By Victor Amatori, Branford Summer Jazz Series: From an accomplished music educator to one of the hottest national smooth jazz and gospel recording artists today, saxophone marvel Jazmin Ghent will grace the Branford Jazz Series stage on Thursday, August 11 on the Branford green, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Ghent received a Bachelors Degree from Florida State University and a Masters Degree from Tennessee State University before she began teaching music to students in grades K-5 for 5 years in Polk County, Florida. In 2020, she was invited by the United States Embassy in Haiti to spend 7 days presenting music workshops to adults and children. She worked with musicians demonstrating the origin of jazz from standards to jazz of today. The week culminated with Ghent headlining the International Jazz Festival in Port Au Prince, Haiti.

She has also presented workshops in Syracuse, New York and Long Island, New York.

Ghent was awarded the prestigious 2019 “NAACP Image Award” for Outstanding Jazz Album, “The Story of Jazz”. She was nominated for 2019 Smooth Jazz Network’s Best Artist of the Year and was voted 2017’s Best New Smooth Jazz Artist.

Ghent has 4 Billboard topping singles, “Amends”, “Work Wit It”, “Heat”, and “Compared To What”. Her most successful hit to date is “Amends”, which was #4 on Billboard Charts. “Heat” and “Compared to What” remained on Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay Charts for 20+ weeks and was played in rotation by most smooth jazz stations including Sirius XM Watercolors Channel for 7-plus months. Ghent has performed at various major festivals and venues throughout the country, in Europe, and recently on the 2019 Dave Koz Cruise to Australia.

“I am excited and honored about sharing my passion for music and to communicate the art and essence of jazz with the audience at the Branford Jazz Concert Series in 2022,” said Ghent.