Calvin Barnes with the Eric Jones Trio featuring Nishah DiMeo

Join us for a special concert with Calvin Barnes with the Eric Jones Trio featuring Nishah DiMeo!

Since 2014, Calvin Barnes has been a vital force in Savannah’s jazz community. A member of both the Teddy Adams Sextet and the Savannah Jazz Orchestra, he also leads a trio that has maintained a long‑running monthly residency at the Hilton Desoto’s Proof and Provision. Calvin is a sought‑after sideman throughout Savannah and Hilton Head, performing across a wide range of live musical settings. His influences span swing, bebop, post‑bop, rhythm and blues, traditional gospel, and classical music, all of which shape his distinctive sound. In addition to his artistic work, Calvin serves as Vice President of Savannah Jazz, contributing significantly to the organization’s mission and growth.

Calvin earned a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance from Oberlin College, along with a degree in Biochemistry. Beyond his musical endeavors, he is a practicing physician, Board Certified in Diagnostic Radiology, and provides imaging services at Coastal Imaging.

Eric Jones, born in Moultrie, Georgia, began playing piano by ear at age five. He added trumpet studies at eleven, and by sixteen began formal piano training. Within two years, he earned a piano scholarship to Andrew College. Eric continued his studies at Armstrong Atlantic State University under Dr. Kevin Hampton, graduating with a B.A. in Piano. He later completed his master’s degree in composition at Georgia Southern University, studying with Dr. Martin Gendelman.

Eric has collaborated with numerous acclaimed artists, including Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding, Stewart Copeland of The Police, and Metropolitan Opera baritone Keith Miller. In 2011, he premiered Songs of Creation, a work blending spiritual, jazz, and African musical traditions with James Weldon Johnson’s poem The Creation. Eric is the pianist for the Savannah Jazz Orchestra and performs annually at the Savannah Jazz Festival. He has also appeared frequently at Sunday concerts for the Coastal Jazz Association. He currently teaches at Savannah State University.

With a rich, expressive tone and remarkable dynamic range, Nishah DiMeo has performed on stages across the country—from winning Battle of the Bands with her original group to headlining with jazz orchestras and opening for artists such as Jeff Lorber, Boney James, and George Benson. Her festival credits include the Levitt AMP Series, the National Folk Festival, and the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival.

Nishah performs and records with a wide network of East Coast musicians and is a regular featured vocalist at the Jazz Lobby of the O. Henry Hotel in her hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina.