Latin Jazz and World Music at 2005 JVC Jazz Festival – New York

New York City, USA – The 2005 JVC Jazz Festival – New York will be taking over the city June 14 – 25 with over 300 artists in more than 100 concerts (including club nights) at 30 venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Chick Corea & Touchstone, the Wayne Shorter Quartet, Les Paul, Michel Camilo, Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis, Stanley Clarke, Bela Fleck and Jean-Luc Ponty, Cesaria Evora introducing Keren Ann, The Bad Plus, John Pizzarelli and other artists are set to perform. Tickets are now on sale.

“Last year was one of the most exciting years for JVC Jazz Festivals in New York and Newport,” said George Wein, CEO of Festival Productions, Inc., and producer of the JVC Jazz Festival and other events around the world. “We celebrated the 50th anniversary of Newport and 20 years with JVC as sponsor. Now, as we go into the next 50 years, we are pleased to continue in New York with more events and venues than ever, as well as offering great festivals in Newport and other cities around the world.”

On Sunday, June 19, Carnegie Hall hosts All for Paul: Les Paul 90th Birthday Salute, presented by Gibson Guitar, musical instrument manufacturer and lifestyle company, which is best known for its Les Paul model electric guitar that is recognized around the world as an icon for rock and roll music. Hear some of the best from Les Paul and his band John Colliani, Lou Pallo and Nicky Parrott plus tributes from Tommy Emmanuel, José Feliciano, Peter Frampton, Steve Lukather, Pat Martino, Steve Miller, Bucky Pizzarelli, Richie Sambora & John Rzeznik, Neal Schon, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Derek Trucks, Edgar Winter and vocalist Madeleine Peyroux with Will Lee and Omar Hakim. The concert is produced in association with Charles Carlini for Carlini Group. Additional support comes from Dean Markley, maker of the world’s greatest guitar and bass strings.

On Monday, June 20, Rosemary Clooney: An All-Star Remembrance of America’s Girl Singer with Debby Boone, John Pizzarelli, Dianne Reeves, Brian Stokes Mitchell featuring Scott Hamilton, Bucky Pizzarelli, Warren Vaché and John Oddo (Music Director) with Joe Cocuzzo, Jay Leonhart, George Rabbai, Mark Vinci and an appearance by Larry King. Produced by Allen Sviridoff, the concert is a benefit for the Weill Music Institute’s Professional Training Workshops.

Carnegie concerts continue with Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, Gary Pea*censored* on Wednesday, June 22; Two Times Three featuring Trio! Stanley Clarke, Béla Fleck and Jean-Luc Ponty and Paul Motian, Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano on Thursday, June 23; Always Welcome … starring the Dave Brubeck Quartet with Randy Jones, Bobby Militello and Michael Moore plus John Pizzarelli Quartet with Ray Kennedy, Martin Pizzarelli, Tony Tedesco and guests Larry Goldings, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Grover Kemble, Harry Allen and Jessica Molaskey on Friday, June 24; and Eddie Palmieri y La Perfecta II featuring Herman Olivera plus The 2 Worlds of Ray Barretto featuring Adalberto Santiago with special guest jazz soloists Randy Brecker and Ronnie Cuber on Saturday, June 25.

At Zankel Hall at Carnegie on Saturday, June 25, at 8:30 p.m., Marsalis Music presents music from its latest releases featuring Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis performing Occasion plus Miguel Zenón performing Jíbaro.

The new Frederick P. Rose Hall is the scene of four JVC Jazz Festival concerts including 100 Years and a Day: Doc Cheatham Centennial Jazz Party featuring Nicholas Payton, Clark Terry, Warren Vaché, Randy Sandke, Jimmy Owens, Theodore Croker with Howard Alden, Chuck Folds, Jim Galloway, Jimmy Heath, Earl May, Benny Powell, Catherine Russell, George Wein, Frank Wess, Jackie Williams and host Phil Schaap on Tuesday, June 14.

Concerts at Rose Hall continue on Wednesday, June 15 with Piano Masters Salute Piano Legends: Celebrating Ellington, Evans, Han*censored* & Monk featuring Geri Allen, Kenny Barron, Uri Caine and Randy Weston; Thursday, June 16, Chick Corea & Touchstone featuring Tom Brechtlein, Carles Benavent, Jorge Pardo and Rubem Dantas, members of Paco De Lucia’s Band in another look at the revered Touchstone album of the 1980s; and Michel Camilo: Solo, Duo & Trio featuring Charles Flores and Dafnis Prieto with special guest David Sánchez on Friday, June 17. All concerts are at 8:00 p.m.

