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| ’Pasadena Summer Fest’ This year's 17th annual "Pasadena Summer Fest at the Rose Bowl" is set for Memorial Day weekend, May 27, 28 and 29. "Pasadena Summer Fest" began seventeen years ago as a two-day grass-roots community street festival. By the end of the fifth year, not only had it had grown in size and moved to a park location (Central Park, years later Brookside Park), but it became an annual Memorial Day Weekend tradition when the world-famous Playboy Jazz Festival joined the party. In its current configuration, the festival boasts an enthusiastic fan base of over 100, 000+ visitors annually, making it the largest free community event in the San Gabriel valley, and the first and only festival to ever present live jazz performances at the world-famous Rose Bowl. "Pasadena Summer Fest at the Rose Bowl" is the banner title for five great events presented in one place at one time: Playboy Jazz at the Rose Bowl, Family Fun Fest, A Taste of Summer, Summer Art Fest, and The Sports Zone. This year, an exciting new element "Battle of the Bands, " has been added to the Family Fun Fest. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring blankets, beach/lawn chairs: there will be NO stadium seating available. For safety and security reasons: NO umbrellas, canopies, backpacks, glass containers, cans, alcoholic beverages, audio recorders, video cameras, barbecue grills or dogs will be allowed entry to the site. And, smoking is not allowed on the Rose Bowl lawn inside the stadium. Playboy Jazz at the Rose Bowl offers music enthusiasts and jazz aficionados nineteen hours of continuous world-class entertainment staged on the grassy field of the stadium, beginning daily at Noon. This year's debut performances at the Rose Bowl include: SATURDAY, MAY 27: Grant Geissman Quintet (Contemporary Jazz), B-Side Players (Latin/Street Band), Gary Herbig (Straight Ahead Jazz), The Jumpin' Joz Band (Swing), Angela Carole Brown (Jazz Vocalist), and the Narbonne High School, directed by Tim Suits SUNDAY, MAY 28: Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band (Latin), Dave Pell Octet (Straight Ahead Jazz), "Imaginacion" featuring Bill Cunliffe (Latin Jazz), Cross/Hart Jazz Experience (Straight Ahead Jazz), Michael Haggins Group (Smooth Funk) All Star Spotlight Band with Ismael Cuevas, Danny Janklow, Jonathan Richards, Jordan Seigel, Max Wrightson, and the KKJZ Radio High School Jazz Competition Winner MONDAY, MAY 29: Michael Lington (Smooth Jazz), The Dwight Trible Ensemble (Vocalist/Straight Ahead Jazz), The Hour Trio with Austin Peralta, Jake Bloch, Tigran Nersissian (Straight Ahead Jazz), David Garfield and the Cats (Smooth Jazz/ Pop/Funk), AC Timbre Jazz (Latin), and the Pasadena City College Studio Jazz Ensemble Bring the kids (and the neighbors too!) for a relaxing family entertainment experience. Family Fun Fest, presented by K-EARTH 101, features rides, amusements and interactive games, plus an entertainment stage showcasing ethnic dancers, singers, storytellers, mimes, puppeteers, magicians, and oldies-but-goodies performances. PLUS, JUST ADDED THIS YEAR... "Battle of the Bands, " a high school band competition. The Sports Zone introduces team cheerleaders and dance squads from L.A. greatest sports teams, presents extreme sports exhibitions including BMX racing, inline, skateboard ramp shows, and interactive sports game challenges, and lots of thrill rides for of kids of all ages. Festival food lover's will enjoy A Taste of Summer, where restaurants, cafs and eateries serve up scrumptious treats. An eclectic mix of international menu items range from the fiery and spicy fare and barbequed delights, to the Southern comfort foods of rice and beans, hush puppies, gumbo, and fried cat fish. With a diverse selection of menu choices from the international cuisines of Italy, Mexico, China and Thailand, or the spicy goodness of Southern-style Soul Food, plus plenty of hot dogs, burgers, garlic fries, ice cream, funnel cakes, and snack foods, there will be plenty tasty treats for all to enjoy. Summer Art Fest showcases the juried work of some of the most talented, interesting and unique artists and craftspeople in the region. Artworks encompassing an interesting mix of styles, from whimsical to contemporary conversation pieces, intermixed with traditional art festival favorites; it's one-stop shopping for even the most persnickety buyers from a juried selection of all hand-made, and some one-of-a-kind collectable items. "Pasadena Summer Fest" is produced by Ray Leier, founder/owner of Altadena-based del Mano Productions. Playboy Jazz at the Rose Bowl, presented in cooperation with the 2006 Playboy Jazz Festival, KTWV-The Wave and KKJZ 88.1 FM, is supported in part by the Recording Industry Music Performance Trust Fund. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority sponsor this year's "Playboy Jazz Festival." Darlene Chan, president of West Coast Operations for Festival Productions, Inc., produces the event, with booking coordination by Bill Mitchell. The Sports Zone is directed by Mike Hellyar, president of El Monte-based Games and Creations. Roscoe Lee Owens produces the Family Fun Fest. A Taste of Summer is directed by Robin Salzar owner of Robin's Woodfire BBQ & Grill in Pasadena. Summer Art Fest is produced and juried by Ray Leier for del Mano Productions. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |