The 2024 HarborPark Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Festival will include an
extra note of celebration: The marking of a milestone anniversary of a philanthropic
collaboration between the Mary Lou & Arthur F. Mahone Fund and The Barlolotta
Restaurants.
At the event on Saturday, Aug. 17, the nonprofit organization and Milwaukee’s premier
restaurant and catering group will toast to the 10th anniversary of their partnership and
commitment to promoting awareness in the culinary arts, health and wellness, and
providing educational opportunities for Kenosha students. The Cooking Studio portion of
the HarborPark festival — a staple of the annual community fundraising event — this year
will include a demonstration by Connor McNeil, Executive Chef at Joey Gerard’s – a
Bartolotta Supper Club in Greendale and a Kenosha resident.
The Cooking Studio culinary class will kick off the day’s festivities at 12:45 p.m., with
McNeil preparing a Wisconsin-style fish fry with a Caribbean twist, said Teri Jacobson,
Cooking Studio co-chair.
“We are so excited to work with Chef McNeil this year,” Jacobson said.
“A local who’s
now leading the kitchen at Joey Gerard’s, Connor will be showing our audience how to
improve a traditional fish fry with elevated ingredients and a Caribbean flare — you won’t
want to miss his ideas, tips and energy!”
The Bartolotta Restaurants is a nationally recognized restaurant and catering
organization co-founded by restaurateur Joe Bartolotta and his brother, two-time James
Beard Award-winning Chef Paul Bartolotta.
The premier culinary brand in the Greater Milwaukee region, The Bartolotta Restaurants
offers first-class service and cuisine across a portfolio of 18 one-of-a-kind restaurants and
catering facilities, including fine dining, upscale casual, upscale food hall, pizzeria, and
quick-casual concepts. Its presence as a forward-thinking, respected, and community-
minded company has produced a charitable arm, Care-a-lotta, which supports numerous
nonprofit organizations throughout Milwaukee.
“We are proud to celebrate our 10 year anniversary partnership with the Mahone Fund
by participating in this year’s HarborPark Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Festival Cooking Studio,”
says Chef McNeil. “It’s an honor to give back to the community and support the impactful
work of the Mary Lou and Arthur F. Mahone Fund and its efforts to provide education
opportunities to local students. We look forward to celebrating our community through the
exquisite tastes of summer as we share and demonstrate some of Executive Chef
McNeil’s favorite recipe at Joey Gerard’s.”
The Mahone Fund is dedicating this year’s Cooking Studio to the memory of the late Joe
Bartolotta, co-founder of The Bartolotta Restaurants, who passed away in 2019.
“Joe Bartolotta was a friend of mine and a steadfast supporter of the Mahone Fund’s
service to the Kenosha community,” Mahone says. “He will be greatly missed at this year’s
festical, but his legacy lives on through the community-minded work of his company, and
I appreciate the continuing relationship that we formed more than a decade ago.”
The popular Cooking Studio is a state-of-the-art mock kitchen built and donated by
Kenosha’s BEAR Homes. The interactive cooking demonstration offers a unique
complement to the musical programming of the day-long event.
Jacobson said the kitchen provides a authentic presentation for the food aficionados as
if they were at home, with the gorgeous lakefront providing a relaxing outdoor atmosphere
for the avid foodie or aspiring cooks to learn the tricks of the trade while enjoying a glass
of wine or cold beer.
Ardis Mahone-Mosley, the other Cooking studio co-chair, said this will be an exceptional
experience, allowing people to interact with Chef McNeil, to learn, sample and ask
questions.
“This is the place to be if you want to learn how to make a tasty Fish Fry accompanied by
some Caribbean pico de gallo and tartar sauce with a flare, perfect for summertime
entertaining,” Mahone-Mosley said.
“We are in for a real treat!”
Ticket information:
Tickets may be purchased now online at mahonefund.org or at Tenuta’s Deli, 3203 52nd
St. General admission lawn seats are $35 in advance and $45 at gate. VIP tickets are
$95 (includes concert ticket, food, complimentary beer, and wine). Alcoholic carry-ins are
strictly prohibited.
Performance times and bios
2 p.m., Ben Woods & Friends: Ben Woods is an aspiring artist from the Kenosha Area.
A former 2019 Mahone CEO Scholarship recipient, who holds a BFA in Theatre from
Southern Methodist University in Dallas, he released his first single, “For You,” in 2017.”
After receiving over 21,000 Spotify streams, he continued to release more music,
including a holiday project titled “Winter My Love” in 2020 and “New Day” in 2021. Woods
was the recipient of the “Youth Artist Award” from actress and playwright Regina Taylor
in 2021. The Harbor Park Jazz Rhythm & Blues Festival will be Woods’ debut live-
performance in his hometown. His music genre/style comprises a plethora of sounds such
as R&B, Pop, Hip-Hop, Gospel, and Funk.
3:15 p.m., Demetria Taylor Blues Band: Demetria Taylor is the seventh child of eight
from the family of the late blues legend Eddie Taylor Sr. and is helping keep the legacy
of her father alive. Born in Chicago, Demetria grew up surrounded by Blues music
listening on records to her biggest influences including Etta James, Bessie Smith, Big
Mama Thornton and most importantly, “The Queen of The Blues,
” Koko Taylor (no
relation to the Eddie Taylor family). Demetria has toured nationally and internationally and
performs in many clubs and festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival. Demetria was
nominated for Best New Debut Artist at the 2012 Blues Music Awards.
5 p.m., Christopher’s Project featuring all new Steppers line dancing set: Back by
popular demand, stepping returns to the festival with a twist: Steppers will be stepping to
the sounds of Milwaukee’s very own Christopher’s Project, with the added twist of a line
dancing segment. The crowd will be invited to learn some of the most popular line dances,
including Flashing by Dial Tone the Producer, Feel So Right by Janet Jackson, and for
those who like something a bit slower and easier, Cupid Flex by Cupid and GLU by Usher.
Christopher’s Project has been entertaining fans for over 20 Years. The band is led by
Christopher Pipkins; A 3-time winner of Showtime At the Apollo, recipient of The Black
Excellence Award in Music, and current member of the Milwaukee Bucks Entertainment
Team.
7:30 p.m., Jonathan Butler: Butler is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who leads a life
few can imagine. Born in South Africa under the shadow of apartheid and raised in
poverty, Butler was the first non-white artist to be played on South African radio and
appear on national television. Though his musical abilities would take him away from the
world he grew up in, Jonathan would neither forget the plight of his fellow South Africans,
nor the man that led them to freedom. It is for this reason Nelson Mandela credits Butler’s
music as having inspired him during his imprisonment. In more ways than one, Jonathan
Butler is representative of South Africa.