JVC Jazz Festival heads to the Beacon Theatre for two nights. On Tuesday, June 21, Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evor with French vocalist Keren Ann and special guest Lura. Then on Wednesday, June 22, Seven Steps to Jaco with Steps Ahead (2005) featuring Michael Brecker, Mike Mainieri, Steve Smith, Mike Stern and new member, Richard Bona plus Portrait of Jaco: Remembering Jaco Pastorius featuring Steve Bailey, Jeff Berlin, Richard Bona, Oteil Burbridge, Avishai Cohen, Matthew Garrison, Will Lee, Christian McBride, Felix Pastorius, Gerald Veasley with Don Alias, Randy Brecker, Hiram Bullock, Kenwood Dennard, Flux Quartet, Peter Graves, Othello Molineaux, Julius Pastorius and Lenny White. Gil Goldstein is the Musical Director and arranger; Charles Carlini is producer and Bill Milkowski is associate producer. Both concerts are at 8:00 p.m.

See Cyrus Chestnut and John Hicks in the No Minimum series at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufmann Center on Monday, June 20, at 8:00 p.m. The festival travels across town on Tuesday, June 21, to Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College for A Four Score Salute to Barbara Carroll with the venerable pianist/vocalist, Peter Appleyard, Ann Hampton Callaway, Bill Charlap, Joe Cocuzzo, Dick Hyman, Jay Leonhart, Marian McPartland, Ted Rosenthal, Mickey Roker, Daryl Sherman, Dr. Billy Taylor, George Wein and others. Leonhart is the producer and proceeds will benefit the Jazz Foundation of America. Discover Anat Fort Trio at Symphony Space – Thalia Theater on Friday, June 24, at 8:30 p.m.

JVC Jazz Festival presents Joanne Brackeen Quartet with Ravi Coltrane, Rodney Green and Ugonna Okegwo at Studio Museum in Harlem on Thursday, June 16, at 7:30 p.m. Catch Lou Donaldson Quartet with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Randy Johnston and *censored*ushi Tainaka at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture on Sunday, June 19, at 3:00 p.m.

The JVC Jazz Festival free concert series includes DownBeat Magazine Presents Jazz Combos featuring Chicago’s Columbia College, Amherst’s University of Massachusetts and the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music at the South Street Seaport on Wednesday, June 15, at 12:30 p.m. Cross the bridge for the festival debut at Prospect Park Bandshell on Friday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. Part of the Celebrate Brooklyn Festival, the concert features The Bad Plus with Ethan Iverson, Reid Anderson and David King; Charlie Hunter Trio with John Ellis and Derrek Phillips; and James Carter Organ Trio with Gerard Gibbs and Leonard King. Maria Schneider Orchestra, produced by the Hudson River Festival, performs at the World Financial Center Plaza on Tuesday, June 21, at 7:00 p.m.

The JVC Jazz Festival club series returns to showcase outstanding artists with special programs and unique bands. Jazz Standard presents David Murray & The Gwo-Ka Masters Friday, June 17 – Sunday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. The Village Vanguard presents the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra with special guest Joe Lovano on Monday, June 20, and Don Byron: Almost Complete Tuesday, June 21 – Saturday, June 25, at 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Byron kicks off with Music for Six Musicians with James Zollar, George Colligan, Leo Traversa, Milton Cardona and Ben Wittman joining him. On June 22, it’s the Don Byron Big Band featuring Abdoulaye Diabate with Robert Debellis, Alex Harding, Ravi Best, Ralph Alessi, Curtis Fowlkes, Alan Ferber plus Zollar, Colligan, Traversa, Cardona and Wittman.

Don Byron Adventurers Orchestra takes the stage on June 23 with David Gilmore, Brad Jones, Rodney Holmes, DK Dyson, Gordon Chambers as well as Zollar, Colligan, Alessi, Debellis and Fowlkes. On June 24 and 25, catch Byron’s Ivey-Divey Trio featuring Jason Moran and Billy Hart with guests Lonnie Plaxico and Ralph Alessi.

