The ALL-STAR lineup includes: The Groningen Art Ensemble, The Renee Rosnes Quartet, The Jon Faddis Quartet, KJF Student Jazz Ensemble, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (Thad Jones legacy) with special guest Joe Lovano, and The Alex Torres Latin Jazz Orchestra.

Renee Rosnes Quartet

The extraordinary pianist and composer Renee Rosnes clearly enjoys the challenge and freedom of playing jazz in numerous formats. Rosnes grew up in Vancouver and began formal piano studies at age three, followed by violin lessons two years later. Her evident talents and love for music led her to the University of Toronto, where she was a Classical Performance student, and to on-the-job training on the Vancouver club circuit before she came to NYC in 1986 on a grant from the Canada Council of the Arts. Rosnes was soon tapped for a series of high-profile gigs with jazz masters such as Johnson, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, James Moody and others. Since her Blue Note debut in 1989, guests on subsequent releases reveal a veritable pantheon of jazz greats, including Herbie Hancock, Shorter, Henderson, Branford Marsalis, Chris Potter, Nicholas Payton, Jack DeJohnette and Christian McBride. She has earned three Junos (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Award) and two Jazz Report awards for Best Jazz Album for earlier Blue Note releases.

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra - Thad Jones Legacy with Joe Lovano

The New York Times has called the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra "one of New York's institutions," and The Village Voice said "there probably isn't a big band in the country that can rival the bullish precision of this one it takes risks, commissions new pieces, and has exceptional soloists in every section."

Founded as the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, the band was formed in 1966 by composer/trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis. For almost four decades the band has been in residence at the historic Village Vanguard nightclub in New York City, the world famous jazz cellar that gave it its name. The group continues to delight crowds at the New York club with their regular Monday night gig. The orchestra serves as a creative outlet for some of the nation's foremost performers, composers, and arrangers and their touring performances have brought big band jazz to every corner of the world. One of the driving forces behind the longevity and artistic excellence of this ensemble is a commitment to the original Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra precepts of sound and the nurturing and encouragement of creativity and experimentation in the creators, performers and listeners of jazz.

Joe Lovano - "It's fair to say that he's one of the greatest musicians in jazz history." Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

Photo by Andrea Canter

Jon Faddis Quartet - tribute to Dizzy Gillespie

Jon Faddis was born in Oakland, California on July 24, 1953, and began playing the trumpet at the age of eight, inspired by an appearance of Louis Armstrong on the Ed Sullivan Show. Three years later, his trumpet teacher Bill Catahano (an alumnus of the Stan Kenton Band) turned Jon on to Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he subsequently appeared at the famed Jazz Workshop in San Francisco. Two days before his 18th birthday, Jon joined the Lionel Hampton Band as a featured soloist, and in the same year was invited to sit in with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band on one of their regular Monday night sessions at the Village Vanguard. Mr. Faddis toured and recorded with this band for four years and also studied at the Manhattan School of Music during this period. By the age of 20, Jon had become widely acclaimed by the critical press. Since then, Jon Faddis has become known throughout the world as one of the most innovative and inspiring jazz trumpeters of our time. He has an unfailing commitment to the education of young musicians and frequently conducts clinics and master classes to help the next generation of jazz musicians. In 1999, Jon was appointed Artist-in-Residence in the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, State University of New York, where he teaches in both the Brass and Jazz Programs.

Alex Torres Latin Jazz Orchestra

Festival Schedule:
• 12:00 PM The Groningen Art Ensemble In association with Hanze University (North Netherlands Conservatoire) Groningen, the Netherlands With Joris Teepe, Don Braden, Dena DeRose, Ron Jackson, Brian Lynch, Ralph Peterson.
• 1:30 PM The Renee Rosnes Quartet
• 2:45 PM The Jon Faddis Quartet (Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie)
• 3:45 to 4:15 PM (second stage) KJF Student Jazz Ensemble (New Young Lions) Sponsored by the Hudson Valley Friends of Jazz
• 4:15 PM The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (Thad Jones legacy) with special guest Joe Lovano
• 5:15 to 5:45 PM (second Stage) KJF Student Jazz Ensemble (The River Jazz Quartet) Sponsored by the Hudson Valley Friends of Jazz
• 5:45 to 7:00 PM The Alex Torres Latin Jazz Orchestra