AfroSolo Arts Festival 17 Outdoor Jazz Concert in Yerba Buena Gardens A Concert for Peace When: Saturday, August 7, 1-3 pm Where: Yerba Buena Gardens (Mission Street between 3rd & 4th, SF)  map Admission: Free and open to the public; wheel chair accessible "No pets" (certified service or companion animals excepted) Featuring: The Junius Courtney Big Band Orchestra Junius Courtney Big Band Photo by James Knox Nat Courtney leads the band from behind the drumkit, as part of his lifelong commitment to music. He started playing at age 12 with the plan of holding the rhythm together for his father. His beat goes on, and it's swingin'. Band leader Nat Courtney's commitment to a life in music began at age 12 when he took up the drums with a plan to accompany his father. He was quickly substituting for Junius Courtney's regular drummer, and soon took over the drum chair permanently. Nat Courtney's commitment to jazz and his relaxed professionalism parallel his commitment to his own family, his extended musical family and to progressive work in the community. He augments his dead-on percussion and swinging leadership at the drumkit with occasional vocals ("Skylark") and duets with Denise Perrier. In collaboration with the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, AfroSolo presents its ninth free concert in the Gardens. This year's offering features the Junius Courtney Big Band Orchestra. A 19-piece multicultural band noted for it swinging interpretations of Duke Ellington and Count Bassie classics, original compositions, and Latin jazz works, the Junius Courtney Big Band Orchestra was founded in 1966. After the passing of Junius Courtney at the age of 88, son Nat Courtney became the bandleader, under the musical direction of George Spencer. Sharing the stage will be incomparable vocalist Denise Perrier, who has performed for over 30 years throughout the Bay Area, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Nat Courtney "The Junius Courtney Big Band Orchestra was asked to participate in this year's AfroSolo Festival in part because the group can be seen as a metaphor for the world—members of the Asian, African American, Caucasian, Latino, LBGT communities coming together to peacefully make beautiful music," says AfroSolo Artistic Director Thomas Robert Simpson. "We see them and think, if they can, then there is hope for the rest of us."