Saratoga Springs, NY (February 10, 2011)—The Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival, one of the most celebrated and longest-running jazz events in the world, marks its 34th year at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, June 25 and 26, with a dynamic lineup of more than 20 acclaimed artists and ensembles on two stages. Highlights include festival debuts by Michael McDonald, Tia Fuller, Lionel Loueke Trio, Hilary Kole and Eliane Elias, The Bad Plus, Jack DeJohnette among others. Ticket sales for the Festival begin with an online pre-sale for SPAC members on February 24; online sales to the public begin March 24.
Tickets and information are available at spac.org.
Special features of this year's Festival include:
Dedication of a star in SPAC's Walk of Fame for iconic jazz producer and festival founder George Wein.
Sing the Truth! featuring Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright in a celebration of the music and civil rights legacies of Miriam Makeba, Abbey Lincoln and Odetta.
Dee Dee Bridgewater in her acclaimed tribute to Billie Holiday, “To Billie With Love."
A Night in Treme: The Musical Majesty of New Orleans featuring music inspired by the HBO series “Treme," which depicts the famous, culturally rich New Orleans neighborhood.
Downbeatmagazine's famous “Blindfold Test" featuring jazz bassist Ben Allison participating in a “listening challenge" of jazz music.
Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, Saratoga Performing Arts Center has been the site of the Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival since 1978. With an inside seating capacity of 5,200, lawn seating of 20,000, world-class jazz talent performing on two stages and an idyllic State Park setting located just three hours driving time from either Boston or New York City, the festival draws thousands of fans from across the Northeast and throughout North America.
“We are proud that for more than three decades, SPAC has been presenting a jazz festival that is regarded by artists, critics and fans as a first-rate showcase for international jazz stars, legends and the most exciting emerging artists of the genre," said Marcia J. White, SPAC's President & Executive Director. “In 2011, we'll build on tradition with a superstar lineup that includes five-time Grammy winner Michael McDonald, the incomparable Dee Dee Bridgewater in a tribute to Billie Holiday, the Jack DeJohnette Group featuring Rudresh Mahanthappa, our legendary founder George Wein and his Newport All Stars, and one of the very first global performances of Sing the Truth! featuring Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright in one of the most highly anticipated programs of the year."
“We are particularly excited to welcome back to SPAC, our Festival Founder and friend, the legendary George Wein. As the pioneer and visionary behind the Saratoga Jazz Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival and hundreds of music events over the past five and a half decades, George Wein is one of the most important figures in the jazz world," said White.
“I am thrilled and honored that my mentor George Wein will return to Saratoga for a well-deserved tribute and performance with the Newport All Stars. The enduring success of the Saratoga Festival is a proud part of his incredible legacy to the jazz world; it's been a great privilege for me to sustain that rich legacy," said Danny Melnick, President of Absolutely Live Entertainment which co-produces the Festival with SPAC.
Wein, world-famous impresario and founder of numerous jazz and music festivals across the U.S., founded the Newport Jazz Festival—Saratoga in 1978. Modeled after his highly successful Newport Jazz Festival, Wein, in his 2002 memoir, “Myself Among Others: A Life in Music," credited his decision to start a Festival in Saratoga as “one of the smartest moves I ever made" remarking that the event, “captured the spirit of the old Newport." Through his company, Festival Productions, Wein eventually produced hundreds of musical events including The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals.
In addition to performances on SPAC's Amphitheatre and Gazebo stages, the festival features a fine arts and crafts fair, CD signings by artists, a full-service bar in the Hall of Springs, southern style barbeque and other food vendors, and a children's craft area. Guests may also bring in their own food and beverages, as well as blankets, tents and lawn umbrellas. Parking for the event is free.
“The extraordinary diversity of artists and styles that this festival has been known for will be front and center once again in 2011. Altogether there will be more than twenty-five hours of fabulous, live music by artists regarded to be among the best in the world," said Melnick.
“Our idyllic State Park setting is an asset that enhances the whole jazz experience. Our lush lawn, framed by majestic pines, is the perfect place to stretch out and relax. Gourmet picnics and lively conversations create a welcoming atmosphere and children dance between rows of colorful blankets. Once people discover this festival, they return season after season. It becomes a destination they look forward to all year long," said White.
It was also announced that a first-ever “winter warm-up" event will be co-sponsored by the Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival at one of New York's finest jazz clubs, the Jazz Standard. Lionel Loueke and his trio, a featured ensemble for the 2011 Festival, will headline the Jazz Standard, from Thursday, February 24 through Sunday, February 27 with set times at 7:30pm; 9:30 p.m. and third sets on Friday and Saturday only at 11:30 p.m. Lionel's trio will be joined by pianist and 2010 MacArthur Grant Award recipient Jason Moran.
The Jazz Standard is located at 116 East 27th St. in New York City. Tickets and information are available at jazzstandard.net.
