The concert series "Fresh Takes on Jazz" will return to Mickey's Black Box in Rock Lititz this spring with three more bands that are new to southcentral Pennsylvania. All of the concerts by the Philadelphia-based ensembles will begin at 3 p.m.

Josh Lee and the Extended Family, a 15-piece swing band that features vocalist Chelsea Reed, will open the second season of the series on Sunday, March 24. Lee created The Extended Family in 2020, shortly before the pandemic. The band performs swing era songs by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson and others as they were originally recorded, using transcriptions by Lee. In addition, Lee plays baritone saxophone in the Count Basie Orchestra, which won a Grammy in February.

The Jack Saint Clair Orchestra, an 11-piece swing band that also features Reed, will follow on Sunday, April 21. Saint Clair is an arranger, composer, educator and saxophonist who started his big band in 2016. His arrangements are played by Philly Pops, Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, Dutch Concert Big Band and others. Saint Clair is also known for his charts written for the late saxophonist, the legendary Larry McKenna, on his final recording.

The Hailey Brinnel Quintet will conclude the series on Sunday, June 2. Brinnel is a singer, trombonist, arranger and bandleader who is drawing national attention. A Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition finalist, Brinnel was lauded by Grammy.com as one of "10 Emerging Jazz Artists to Watch." Her latest album, "Beautiful Tomorrow," got a four-star review from DownBeat magazine. Brinnel's band is known for its imaginative arrangements of jazz standards.

The "Fresh Takes" series has a two-part mission: to spotlight emerging and talented musicians ages 20 to 35, and to inspire and educate musicians in middle school, high school and college who play, listen to or are simply curious about jazz.

Presenting the series will be Mickey's Black Box, a state-of-the-art event venue which aims to to showcase emerging artists, and Music For Everyone (MFE), a nonprofit organization that is committed to providing access and removing barriers to music participation in Lancaster County. MFE's participation is new this season.

The creator of the series is Tim Mekeel, a retired journalist, who also is a life-long jazz fan and manager of the local jazz band Temple Avenue.

Major support for "Fresh Takes" comes from the Lancaster County Community Foundation (youth sponsor), Clark Associates Charitable Foundation (youth sponsor), Ephrata National Bank (ticket sponsor), Benecon (series sponsor), Hinkle Insurance (series sponsor) and Four Seasons Produce (youth sponsor).

For more information on the three bands, including videos, and to buy tickets, visit http://www.mickeysblackbox.com.