The Quilt: Live in Concert | Russell Hill Rogers Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral

Photo by Luis Perez

“…one is drawn to his soulful disposition. Arlington Jones is the epitome of all that is ideal as a contributor to society and to music. He is a “salt of the earth” individual and an ardent scholar of music.”
–Heinrich Frans, Music Journalist, South Africa

Arlington Jones was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1973, but his family moved to Dallas, Texas in 1976 when his father received a job transfer. His musical journey started at an early age because of his parents’ music heritage and vast album collection. He began studying piano at age eight, started playing in church, and took drum lessons as well. His extraordinary talent and great passion for music soon blossomed. Watching him play now, no one could guess that he told his parents he wanted to stop taking lessons after the first week! Yet, with encouragement from them, he persisted.

Arlington’s study of classical music was later combined with jazz studies in college. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree from Southwest Texas State University in music, composition, arranging, performance, theory, and jazz studies. His main jazz music influences are Oscar Peterson and Duke Ellington. Claude Debussy is his favorite classical composer. Arlington expresses, “When I began taking piano lessons, I never imagined music would affect me in the way that it has. Playing music has become my destiny, my responsibility, my aspiration.”

His soulful style, lush harmonies, and impeccable groove are what he is known for. Whether performing solo or with his band, Arlington Jones & The Brethren, he has the gift to take listeners of all ages on an unforgettable journey – a contagious toe-tapping, finger-snapping, hand-clapping, head-bobbing experience! Not only is he pleasing to listen to but also exhilarating to watch! Right through each note, Arlington exudes energy from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet! Notable for always being dapper, he matches vintage threads and contemporary fashion with his eclectic tie and sneaker collection.

Over the years, Arlington has distinguished himself as a successful independent recording artist, composer, and producer under his label Zamaria Records. His music reveals the history of traditional and modern jazz, influenced by ragtime, stride, classical, blues, Latin, funk, and sacred styles. He has multiple album recordings and piano music books. He branded his own jazz piano techniques book, master class, and music web series entitled The Way I Hear It™. Arlington is a Steinway Artist. He tours internationally and has shared the stage with many music artists and groups. He contracts commissioned works, specializing in jazz piano concertos and modern sacred choral pieces.

Performing around the world provides a constant outlook on the music industry and helps him relate to music students and aspiring musicians. Arlington has years of experience as an educator, clinician, adjudicator, and guest lecturer in all levels of elementary, secondary, and higher education. He partners with a variety of music education programs, schools, universities, and organizations. He uses his innovative hands-on teaching techniques to educate piano students, other instrumentalists, and composers of all ages and genres. He created a special interactive presentation for kids called I Can Improvise™ Youth Concert, a fun way to learn about song form, improvisation, music history, and concert etiquette.

Between tour dates, Arlington is involved with arts and jazz preservation programs. He is currently the Artistic Director for the Sammons Jazz Program at the Sammons Center for the Arts in Dallas, Texas. He helped to spearhead the Dallas Jazz Appreciation Month committee. He served on the Advisory Committee for the Cedar Valley College Music Department. His contributions in the arts and music education communities have led to great awards and acknowledgements.

Arlington seeks to promote the preservation and appreciation of music as an art form by pairing energetic live performances with music education and history. He is devoted to the enrichment and empowerment of musicians and their families through master classes, clinics, workshops, and literature. Most importantly, Arlington is dedicated to creating music that speaks life to the hearts, minds, and souls of people around the world – music that will evoke joy, hope, faith, peace, healing, and love for all generations and cultures!

Arlington and his wife, Hope, have a daughter, Christian, and a son, Arlington III. Together they have founded The Music Stand, a nonprofit organization. He and his family live in Arlington, Texas.

Dr. Nicole Cherry is the Assistant Professor of Violin at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and a violinist with the award-winning Marian Anderson String Quartet. A distinguished performer and educator, Dr. Cherry has toured and taught across the globe, including a solo tour of the Middle East and South Africa. During her time in South Africa, she performed for Queen Noor of Jordan and shared her music with underdeveloped townships in Johannesburg during the era of Apartheid.

