JAZZ ROOTS: The Music of the Americas 2-CD compilation chronologically covers the history of jazz from Ragtime and Early Blues to Today. Some of the featured artists include: Scott Joplin and Louis Armstrong (Early Jazz & Blues); Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington (Swing & Big Bands); Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald (Vocalists); Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie (Bebop); Machito and Tito Puente (Afro-Cuban); Dave Brubeck (Cool Jazz); John Coltrane and Miles Davis (Hard Bop / Modal); Antonio Carlos Jobim and Elaine Elias (Brazilian); Weather Report (Fusion); Herbie Hancock (Funk); Wynton Marsalis (The Young Lions); George Benson and Grover Washington Jr. (Contemporary); Kenny G (Smooth); Chris Botti and Eldar (Today). These artists and their key music tracks are included in the package, as well as historic overviews and artist bios, plus links to the Quincy Jones American Popular Music Curriculum and JAZZ ROOTS web sites for additional information.
The JAZZ ROOTS recorded music series is inspired by JAZZ ROOTS: A Larry Rosen Jazz Series, which is a concert and educational program created for performing arts centers across America. The concert series was launched at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, Florida in 2008 and continues to expand across America, including the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas and The Center for the Performing Arts at the Palladium Theater in Carmel, Indiana. The JAZZ ROOTS series is represented by IMG Artists and will be presented in additional PACs across America.
“JAZZ ROOTS presents the music of the Americas in a most compelling fashion," says Alex Miller, General Manager / SVP, Sony Masterworks. “Larry Rosen's long career in the music business from musician to producer to entrepreneur has a track record of very successful enterprises, and we are honored to play a role in celebrating this musical legacy.
“The JAZZ ROOTS series was developed to bring communities together around our common culture, which includes music performance, education, and entertainment. We targeted performing arts centers across the country because that is where communities come together to address our performing arts." said producer Larry Rosen. “We create thematic concerts that feature world class artists in world class concert halls. To date we have presented over 100 major award winning artists in every sub-genre from the Blues, to Big Bands, to Latin, to Fusion and Straight Ahead to Gospel. These shows celebrate our multi-ethnic background and link our music to a common heritage that represents America." Rosen continues: “To help tell this great American story, we have joined forces with the iconic music artist/producer Quincy Jones and his Quincy Jones American Popular Music Curriculum. Our combined efforts for this Sony Masterworks 2-CD compilation will bring this amazing story to fans and students around the world."
Legendary artist/producer Quincy Jones implements his American Popular Music Curriculum program into schools across the country in collaboration with the JAZZ ROOTS education program. The JAZZ ROOTS education and outreach components are designed to reinforce audience development, targeting area middle and high schools as well as adults within respective communities. The series provides an opportunity for schools to bring their students to sound checks and performances, which includes artist Q&A sessions and master classes. These initiatives organically connect to local community groups, art centers and the local boards of education.
“It's so important that Americans and particularly our children learn about their culture. This series is simply imperative." said icon Quincy Jones. “We are happy to be part of this extraordinary endeavor....You can't know we're you're going unless you know where you've come from."
Larry Rosen is a musician, producer, executive producer, and music industry entrepreneur, is the Chairman of Larry Rosen Productions, Inc., creator and producer of JAZZ ROOTS—A Larry Rosen Jazz Series, co-founder of GRP Records, co-founder of LRSmedia, and co-founder and past Chairman of N2K, Inc. (NASDAQ). Mr. Rosen is the creator and producer of the PBS television series Legends of Jazz, and is the creator and producer of multi-media TV series RECORDING: the History of Recorded Music, with hosts Quincy Jones and Phil Ramone. For more see: www.larryrosen.com
Quincy Jones is a world famous iconic musician, producer, and entrepreneur. The all-time most nominated Grammy artist, with a total of 76 nominations and 26 awards, Quincy Jones has also received an Emmy Award, seven Oscar nominations, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. In 2009 he launched The Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium which encourages collaboration, shared services and advocacy while building a community in music education. For more see: www.quincyjones.com
MASTERWORKS Jazz is an imprint of Sony MASTERWORKS. For email updates and information please visit www.SonyMasterworks.com. For more information, please visit: www.jazzroots.net
JAZZ ROOTS Concert Series Tour Dates:
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, Miami, Florida
Feb 25: Celebrating Miles
March 18: 3 Generations of Divas
April 1: Guitar Virtuosos
Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, Dallas, Texas
Feb 12: Jazz Meets Gospel
April 21: 3 Generations of Divas
May 11: Super Sax
The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel, Indiana
Feb 19: Jazz Meets Gospel
March 26: 3 Generations of Divas
April 30: Celebrating Miles
May 20: Super Sax
