May 22, 2003

 

 

FOR immediate RELEASE   

 

Contact Mark Morganelli (914) 631-1000

 

The Third Annual Berkshire Jazz Festival at Ski Butternut moves to last weekend in July and adds new Friday night concert, kids events, and on-site camping

 

Jazz Forum Arts has moved its Third Annual Berkshire Jazz Festival in Great Barrington, MA at Ski Butternut to Friday through Sunday, July 25-27.  The Festival has expanded to three days, adding a special Friday night performance by the internationally renowned Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans, followed by a performance by the new local big band, the Berkshire Eagles Jazz Ensemble.  The Festival will present over thirty emerging and established artists and groups on four different stages for a weekend of continuous jazz, workshops, crafts and food.  For the first time, we will feature a children’s performance stage and on-site camping.  Advance single-day tickets for Saturday or Sunday are $30 for adults and $10 for children, 17 and under.  After July 1st single-day children’s tickets will remain at $10, and adult tickets will be $35.  Weekend passes are $60 for both Saturday and Sunday, including free admission to the Friday night opening event.  Single tickets for Friday night are $20 for adults, and $10 for children, 17 and under. Camping is available to weekend pass holders, for $50 per family.  For additional camping information, call Jazz Forum Arts at (914) 631-1000.

 

For Friday’s Opening Night festivities, Butternut’s Upper Lodge will be transformed into a New Orleans style restaurant and club offering authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine.  As a special incentive, Jazz Forum Arts is offering free tickets to Friday night’s performance to all patrons who purchase weekend Festival passes. 

 

This year’s Berkshire Jazz Festival line-up on the Main Stage on Saturday will open with bebop vocalist Giacomo Gates plus the Richie Hart Trio (12 Noon), tenor saxophone great Houston Person Quartet (1:30), New Orleans saxophonist Donald Harrison Quintet (3:00), alumnus of Art Blakey & Miles Davis, followed by celebrated saxophonist Jimmy Heath Quartet (4:30), and veteran drummer Charli Persip’ s Big Band Birthday Bash (6:30).  Main Stage performers on Sunday include Brazilian trumpeter and flugelhornist Claudio Roditi Quartet (12 Noon), New Orleans trumpeter and vocalist Leroy Jones Quintet (1:30), whose “trad” sound evokes Louis Armstrong; legendary band leader and drummer Chico Hamilton & Euphoria (3:00), followed by the unanimous “hit” from the first Berkshire Jazz Festival, Italian jazz vocalist Roberta Gambarini (4:30), whose style and vocal command has often been compared to the great Ella Fitzgerald. Roberta will be joined by The Richie Hart Trio plus Claudio Roditi for her performance.  The Festival concludes with boogaloo and bebop alto saxophonist/singer Lou Donaldson Quartet (6:30), featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith on Hammond B3 organ.                     (Over, please)

 

On Saturday, the indoor stage of the Upper Lodge will play host to the great vocalese and scat talent of Stephanie Nakasian along with Berkshires-born bop underground piano legend Hod O’Brien (12 Noon & 3), our youngest headliner, thirteen-year-old piano virtuoso Christian Sands Trio (1&4), and  vocal sensation Roberta Gambarini (2 & 5).  Sunday’s program features vocalist Lori Hartman (12 Noon & 3), daughter of the legendary Johnny Hartman; New England’s own contemporary guitarist Steve Kirby Group (1 & 4), and distinctive guitarist Jay Messer Group (2 & 5). Guitarist Richie Hart, noted for his rhythmic “Wes Montgomery” style, along with Rick Petrone on bass and Joe Corsello on drums, will serve as the house band at the festival, hosting jam sessions and clinics, and appearing with selected headliners throughout the weekend. 

 

For the first time there will be a dedicated children’s stage offering a mixture of jazz, storytelling, puppetry and performers for the whole family. Situated outside on Butternut’s Clubhouse Deck, the children’s stage includes performances by Parents’ Choice Award-winning singer/songwriter Blake Rowe, the world-famous Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, and nationally recognized comedian and master juggler Will Shaw.   Tom’s Toys of Great Barrington is sponsoring the Kids Events.

 

Several jazz workshops will take place at the Clubhouse, located at the base of the Butternut property. Blake Rowe will perform a “Jazz For Kids” clinic; Donald Harrison will hold a saxophone master class, Jay Messer will convene a guitar workshop; Roberta Gambarini and Giacomo Gates will conduct vocal workshops, Claudio Roditi will hold a master class on Brazilian Jazz, and drum master Charli Persip will present a master class based on his new book, entitled “How Not To Play The Drums!” 

 

The Berkshire Jazz Festival will feature a wide array of cuisines, including Mexican, Japanese, Italian and Greek, as well as a breakfast menu and homemade ice cream.  The artists and crafts vendors will include  jewelry, furniture, paintings and photos, clothing, sculpture and pottery.  Sponsors of the Third Annual Berkshire Jazz Festival include Berkshire Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, JazzTimes.com, and Tom’s Toys.  Jazz Forum Arts also gratefully acknowledges major support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Directions to The Berkshire Jazz Festival and reserved tickets are available from Ski Butternut by calling (413) 528-2000, or through Jazz Forum Arts at (914) 631-1000. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.jazzforumarts.org, in person at Tune Street, Rte.7, Great Barrington, MA or at VideoPhile, River Plaza, Tarrytown, NY. For more information on artist interviews and schedules, please contact Mark Morganelli at Jazz Forum Arts at (914) 674-2005 or jazzforum@aol.com.

 

 

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