The 5th Annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival | June 5th – 15th, 2009

WASHINGTON, May 15 /PRNewswire/
— With over 100 performances in nearly 50 venues, the Duke Ellington
Jazz Festival (DEJF) has become the largest music festival in Washington, DC. This year’s event celebrates New Orleans, the “birthplace of jazz.”

DEJF Founder/Executive Producer Charles Fishman comments, “We’re proud to pay homage to New Orleans
in our nation’s capital. Highlights include two free all-day concerts
on the National Mall showcasing the Crescent City’s unique musical
heritage, and Celebrating a Jazz Master at the Kennedy Center, which honors pianist Ellis Marsalis featuring a rare performance with his sons; and special guests Harry Connick, Jr. and Dr. Billy Taylor.”

DEJF chairs are: Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr., chairman of Patton Boggs LLP; Walter Isaacson, President/CEO of the Aspen Institute; Sheila Johnson, CEO of Salamander Hospitality; former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, President/CEO of the National Urban League, and James Carville and Mary Matalin, honorary chairs of DEJF’s New Orleans committee.

2009 DEJF Festival: Celebrating New Orleans:

(Subject to change)

    June 5      Jazz in the Garden * National Gallery of Art * FREE

    June 5-15   Jazz in the 'Hoods * Performances in 35 clubs, restaurants
                and hotels

    June 6-7    Jazz 'n Families Fun Days * Phillips Collection *  FREE

    June 8-15   New Orleans on the Potomac * Kennedy Center Millennium
                Stage * FREE

    June 10     Gala Concert: Vivre la Nouvelle Orleans: Paquito D'Rivera,
                DEJF's Artistic Adviser, with Dr. Michael White and the
                Original Liberty Jazz Band * Embassy of France

    New Orleans on the National Mall * FREE

    June 13: 1pm - FREE * Sylvan Theater
    Terence Blanchard, Rebirth Brass Band, Little Freddie King, Nicholas
    Payton, Don Vappie & the Creole Serenaders

    June 14: 1pm - FREE * Sylvan Theater
    Buckwheat Zydeco, Nicholas Payton, Trombone Shorty, Donald Harrison and
    Irma Thomas

    Celebrating a Jazz Master: Ellis Marsalis
    June 15: 7:30pm * John. F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
    Tribute concert featuring Ellis Marsalis - recipient of the 2009 DEJF
    Lifetime Achievement Award-- with sons Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and
    Jason; Harry Connick, Jr.; and Dr. Billy Taylor