Versatile in various musical styles, Dr. Cherry has collaborated with a wide range of artists, from members of the Juilliard String Quartet to the late Whitney Houston. Her performances have graced prestigious venues such as the Library of Congress and Carnegie Hall, and she has been featured at renowned festivals and conferences worldwide. With the Marian Anderson String Quartet, she has received numerous accolades, including the MLK Jr. C.O.R.E. Award for outstanding service and achievement in the arts.

Dr. Cherry’s award-winning research on the 19th-century Afro-European violin virtuoso, George Bridgetower, has led to performances at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, with recent concerts and lectures in Australia, England, and Canada. This research has also inspired the commissioning project “Forge with George,” which engages contemporary composers. One notable work includes Berklee College composer David Wallace’s 2017 piece, “The Bridgetower,” a multifaceted work for speaking, singing, rapping, and solo violin, featuring text from Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Rita Dove’s book “Sonata Mulattica.”

Dr. Cherry received her education from the University of Maryland, Peabody Institute of Music, Shepherd School of Music, and Texas Tech University. As a graduate alumnus of the Juilliard School, she was featured in the Juilliard Journal’s 100th-anniversary issue, “A Quiet Revolution: Juilliard Alumni and the Transformation of Education in America Through the Arts.”

Dr. Aaron Prado is a pianist, composer, arranger, educator, and radio personality based in San Antonio, Texas. Prado received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance at the University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music in 2014. Prior to doctoral study, Prado attended Columbia University for undergraduate study and New York University for a Master’s Degree. From 2003-2009, Prado was Music Director and announcer at Trinity University’s jazz radio station – KRTU 91.7FM – and is currently the host of “Aaron Prado Presents” – heard Sundays 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Aaron’s compositional prowess has been a staple of San Antonio and globally.  In 2011, Prado debuted his “San Antonio Jazz Suite” – a large-scale composition scored for big band, string quartet, and narration depicting the story of San Antonio. In 2015, Prado published a book of transcriptions of solo recordings by jazz pianist Bill Evans (published by Hal Leonard). In 2018, Prado received the Paul Elizondo Grant for the Performing Arts from The Artist Foundation of San Antonio to compose a concert work called “The Hero’s Journey” and the piece premiered at Luminaria 2018 at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico. In 2019, Prado released two new CDs “Live at Jazz, TX” with his sextet and a trio album of original music titled “And Now…”. In 2024, Prado was commissioned to write a commissioned work for The Gurwitz International Piano Competition, titled “El Colibrí y la Cempasúchil“, which was performed live with the three finalists and members of the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra (video).

Prado is also the music director for the Sister Cities Jazz Ensemble, an ensemble of international musicians from sister cities around the world. The piece “Sister Cities” was commissioned by Musical Bridges Around the World and premiered in February 2018 during the International Music Festival in San Antonio, TX featuring the ensemble.

Brandon Antonio Rivas was born in 1975 in San Antonio, TX. At an early age, Brandon showed an interest in music largely due to his father, who is a trumpet player. He participated in numerous orchestras including the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio, where he was Principal Bassist. He was then selected to the All-State Orchestra of Texas. Brandon received numerous scholarship offers and chose Loyola University where he was selected as Principal Bassist. Always having an interest in Jazz, he then decided to study at the University of New Orleans, under the direction of Ellis Marsalis. It was there that he quickly developed into a sought-after and first-call bassist on the New Orleans jazz scene.

Brandon has been employed by and performed with the following musicians: The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, The Mambo Kings, Ellis Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Nicholas Payton, Mark Whitfield, New Birth Brass Band, Charles Neville, Kermit Ruffin, Harry Connick, Sr., Adela Dalto, Harold Battiste, Henry Butler, Irvin Mayfield, Bob French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, Wes Anderson, Steve Masakowski, Peter Martin, Merl Saunders, Corey Henry and the Young Gentleman, Gerry Gibbs Third Trio From the Sun,
and John Vidacovich.

Brandon has served as a clinician in Austria and Italy. He has also performed on extensive tours with various bands. Included in these are two European tours with the Harold Battiste All-Stars, and a tour of Spain with Donald Harrison. Brandon was employed as a studio musician by the Sound Factory Studio in Memphis, TN. He has played on numerous recordings!

