National Walking Day Wellness Walk
2026-04-01 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
April 1st is National Walking Day!
Join the movement toward a healthier lifestyle with a free Wellness Walks led by Laura Conely, founder of Urban Paths. Anyone and everyone are invited to walk the paths along Buffalo Bayou with fellow nature enthusiasts and enjoy the benefits of movement, connection, and the outdoors. Each walk is 90 minutes long and will cover approximately 3 miles.
All attendees will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win awesome Buffalo Bayou Partnership merch!
Learn more about National Walking Day Houston.

Cost
Free
Duration
90 minutes / 3 miles
Walk Schedule
6:30 – 8pm: Meet at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)

FREE REGISTRATION

Jazzy Sundays: Christian McBride and Synesthesia
2026-04-05 17:00 - 19:30
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is teaming up with two Houston parks to bring you Jazzy Sundays in the Park, a series of FREE, outdoor jazz concerts. The series celebrates the vibrancy and rich tradition of jazz and the incredible Houstonians who preserve the artform. Family-friendly concerts will be held March 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Discovery Green; and April 5, 12, 19, and 26 at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park from 4:30-7:30 PM.
Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
Jazzy Sundays in the Parks is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation and sponsored by KTSU.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

April 5: Christian McBride and Synesthesia
April 12: Melvin Johnson and Mahoganee Renee
April 19: Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth with Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
April 26: Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers and Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole

Schedule:

4:30 PM: Vendor market opens
5-7:30 PM: Jazz performances

FREE REGISTRATION

About Christian McBride
Christian McBride has blazed an extraordinary trail as one of the most preeminent musicians of his time. Over the last three decades, the nin-time Grammy winner has made momentous advances as a dynamic musician and recording artist, a prolific composer-arranger-producer, a distinguished curator of culture, and a dedicated educator and mentor. A prolific bandleader, McBride’s ensembles are each distinctive extensions of his tremendous threshold of creative inspiration, which span and synthesize straight-ahead, experimental, free-leaning jazz, funk, soul, Latin, hip hop and rhythm and blues.
McBride’s staggeringly diverse career also includes the role of host of NPR’s public radio program Jazz Night in America as well as The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian on SiriusXM. McBride also holds artistic director titles at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), and JAZZ HOUSE KiDS.
McBride is an entire artist whose colossal sound, strikingly vast body of work, and huge strides within the realm of artistic directorship are denotative of a self-identified perpetual student, whose love of learning feeds his passion, and whose passion has led a generation of musicians — within jazz and beyond.

About Synesthesia
K’vhondre Tahree-Amir Tinner is a multidisciplinary artist, trumpeter, pianist, composer, and author whose work lives at the intersection of jazz, cinematic storytelling, and speculative world-building. Now based in Houston, Texas and attending Texas Southern University, Tinner brings a global perspective to his sound and creative vision.
His performance career includes notable milestones such as opening for MonoNeon at Houston’s Jazzy Sundays (2025), sharing the stage with Erykah Badu (2023), performing with Solange (2017), and appearing at the Monterey Jazz Festival in both 2024 and 2025. In 2026, he reached a major career landmark by selling out Doc’s Jazz Club for the first time as a headlining artist.
With a sound rooted in jazz but unbound by tradition, Tinner continues to build a body of work that is both musically sophisticated and narratively expansive—positioning himself as a forward-thinking artist shaping his own lane across music, literature, and live performance.

Market Vendors:
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Food Vendors:
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Jazzy Sundays: Melvin Johnson and Mahoganee Renee
2026-04-12 17:00 - 19:30
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is teaming up with two Houston parks to bring you Jazzy Sundays in the Park, a series of FREE, outdoor jazz concerts. The series celebrates the vibrancy and rich tradition of jazz and the incredible Houstonians who preserve the artform. Family-friendly concerts will be held March 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Discovery Green; and April 5, 12, 19, and 26 at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park from 4-7:30 PM.
Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, outside alcohol is not permitted. Food and drink will be available for purchase on-site.
Jazzy Sundays in the Parks is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation and sponsored by KTSU.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

April 5: Christian McBride and Synesthesia
April 12: Melvin Johnson and Mahoganee Renee
April 19: Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth with Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
April 26: Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers and Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole

Schedule:

4:30 PM: Vendor market opens
5-7:30 PM: Jazz performances

FREE REGISTRATION

About Melvin Johnson
Melvin Johnson is a Houston-born pianist, composer, and international recording artist who masterfully blends emotion and melody into unforgettable music. As the creative force behind The Electro-Akoustic, he delivers a dynamic jazz-fusion experience that captivates audiences nationwide. Through his event production company, Sincerely Yours Music & Production, Melvin provides top-tier live entertainment and seamless event coordination—from live bands and DJs to lighting and pro-audio.
As the founder of the Melvin Johnson Collective, he unites his artistic vision, his band, his direction, and his expanding live-entertainment empire. With his 3rd and 4th albums set for release in 2026, Melvin continues to inspire and elevate the musical landscape. In every note, every performance, and every event, Melvin Johnson’s brilliance and masterful artistry shine through.

