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| Jazz Stars in Monterey Jazz Festival Spring Concert Series Monterey Jazz Festival expands Spring jazz concerts to Carmel's Sunset Center and “Monterey Live” in downtown Monterey With a lineup of superb jazz vocalists appearing throughout the Spring 2006 season, the Monterey Jazz Festival is giving Monterey music fans plenty to sing about. This March and April, the Monterey Jazz Festival presents concerts featuring the ultimate femme fatale, Eartha Kitt, acclaimed guitarist and crooner John Pizzarelli, and world-renowned jazz vocalist, Kurt Elling, in a new series of concerts expanded throughout the greater Monterey area. In an extremely rare opportunity for fans in the Monterey region, MJF presents irrepressible entertainer Eartha Kitt on Thursday, March 16th. From her legendary cabaret and Broadway appearances to her deliciously villainous role as Catwoman on the '60s TV show “Batman, ” Eartha Kitt has vamped her way into the hearts of generations. Described as the original “Material Girl” persona, Eartha Kitt has distinguished herself in film, theater, cabaret, music and on television as one of only a handful of performers to be nominated for a Tony (three times), the Grammy (twice), and an Emmy Award. She recently enthralled young audiences in the role of Yzma, the villain in Disney's 2000 animated feature, “The Emperor's New Groove, ” as well as the role of Fairy Godmother in The New York City Opera production of “Cinderella” at Lincoln Center. A consummate jazz singer, Eartha Kitt has captivated fans and critics at the 51st Annual JVC Newport Jazz Festival and venues such as Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. and Seattle's Jazz Alley. The Monterey Jazz Festival is also proud to feature John Pizzarelli on Friday, April 7th. Hailed by critics as one of the most accomplished interpreters of the Great American Songbook, John Pizzarelli is known for his brilliant guitar work and smooth vocals. In a career that has produced eighteen recordings and gained international recognition, John has brought classic standards and late night ballads to a new generation ready to swing and swoon. From appearances at Carnegie Hall to Melrose Place, John has gained a wide following from his numerous stage, screen and television appearances and is setting the standard for stylish, modern jazz. In describing his cheerful sound, the New York Times reports, “Pizzarelli's music portrays the kind of joy that sneaks up on you at odd moments when you're just walking around feeling good.” Eartha Kitt and John Pizzarelli both take center stage at Sunset Center, the site of the first jazz concert presentations on the Monterey Peninsula by Monterey Jazz Festival founder Jimmy Lyons. Located on San Carlos Avenue between 8th and 10th in downtown Carmel, Sunset Center offers luxurious seating in a beautiful historic venue and parking on site. For its third concert of the Spring 2006 season, the Monterey Jazz Festival expands its traditional “Jazz at Sunset” concert series to include an intimate performance with MJF 2006 Artist-in-Residence Kurt Elling at Monterey Live on Thursday, April 20. A new, state-of-the-art performing arts venue in the heart of Monterey, Monterey Live features live music, theater, dance, comedy and spoken word seven days a week. The venue brings the excitement of exclusive “big city” theater-style clubs to Monterey with light fare and premium spirits served in an intimate and sophisticated setting. For this special debut performance at Monterey Live, jazz luminary Kurt Elling will perform his unique brand of vocalese, spoken word, improvised scatting, and classic jazz repertoire that has re-energized the art of jazz singing over the past decade. A six-time Grammy Award nominee, Elling has won the Down Beat and the JazzTimes critics' polls for “Best Male Singer” three years running, the most recent Down Beat readers' poll, two Jazz Journalists Awards and the Prix Billie Holiday from the Academie du Jazz in Paris. Following the appearances of Eartha Kitt and John Pizzarelli, Elling's performance will cap an entertaining and eclectic series of concerts highlighting the best in vocal jazz throughout Monterey this spring. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |