DC Jazz Festival Unveils Roster of Ticketed Events at Celebrated D.C. Venues

April 12, 2010 - Washington, D.C. — The DC Jazz Festival (formerly the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival) today announced a series of ticketed events that highlight the finest that jazz has to offer from around the globe. The 13-day festival kicks off on June 1 with the first of more than 100 performances that will mark the sixth jazz takeover of the Nation’s Capital.

Multiple Grammy winner Paquito D’Rivera, Dianne Reeves, Poncho Sanchez and Roy Hargrove are among some of the most renowned jazz musicians who will perform at the DCJF’s main events.

Signature ticketed events include:

• NEA Jazz Masters Concert co-presented with the Lincoln Theater (http://www.thelincolntheatre.org/), a special tribute to NEA Jazz Masters James Moody featuring the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars and special guests Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Roy Hargrove, and Roberta Gambarini;
• Jazz Under the Stars at the Carter Barron Amphitheater (http://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/cbarron.htm) featuring Poncho Sanchez and Colombia harp sensation Edmar Castaneda;
• An Elegant evening of strings, woodwind, and Latin rhythms featuring Paquito D’Rivera and Akua Dixon & Quartette Indigo co presented with and at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater (http://www.kennedy-center.org/about/virtual_tour/terrace.html), and intimate jazz performances at Bohemian Caverns (http://www.bohemiancaverns.com/) with jazz artists such as Marc Cary, Gordon Chambers, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars featuring Cyrus Chestnut, John Lee, and Willie Jones II. 
• Jazz at the Lisner at George Washington University (http://www.lisner.org/) will feature two double-bill concerts with Dianne Reeves and the Roy Hargrove Big Band with special guest Roberta Gambarini; and Eddie Palmieri and Claudio Roditi.

Additionally, the DCJF will host a number of free events including Jazz and Families Fun Days at The Phillips Collection, a free courtyard concert at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Jazz at the Garden at the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, and Jazz on the Potomac performances at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage.  The DCJF will also feature two Rising Star concerts in partnership with the DC Jewish Community Center and 6^th and I Synagogue. 

Back by popular demand, Jazz in the ‘Hoods will return with performances in more than 30 venues in nearly every ward in the city.  The latest addition to the concert lineup, Jazz under the Stars, will take place on June 11 at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre located in Rock Creek Park.

The 2010 festival will conclude with two concerts at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre, including the world premiere of Paquito D'Rivera & The Jelly Roll Morton Latin Tinge Project.  Highlighting the early connections in the development of jazz between Cuba and New Orleans, the concert will feature Maestro D'Rivera with Akua Dixon & Quartette Indigo, trumpeter and arranger Michael Philip Mossman, and Latin percussionist Pernell Saturnino.  This event is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces, a NEA Chamber Music initiative.

Additional resources

• Purchase tickets (http://www.dcjazzfest.org/content.cfm/dejf_tickets_information)
• See most updated performance schedule (http://www.dcjazzfest.org/content.cfm/schedule_and_special_events)
• View DCJF sponsor list (http://www.dcjazzfest.org/content.cfm/sponsors)
• DC Jazz Festival Hotel Package (http://www.marriott.com/specials/mesOffer.mi?marrOfferId=481371&displayLink=true)
• Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/dcjazzfest)
• Twitter (http://twitter.com/dcjazzfest)

2010 DC Jazz Festival:  “KEY” Events

June 1-2:
Jazz on the Potomac Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

June 1-13:
Jazz in the ‘Hoods: Over 80 shows in 30+ clubs, restaurants, and hotels

June 3:
Jazz at the Smithsonian American Art Museum featuring saxophonist Marshall Keys

June 3:
Phillips After Five featuring pianist Janelle Gill at The Phillips Collection

June 4:
Jazz at the Garden (National Gallery of Art) featuring the Berklee World Jazz Nonet

June 5-6:
Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days – co-presented with and at The Phillips Collection featuring jazz artists George V. Johnson, Janelle Gill, Victor Provost, DC Jazz Collaborative, Brad Linde, and others.

June 8:
Rising Star concert at the 6th and I Historic Synagogue, “A Tribute to Oscar Peterson featuring pianist Marian Petrescu with Special Guest  guitarist Andreas Öberg”

June 9:
Rising Star concert at the DC Jewish Community Center featuring saxophonist Uri Gurvich

June 10:
NEA Jazz Masters Live Concert at The Lincoln Theatre; an all-star tribute to NEA Jazz Masters James Moody and Kenny Barron with Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini, Paquito D’Rivera, Regina Carter and other guest artists.

June 11:
Jazz at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre featuring Poncho Sanchez & jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda;

June 12:
Jazz at the Lisner: Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band, Claudio Roditi Quarter, Dianne Reeves, Roy Hargrove Big Band with special guest Roberta Gambarini

June 13:
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater Paquito D’Rivera: The Jelly Roll Morton Latin Tinge Project  Michael Philip Mossman, Music Director, a commissioned National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces concert

June 5-9:
DCJF Master Classes/Student Concerts: Enriching Educational Programs at the THEARC Performing Arts Center in Anacostia, Sitar Arts Center in Adams Morgan, and the Atlas Performing Arts Center on the H Street corridor for more than 1,000 DCPS and DC charter school students

Following the tremendous success of last year’s events, the DC Jazz Festival was re-branded to highlight the national and international impact of this significant cultural offering in the nation’s capital. To date, proud sponsors and partners include: Patton Boggs, LLP; Microsoft Corporation; the National Endowment for the Arts; Renaissance Dupont Circle Hotel; Sage Communication; ABC-TV/WJLA; The Washington Convention and Sports Authority; Michael and Linda Sonnenreich; the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; National Education Association Foundation; The Phillips Collection; the Washington City Paper; Georgetown University Hospital; Radio One; Coors Foundation, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities; Bacardi; WMATA and Amtrak, among others.

About the DC Jazz Festival

With more than 100 performances in dozens of venues across the city, the DC Jazz Festival is the largest music festival in Washington, D.C. and has become one of the most highly-anticipated cultural events in the nation’s capital. The Festival presents year-round music programs and performances by local, national and internationally-known artists, promotes music integration in school curricula and actively engages in community outreach to expand and diversify the audience of jazz enthusiasts. For more information about DC Jazz Festival and our upcoming programs, visit www.dcjazzfest.org.