The much anticipated series is the first weekly network television jazz show in 40 years. Each themed episode, such as The Golden Horns, The Piano Masters and American Songbook, will feature intimate conversations and original performances by some of the world's leading musicians. GRAMMY Award-winning composer/pianist Ramsey Lewis will host the series, which is produced in multi-camera HDTV and Dolby Surround 5.1 audio, in association with Chicago's WTTW National Productions. This series will air across the public television network.

The primary sponsor for this series is E*TRADE FINANCIAL, with additional funding support from Marantz and the National Endowment for the Arts. The 13-week season debuts nationally beginning in April 2006 to coincide with National Jazz Appreciation Month. As part of that month-long celebration, and prior to the first weekly episode, both PBS stations, WETA in Washington, D.C., and WTTW11 in Chicago, will air all shows continually on Sunday, April 2nd.

"This is America's art form," Ramsey Lewis, co-chairman of LRSmedia and the Executive Producer of the series said. "Jazz continues to provide inspiration to musicians around the globe and to influence artists in a wide range of fields. I believe as you watch the shows, you will notice not only the memorable individual performances, but also the energy and excitement created when great artists react and respond to each other. I will admit that having the opportunity to jam on the closing theme with so many great players and singers was beyond my wildest dreams."

Each show in this ground-breaking series is theme-based and includes conversation with and performances by today's most important jazz and jazz-related musicians, including: Tony Bennett, Chick Corea, Al Jarreau, Dave Brubeck, Billy Taylor, David Sanborn, Phil Woods, Pat Metheny, Jim Hall, George Duke, Marcus Miller, Lee Ritenour, Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove, Chris Botti, Ivan Lins, Eddie Palmieri, the late Ray Barretto, Dave Valentin, Keb' Mo', Robert Cray, Jane Monheit, John Pizzarelli, Kurt Elling, Benny Golson, Chris Potter, Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and many more.

Guest artists who have taped appearances on LEGENDS OF JAZZ have been uniformly effusive in their praise for the new series and highly enthusiastic about the return of jazz to national television.

Tony Bennett, who joins the late Ray Barretto and Chick Corea in the episode entitled NEA Jazz Masters 2006, said, "I hope that the show will help everybody realize that jazz is American music. It was created here. It belongs here. I travel all over the world and every country shows me what they do. This is what we've created. The British show us theater, the Italians show us music and art, the French painting and cooking and the Germans have all this science. So when all is said and done, 50 years from now, we'll be bowing to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker."

Dave Brubeck, an NEA Jazz Master, who joins Billy Taylor for The Piano Masters episode, said, "This is a long overdue series that combines new and established artists sharing what they have most in common – a love for this music – and discussing some of the great musicians and people who have influenced their art. I'm honored to be included."

Al Jarreau, who appears in The Jazz Singers episode with Kurt Elling, said, "This is a great series because it allows the artists behind the music to tell their stories – what influenced them, who influenced them, and what they are doing today. It brings the history of this art form to life. I can't wait to see the other episodes."

Recently announced, WEA Corp., the Warner Music Group Corp.'s U.S. sales and retail marketing company, will be the exclusive U.S. distributor for LEGENDS OF JAZZ and future LRSmedia products.

Larry Rosen, co-chairman of LRSmedia with Ramsey Lewis, and the Executive Producer and Creator of the series, explained, "Jazz has an amazing story to tell and we want to tell it, in the most compelling way possible. In LEGENDS OF JAZZ, we present the greatest musicians on the planet, we allow the artists to speak of their experience and history, and we invite them to perform individually and collectively, and we record these shows with state-of-the-art technology. By putting this together with a host who is a legendary artist himself, we've created an extraordinary experience for music fans."

LRSmedia has developed relationships with several outreach institutions. In its determination to educate audiences on the influences of jazz music, LRSmedia has a continuing relationship with the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE), which is dedicated to assuring the continued worldwide growth and development of jazz and jazz education. IAJE assists teachers, students and artists with information and resources that provide knowledge, skills and materials vital to a career in jazz.

In addition, LEGENDS OF JAZZ is the proud partner of the Jazz Foundation of America. The JFA promotes cultural and educational activities that build awareness of the music and of the musicians that make it. In an effort to support these legendary musicians, the JFA operates the Jazz Musicians' Emergency Fund which assists struggling artists with medical, financial, and housing needs.

About the National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts has taken a leadership role in supporting jazz artists and organizations since 1970, providing millions of dollars in grants and awards. The Arts Endowment is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts--both new and established--bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. For more information, visit www.nea.gov.