PASSES AVAILABLE for a limited time. Get yours through August 31st while they last!
Cap off an unforgettable JazzFest weekend with an afternoon of exceptional food, great company, and the smooth sounds of acclaimed jazz vocalist and pianist Jeanne Franks. Returning by popular demand after a crowd-favorite performance at last year’s festival, Jeanne brings her signature blend of sophisticated jazz standards and soulful style to this special closing event.
Your ticket includes a delicious brunch featuring comfort-food favorites, a lush grazing table curated by Heidi Smith, gourmet sweets by Celeste Dolan of Greenbriar Bakery, and two complimentary drink tickets, with a full cash bar available throughout the event.
Join us for a relaxing and memorable celebration of music and community as we bring JazzFest 2026 to a close. All proceeds benefit the School of American Music and its mission to expand access to music education throughout our region.
About the Artist:
Jeanne Franks is a jazz vocalist and on-air radio host at WDCB 90.9 FM. Chicagoland’s premier jazz station. A Chicago native, she started piano lessons at age five, played the flute for her elementary and high school bands and later studied piano and voice privately at Elmhurst College and Benedictine University. For two decades, she was a soprano and soloist in the Wooten Choral Ensemble singing hymns, spirituals, traditional and contemporary gospel music.
She is a graduate of Knox College and earned an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. In addition to her musical career Jeanne is a marketing, business development and interior design consultant in the architecture and construction industry.