Teaming up in a new collaboration with the Knitting Factory, on Saturday, June 25, at 8:00 p.m. JVC Jazz Festival presents New York Now!, a three-stage mini-festival in celebration of the wonderful artistry and diversity of the thriving jazz universe. Bands include Ben Allison’s Kush Trio, Tim Berne’s Hard Cell, Avishai Cohen Trio, Marty Ehrlich Sextet, Robert Glasper Trio with special guest Ledisi, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Rudresh Mahanthappa Quartet, Jean-Michel Pilc Trio, Dafnis Prieto Quintet, Kurt Rosenwinkel Quartet, Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra and Min Xiai-Fen’s Blue Pipa Trio.

In addition, the 2-for-1 Club Night series with special discounts to JVC Jazz Festival ticket holders will be offered throughout the festival at The Blue Note, Iridium Jazz Club, Sweet Rhythm, Up Over Jazz Café, Zinc and new additions, Marie’s Jazz Bar for the Performing Arts and Smoke. Artists include Terence Blanchard Sextet & Claudia Acuña at the Blue Note, Frank Zappa Big Band
at Iridium, Kendra Shank Quartet at Marie’s, Lea DeLaria at Smoke, Bertha Hope at Up Over Jazz Café and Eddie Martinez Quartet at Zinc.

Take a trip to the movies at Florence Gould Hall on Monday, June 20, at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. for an exclusive screening of miles electric: a different kind of blue, a look at Miles Davis Live at the Isle of Wight Festival (1970) featuring complete concert footage of Miles Davis with Gary Bartz, Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Keith Jarrett, Airto Moreira plus interviews with
Herbie Han*censored*, Joni Mitchell and Carlos Santana.

JVC Special Events & Educational Programs include Jazz Reflections, visual art celebrations of jazz, presented at galleries throughout Harlem by Incorporation of Artists on the Move, Inc.; Chaka Khan at the Apollo Theater Legends Series on Sunday, June 12, at 7:00 p.m.; the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2005 Jazz Awards at B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill on Tuesday, June 14, at 5:00 p.m.; Dedicated to Louis Armstrong, the story of the trumpet giant in narrative, song and dance, at the Blue Note on Sunday, June 19, at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Paul Winter’s Summer Solstice featuring Winter, Renato Braz and others at Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 4:30 a.m.; and Blue Note Master Classes, Jazz Education Workshops Clinics & Lectures with Pat Martino on Saturday, June 18, and Eddie Gomez on Saturday, June 25, at 2:00 p.m.

Spend the weekend at Freihofer’s Jazz Festival (formerly Newport Jazz Festival) at Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY, June 25 –26, starting at noon with a line-up of world-renowned artists including McCoy Tyner, Al Jarreau, Cassandra Wilson, Dave Brubeck, John Pizzarelli, Chris Botti
and Steps Ahead (2005).

JVC Jazz Festival – Newport, now celebrating the 51st anniversary of the famed Newport Jazz Festival, is set for August 12 – 15 at Ft. Adams State Park.

Additional support for the JVC Jazz Festival – New York is provided by NYC & Co, Macy’s and media partners, The Village Voice, BET Jazz and Jazz 88/WBGO-FM.

The Buckingham Hotel, located at 101 West 57th Street at Sixth Avenue, is the official host hotel of the JVC Jazz Festival – New York. For the special rate, call (888) 511-1900 and ask for the JVC Jazz Festival Room Block.

For more information, visit the official JVC Jazz Festival – New York website at www.festivalproductions.net.

Tickets for JVC Jazz Festival – New York concerts are available at respective box offices or by telephone: Beacon Theatre (212) 307-7171; Carnegie Hall (212) 247-7800; Florence Gould Hall (212) 355-6160; Jazz Standard (212) 576-2232; Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (212) 772-4448; Knitting Factory (212) 219-3132; Merkin Concert Hall (212) 501-3330; Prospect Park Bandshell (718) 855-7882; Frederick P. Rose Hall (212) 721-6500; Schomburg Center (212) 491-2200; South Street Seaport  southstreetseaport.com; Studio Museum in Harlem (212) 864-4500; Symphony Space (212) 864-5400; Village Vanguard (212) 255-4037; World Financial Center Plaza (212) 945-0505; Zankel Hall (212) 247-7800. For information and a Festival brochure, call (212) 501-1390 or (212) 501-1393 for Group Sales weekdays from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. or write JVC Jazz Festival – New York, P.O. Box 1169, Ansonia Station, New York, NY 10023.

JVC, sponsor of JVC Jazz Festivals worldwide since 1984, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high quality audio and video products.