Tri-C JazzFest Kicks Off Spring with a Legendary Lineup

31st Annual Festival Pays Tribute to Henry Mancini and Showcases the Best in Jazz

CLEVELAND, March 4/PRNewswire/ — The 31st Annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland kicks offspring with a stellar line-up of artists and packed with the variety that JazzFest fans have come to love.  From a red carpet birthday salute to the music of Henry Mancini, the jazz of iconic pianist Ramsey Lewis, to fan favorite The Roots and an evening with the Smooth Jazz All-Stars, this year’s fest offers something for everyone.

JazzFest continues its tradition of spotlighting up-and-coming artists with the “Debut Series,” this year featuring the Gerald Clayton Trio and the Theo Croker Group.  “Women in Jazz” salutes Antonio Carlos Jobim, the Grammy-winning songwriter of “The Girl from Ipanema,” while the prodigious Charlie Haden plays double duty, appearing with his Quartet West and Joe Lovano,and closing out JazzFest with TCJF Sound Works, now in its second year. Haden is the Tri-C JazzFest Distinguished Artist-in-Residence.

For the young, and young at heart, Joe Hunter reprises his “Jazz for Kids” series at the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, while Omar Sosa offers a joyful mix of jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythms at the Museum of Contemporary Art.  From France, the 10-piece Orchestre National de Jazz pays homage to Robert Wyatt, a member of the venerable 1960’s and 70’s band Soft Machine.

From April 15-25, JazzFest heats up Cleveland with a dizzying array of the best in jazz.

For tickets call 216-241-6000 or visit www.tricpresents.com.  For groups and special packages, call 216-987-4444.

Here’s the 2010 Tri-C JazzFest lineup (free performances are italicized):

Thursday, April 15, 5:00 p.m. – Parade with Shaw High School Marching Band, Tower City Center/Public Square

Friday, April 16, 8:00 p.m. – Happy Birthday Henry Mancini!, Allen Theatre, PlayhouseSquare (Tickets $45-$65)

Saturday, April 17, 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. – Jazz for Kids Featuring Joe Hunter & Friends, Children’s Museum of Cleveland (Tickets $5-$10)

Saturday, April 17, 1:00 p.m. – Women in Jazz, Mt. Zion Congregational Church of Christ

Saturday, April 17, 8:00 p.m. – The Roots, Produced by Jill Newman Productions, Allen Theatre, PlayhouseSquare (Tickets $25-$45)

Sunday, April 18, 4:00 p.m. – Debut Series with the Gerald Clayton Trio and the Theo Croker Group, East Cleveland Public Library

Monday, April 19, 7:00 p.m. – Jack Wilkins and the Cleveland Jazz Initiative Showcase, Brothers Lounge (Tickets $10)

Tuesday, April 20, 8:00 p.m. – The Eddie Baccus Organ Summit with Special Guest Tony Monaco, Karamu House

Wednesday, April 21, 8:00 p.m. – Omar Sosa Afreecanos Quartet, MOCA Cleveland (Tickets $25)

Thursday, April 22, 8:00 p.m. – Charlie Haden‘s Quartet West with Special Guest Joe Lovano, Tri-C Metropolitan Auditorium (Tickets $30)

Friday, April 23, 8:00 p.m. – An Evening with Ramsey Lewis and Patti Austin, Allen Theatre, PlayhouseSquare (Tickets $25-$45)

Saturday, April 24, 8:00 p.m. – Orchestre National de Jazz “Around Robert Wyatt”, Tri-C Metropolitan Auditorium (Tickets $15)

Saturday, April 24, 8:00 p.m. – Smooth Jazz All-Stars, Allen Theatre, PlayhouseSquare (Tickets $25-$45)

Sunday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. – TCJF SoundWorks Plays Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra with Special Guest Charlie Haden, East Cleveland Public Library

All artists and programming are subject to change.

Sponsors: American Greetings, Cleveland Foundation, Council Leadership Fund, COSE Arts Network, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Dominion Resources, Gund Foundation, Key Bank, National Endowment for the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, PNC

Media Sponsors: Cleveland.com, DownBeat, Scene, WCLV, WENZ, WCPN/WVIZ, WZAK

Cuyahoga Community College