About Mahoganee Renee
Growing up in a musical family, there was no other choice than to develop a voice that expresses love and creativity. A native of Houston, Mahoganee is a proud graduate of Houston’s Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and Loyola University New Orleans, holding a B.M in Music Industry Studies.
While performing in some of the top venues in New Orleans, she realized her calling: to be a voice that brings change to the world through music. Although she sings a plethora of musical genres, Mahoganee got her start singing gospel, then moved on to classical, jazz, pop, Broadway, and R&B. As the lead vocalist for Heights Funk Collective, she was featured in the EP “Four Letters.” She has also been a featured soloist with the Scott Joplin Orchestra and Voices of Houston, and shared the stage with the Houston Symphony, New Orleans Grand Opera, and a host of other artists.

Jazzy Sundays: Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth and Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
2026-04-19 17:00 - 19:30
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is teaming up with two Houston parks to bring you Jazzy Sundays in the Park, a series of FREE, outdoor jazz concerts. The series celebrates the vibrancy and rich tradition of jazz and the incredible Houstonians who preserve the artform. Family-friendly concerts will be held March 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Discovery Green; and April 5, 12, 19, and 26 at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park from 4-7:30 PM.
Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, outside alcohol is not permitted. Food and drink will be available for purchase on-site.
Jazzy Sundays in the Parks is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation and sponsored by KTSU.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

April 5: Christian McBride and Synesthesia
April 12: Melvin Johnson and Mahoganee Renee
April 19: Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth with Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
April 26: Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers and Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole

Schedule:

4:30 PM: Vendor market opens
5-7:30 PM: Jazz performances

FREE REGISTRATION

About Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth
Joy Bloom is a vocalist, pianist, and songwriter known for her inspiring blend of gospel, jazz, and soul. A proud graduate of Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, Joy is passionate about using music as a bridge to share her faith. She is the bandleader of Strangers on Earth and a pianist with the Houston Latin Jazz Orchestra, bringing a rich musical style influenced by legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, and Kim Burrell. Joy has performed on stages around the world, from jazz festivals in Johannesburg, South Africa, to venues in downtown Houston. Her latest singles, “My Heart Belongs to You” and “Can’t Tell It,” reflect her heart for uplifting audiences through music filled with hope, faith, and inspiration.

About Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts boasts the nation’s premier high school jazz program. Under the direction of James Westfall, jazz students study instrument technique, music theory, and jazz history. Jazz alumni include acclaimed musicians Jason Moran, Robert Glasper, James Francies and Walter Smith III. Kinder HSPVA is a nationally recognized tuition-free HISD public school where students train daily in one of six art areas: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental and Vocal Music, Theatre, or Visual Arts.

Jazzy Sundays: Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers and Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole
2026-04-26 17:00 - 19:30
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is teaming up with two Houston parks to bring you Jazzy Sundays in the Park, a series of FREE, outdoor jazz concerts. The series celebrates the vibrancy and rich tradition of jazz and the incredible Houstonians who preserve the artform. Family-friendly concerts will be held March 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Discovery Green; and April 5, 12, 19, and 26 at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park from 4-7:30 PM.
Bring you picnic blanket, lawn chairs, friends, and family for a groovy afternoon in Buffalo Bayou Park!
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, outside alcohol is not permitted. Food and drink will be available for purchase on-site.
Jazzy Sundays in the Parks is made possible by a grant from the Kinder Foundation and sponsored by KTSU.
Location: The Water Works Lawn in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St.)
Lineup:

April 5: Christian McBride and Synesthesia
April 12: Melvin Johnson and Mahoganee Renee
April 19: Joy Bloom & Strangers on Earth with Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
April 26: Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers and Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole

Schedule:

4:30 PM: Vendor market opens
5-7:30 PM: Jazz performances

FREE REGISTRATION

About Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers
With nearly two decades in the music industry, primarily within the zydeco genre, Lil Nathan, loves to create a gumbo of zydeco, R&B, swing out, hip hop and Afro Pop. He’s making his own history.
Lil Nathan blazes his own path, going from a cute 2-year-old on stage with his dad to an adult hitmaker playing the Bayou Classic halftime show before 50,000 in the Superdome. Other stops include Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans Pelicans Halftime Show, New Orleans Saints Tailgate Party, the Houston International Festival, the Houston Livestock & Rodeo, Universal Studios in Orlando, the Ronald Reagan Building, International Trade Center in Washington, DC, and national attention on CBS 60 minutes. He’s shared the stage and studio with platinum selling artists, such as New Edition, Dru Hill, Tank, Cupid, Juvenile, Kevin Gates, Yung Bleu, and Los Lobos, along with Tucka, a Southern Soul favorite.
Nate’s 17 albums have embraced numerous styles, including his growing fascination with Afro Pop. Along the way, Lil Nathan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies and a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

About Steven Dargin & Texas Kreole
Steve Dargin, aka Texas Kreole, grew up playing music in church, was a drummer with Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers for more than a decade. But an undying hunger to play the accordion and growing respect for his family’s Creole roots in southwest Louisiana drove him into the spotlight.
Dargin’s music contains flavors of Boozoo Chavis, Beau Jocque, Chris Ardoin and other legendary names. “Growing up trail riding and riding horses, I was always into zydeco,” said Dargin. “But I’m coming into this not just to play a trail ride. I want to get back into the festivals, the bazaars, get back to where I can have the old and the new.”
Dargin counts Lil Nathan Williams and family, along with rising stars Rusty Metoyer and Kaleb Leday as guiding forces in his new solo career. He’s ready to make his great grandmother and other family proud.