Tickets
Tickets for the festival begin at $45 for general adult admission. New this year, children 12 and under are free on the lawn. SPAC's online member pre-sale begins on February 24; online sales for the public start on March 24. Tickets and information available at spac.org
Tickets and information are available at spac.org.
Special features of this year's Festival include:
Dedication of a star in SPAC's Walk of Fame for iconic jazz producer and festival founder George Wein.
Sing the Truth! featuring Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright in a celebration of the music and civil rights legacies of Miriam Makeba, Abbey Lincoln and Odetta.
Dee Dee Bridgewater in her acclaimed tribute to Billie Holiday, “To Billie With Love."
A Night in Treme: The Musical Majesty of New Orleans featuring music inspired by the HBO series “Treme," which depicts the famous, culturally rich New Orleans neighborhood.
Downbeatmagazine's famous “Blindfold Test" featuring jazz bassist Ben Allison participating in a “listening challenge" of jazz music.
Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, Saratoga Performing Arts Center has been the site of the Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival since 1978. With an inside seating capacity of 5,200, lawn seating of 20,000, world-class jazz talent performing on two stages and an idyllic State Park setting located just three hours driving time from either Boston or New York City, the festival draws thousands of fans from across the Northeast and throughout North America.
“We are proud that for more than three decades, SPAC has been presenting a jazz festival that is regarded by artists, critics and fans as a first-rate showcase for international jazz stars, legends and the most exciting emerging artists of the genre," said Marcia J. White, SPAC's President & Executive Director. “In 2011, we'll build on tradition with a superstar lineup that includes five-time Grammy winner Michael McDonald, the incomparable Dee Dee Bridgewater in a tribute to Billie Holiday, the Jack DeJohnette Group featuring Rudresh Mahanthappa, our legendary founder George Wein and his Newport All Stars, and one of the very first global performances of Sing the Truth! featuring Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright in one of the most highly anticipated programs of the year."
“We are particularly excited to welcome back to SPAC, our Festival Founder and friend, the legendary George Wein. As the pioneer and visionary behind the Saratoga Jazz Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival and hundreds of music events over the past five and a half decades, George Wein is one of the most important figures in the jazz world," said White.
“I am thrilled and honored that my mentor George Wein will return to Saratoga for a well-deserved tribute and performance with the Newport All Stars. The enduring success of the Saratoga Festival is a proud part of his incredible legacy to the jazz world; it's been a great privilege for me to sustain that rich legacy," said Danny Melnick, President of Absolutely Live Entertainment which co-produces the Festival with SPAC.
Wein, world-famous impresario and founder of numerous jazz and music festivals across the U.S., founded the Newport Jazz Festival—Saratoga in 1978. Modeled after his highly successful Newport Jazz Festival, Wein, in his 2002 memoir, “Myself Among Others: A Life in Music," credited his decision to start a Festival in Saratoga as “one of the smartest moves I ever made" remarking that the event, “captured the spirit of the old Newport." Through his company, Festival Productions, Wein eventually produced hundreds of musical events including The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals.
In addition to performances on SPAC's Amphitheatre and Gazebo stages, the festival features a fine arts and crafts fair, CD signings by artists, a full-service bar in the Hall of Springs, southern style barbeque and other food vendors, and a children's craft area. Guests may also bring in their own food and beverages, as well as blankets, tents and lawn umbrellas. Parking for the event is free.
“The extraordinary diversity of artists and styles that this festival has been known for will be front and center once again in 2011. Altogether there will be more than twenty-five hours of fabulous, live music by artists regarded to be among the best in the world," said Melnick.
“Our idyllic State Park setting is an asset that enhances the whole jazz experience. Our lush lawn, framed by majestic pines, is the perfect place to stretch out and relax. Gourmet picnics and lively conversations create a welcoming atmosphere and children dance between rows of colorful blankets. Once people discover this festival, they return season after season. It becomes a destination they look forward to all year long," said White.
It was also announced that a first-ever “winter warm-up" event will be co-sponsored by the Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival at one of New York's finest jazz clubs, the Jazz Standard. Lionel Loueke and his trio, a featured ensemble for the 2011 Festival, will headline the Jazz Standard, from Thursday, February 24 through Sunday, February 27 with set times at 7:30pm; 9:30 p.m. and third sets on Friday and Saturday only at 11:30 p.m. Lionel's trio will be joined by pianist and 2010 MacArthur Grant Award recipient Jason Moran.
The Jazz Standard is located at 116 East 27th St. in New York City. Tickets and information are available at jazzstandard.net.
Tickets
Tickets for the festival begin at $45 for general adult admission. New this year, children 12 and under are free on the lawn. SPAC's online member pre-sale begins on February 24; online sales for the public start on March 24. Tickets and information available at spac.org