Selected Discography: Ban Gibson – “Zat You Santa Claus,” Eric Hoctor- “Hanging by a Thread,” Cronk “Wegotchew,” Fiesta San Antonio Album, 2002-2003, Sista Tee Dee – “UMAMI,” Loretta Cormier – “Under a Blanket of Blue,” Owen Dugan – “An Elephant Never Forgets,” and Latin Playerz- “Spiritual Awakening, ” (Grammy Nominated).

Born in New York City in 1960 and raised in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, Georgie Padilla has been a professional percussionist, arranger, vocalist and music teacher for more than 40 years. He began playing at the age of twelve and was one of the first leaders as well as tutors for Guayanilla’s School Band’s percussion section. Shortly after, he played with Nelson Feliciano and KitoVelez.

Padilla has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the Interamericana University of Puerto Rico and a Master’s Degree in Music specializing in Latin Music Performing from Texas State University.

Georgie has performed and traveled worldwide with Elias Lopes and Company, Jesus Caunedo’s Puertorrican Jazz, Los Saxofones de Mayaguez, Frankie Ruiz, Sonora Ponceña, Danny Rivera, Lucecita Benitez, Jose Nogueras, Bobby Valentin, Jerry Rivera, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz and various international artists such as Soledad Bravo, Isabel Pantojas just to name a few. He also participated in Cheo Feliciano’s live recordings and video productions at the Tropicana Club in Cuba.

Padilla had recorded on many of Jerry Rivera’s productions. His latest recording for Jerry, “El Amor Existe” reached #3 on Billboards Tropical Music genre. His impressive list of recording and arrangement credits also include Guianko, Cheo Feliciano, Ricardo Visuete, Tito Gomez, Choco Orta, Jandy Feliz, Gilberto Santarosa, Pedro De Jesus, Hector Ivan Rivera and a host of other Latin Jazz luminaries. Recently, Georgie performed in Richard Oppenheim’ís latest CD Greenhorn in a Red State.

Padilla has worked as an adjunct faculty at Northwest Vista College, a teaching assistant at Texas State University and a percussion professor at Brookhaven College in Dallas. Currently, he is back in San Antonio teaching at Northwest Vista College. Georgie offers private lessons on Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Also, he gives support to young local groups with arrangements and improving their performances. In the meantime, Georgie is the arranger and co-producer for Hector Ivan Rivera’ís recordings in Puerto Rico, performs with his jazz group “Georgie Padilla & Friends” and conducts The BISA Orchestra (Boricuas in San Antonio) and Los Tres Del Tambor on special events.

Please visit: www.youtube.com/geoconga

The San Antonio Gospel Heritage Choir was founded by the San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum in 2023 to celebrate the legacy of gospel music in San Antonio, TX. This multi-generational, multicultural choir promotes SAAACAM’s mission to collect, preserve and share the history and cultural heritage of African descendants in San Antonio and the Southwest.

Are tickets required for entry to the concert?
Yes, but they are free! (Seating not assigned)

How do I get a ticket?
Tickets are available on this page or on Eventbrite.

What do I show at the door/check-in?
To help our attendants, please have your ticket ready when you get there. Attendants will be ready to scan the QR code located on your ticket (print, email, or app). If you lose your ticket, please tell the attendant your first and last name.

What if I forget to register?
An attendant at the door can help you register quickly and easily. We do not turn away guests if space is available.

What are the current health protocols I need to follow?
Masks/social distancing is not currently required.

How do I get to the San Fernando Cathedral? Where do I park?
The San Fernando Cathedral lies at the center of downtown San Antonio at 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205. While there is no dedicated parking for the Cathedral, there are many close parking options. City Paystations and meters are FREE on Sundays, and you can find more info and paid garage/lot options on our website here. Note that there are three (3) main entrances to the Cathedral: two (2) front (east) entrances off Main Plaza and one (1) ADA-accessible side entrance on the left (south) Cathedral side.

Can I take pictures or video?
No flash photography. We would love for you to capture and share your experience, but we do ask that you be conscientious of others and the artists during the performance so as not to disrupt the event.

Any other questions?
Contact us