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Jeff Lorber, Kendrick Oliver to Headline The 17th Annual Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 08 July 2008 |
 Jeff Lorber
From Latin rhythms to cool jazz to red-hot licks, the 17th Annual Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz (GHFJ) will showcase the full spectrum of jazz stylings from some of music’s greatest artists in the capitol city’s Bushnell Park this summer, July 18-19-20. The Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz was recently selected by the readers of Hartford Magazine 2007 Readers’ Poll as the Runner-up for Best Annual Event! Sponsored by the Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG), the GHFJ is the largest FREE outdoor jazz festival in New England. The Festival attracts an average attendance of 30,000 music lovers to Bushnell Park over the course of the weekend. This is a free event.
For 2008, organizers of the 17th annual Festival have lined up three days of FREE music that celebrates the eclecticism of today’s jazz, from hot Latin sounds, straight up jazz, and big band like you’ve never heard it before!
On Friday, July 18, the festival kicks off at 7:00 p.m. on the main stage at the Thomas D. Harris IV Pavilion with Mike Arroyo straight from Puerto Rico.
Saturday heats up starting at 5:00 p.m., with guitarist Nick Colionne followed by Four80East revitalizing the smooth jazz world, and winding up on the Main Stage, one of composer producer keyboardist, Jeff Lorber an adventurous player and performer but the excitement doesn’t stop then.
A Jazz Dance Party starts at 10:00 at the Friends of the Festival Stage with the sounds of Au Jus and everyone is invited to meander over and party until midnight. Vendors will stay open late for late night shopping, eating and drinking.
On Sunday, July 20th, Christ Church Cathedral at 45 Church Street will feature a jazz mass at 10:00 a.m., featuring Ross Tucker’s Hot Cat Jazz Band. All are welcome.
Sunday explodes in dramatic style, starting at 5:00 p.m., when Giacomo Gates shows us extraordinary rhythmic precision. Saxophonist Ray Blue and the Cross Continental Spirit have a sound and style that are energetic, powerful; A Ray Blue Music Experience stays with you for a long time. This exciting weekend comes to a close with the fabulous Kendrick Oliver and his New Life Orchestra!
“This is an exciting line-up,” said Charles Christie, president of the non-profit, volunteer-run organization. “There is truly something for everyone, from modern and straight-ahead jazz novices to smooth contemporary and Latin rhythm lovers to fans of the Big Bands. We look forward to again bringing outstanding free music to Hartford this summer.”
Besides offering great music, the festival also will host a food court, an arts-and-crafts marketplace and family-oriented activities during the weekend.
GHFJ sponsors, The Hartford and Travelers, are helping to further the tradition of free jazz concerts in Bushnell Park. Other sponsors this year include:, Hoffman Auto Group, Dunkin’ Donuts, The Phoenix, D, the Evelyn Preston Memorial Fund, the Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation, the Ensworth Charitable Foundation, the Charles Nelson Robinson Foundation, the Greater Hartford Arts Council, and the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism.
In addition to presenting the country’s finest performers, the festival is dedicated to showcasing local artists and aspiring young performers from area schools and jazz programs.
The Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in the fall of 1991 by Paul Brown, noted jazz bassist and music educator, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Paul Brown’s Monday Night Summer Jazz Concert Series. It can be found at www.hartfordjazz.org.
Schedule:
FRIDAY JULY 18- 6:30 pm Opening Ceremonies
- 7:00 pm Mike Arroyo Latin Jazz Ensemble
SATURDAY JULY 19Friends of the Festival- 1:00 pm Niki Mathis Afrikan Amerikan Jazz Quartet
- 2:00 pm The Ricky Alfonso Quartet
- 3:00 pm Dana Lauren
MAIN STAGE
- 5:00 pm Nick Colionne
- 6:30 pm Four 80 East
- 8:00 pm Jeff Lorber
- 10:00 pm Jazz Dance Party with Jus Us
SUNDAY JULY 20- 10:00 am Jazz Mass at Christ Church Cathedral - Ross Tuckerʼs Hot Cat Jazz Band
Friends of the Festival- 1:00 pm Windsor High Jazz Group Director, Steve Ortiz
- 2:00 pm The Andrea Caruso Quartet
- 3:00 pm The Joe Nerney Quartet
MAIN STAGE
- 5:00 pm Giacomo Gates
- 6:30 pm Ray Blue and Cross Continental Spirit
- 8:00 pm Kendrick Oliver and New Life Jazz Orchestra
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 Monday, 01 December 2008
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