The 20th Anniversary Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) Festival | June 24th – July 3rd, 2010
JAS 20th Anniversary June Festival, June 24 – July 3
June with some of the biggest names in jazz, pop and world music.
Tickets for the event are on-sale this Friday, February 12.
Making his first ever JAS appearance jazz pianist/vocalist Harry
Connick, Jr. and Orchestra have been added to the June Festival lineup
appearing at the Benedict Music Tent (pictured at right) on Friday,
June 25. 
Over
the past two decades Connick has taken a very hands-on approach to his
recording career, calling the shots at the numerous phases of his
albums projects. Whether performing the American Songbook or in the
jazz, blues or funk idiom, the process has yielded consistent success,
not to mention worldwide sales of over 25 million discs. In Connick’s
latest release, Your Songs, he has expanded his vision to encompass 14
classic popular songs; his instrumental pallet through a striking
integration of a string orchestra and his swinging Big Band; and his
basic approach to recording, with his interpretation of such classics
as Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are,” Elton John’s “Your Song,” and
Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.”
On
Saturday, June 26 at the Benedict Tent JAS will present JAS @ 20!, a
special evening of performances in a Grammy-like format of multiple
guests artists backed by a crack Big Band. Directed by JAS
Distinguished Artist in Residence Christian McBride, the show will also
feature jazz legends Dianne Reeves, Patti Austin, Maceo Parker, Fred
Wesley, Terence Blanchard, John Clayton and more.
Pink
Martini will perform at the Benedict Music Tent on Sunday, June 27.
Comprised of twelve musicians, Pink Martini’s repertoire is wildly
diverse. Says bandleader/pianist Thomas Lauderdale, “at one moment you
feel like you’re in the middle of a samba parade in Rio de Janeiro, and
in the next moment, you’re in a French music hall of the 1930s or
palazzo in Napoli. It’s a bit like an urban musical travelogue.”
The closing night of the JAS 20th June Festival will take place on
Saturday, July 3 featuring Natalie Cole with Big Band and Musicians
from the AMFS. Cole, who had to cancel an appearance with JAS last
July due to a kidney transplant last May, is already back on stage
feeling “healthy, whole and 100% again.” Her last release, Still
Unforgettable, earned her two Grammy Awards in 2009, including Best
Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Cole was also the recipient of the NAACP
Award for Best Jazz Artist in 2009.
The JAS Academy Summer
Sessions, again with Christian McBride, will be in residence June
24-July 3. JAS’ flagship music education program, the Academy is the
nation’s only all-scholarship jazz residency program, uniting the
finest young jazz artists with the world’s “jazz legends.” JAS has
contributed $5 million dollars to music education since 1996.
Additional special concerts and events will take place throughout the
June 24-July 3 Festival including free performances at the Cooper Mall
Stage, Jazz performances downstairs at the Little Nell, special events
featuring students from the JAS Academy and JAS After Dark shows.
June Festival tickets are on-sale Friday, Feb. 12. Tickets will be available at 866-JAS-TIXX (527-8499) or www.jazzaspen.org.
For information on Patron (VIP) tickets call the JAS office at
970-920-4996. Ticket and lodging packages are also available at
800-SNOWMASS or www.snowmasstourism.com.
Look for more announcements surrounding the JAS 20th Anniversary season
soon, including line-up information for the Labor Day Festival taking
place Sept. 3-5 and other special events. For more information please
visit www.jazzaspen.org or become a fan on Facebook.
DL Media