2007 State College Jazz Festival

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The Third Annual State College Jazz Festival will kick off on Thursday, July 19 with two sets of music at Central Parklet continuing with a concert at the State Theatre featuring The Inventions Trio with pianist Bill Mays (Palmetto Records, Steinway artist), Marvin Stamm (Bill Evans, Paul Desmond, Lena Horne, Louis Bellson), trumpet, and Alisa Horn (Civic Orchestra (Chicago) and principal cellist Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, 2006), cello. SCJF'07 continues through Saturday, July 21 with free outdoor music at Central Parklet, the Allen Street Stage and State Theatre concerts at 8pm each evening. New York-based jazz vocalist Catherine Dupuis returns to her hometown to produce SCJF'07, founded with local altoist Joe Alessandro, which annually involves the center region's abundant jazz talent together with internationally-acclaimed jazz artists.

RHK & BMSCJF'07 features two living piano giants (both of whom worked with Frank Sinatra): Bill Mays (Sarah Vaughan, Gerry Mulligan, Peggy Lee, Toots Thielemans) and Russ Kassoff (Bucky Pizzarelli, Rita Moreno, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis). Messrs. Mays and Kassoff will share the State Theatre stage as a piano duo on Friday July 20. Saturday July 21 at the State Theatre, SCJF'07 features the Russ Kassoff Trio (Mr. Kassoff with Martin Wind (bs) and Dennis Mackrel (dr)), followed by a jazz jam featuring the best of SCJF'07. During SCJF'07, State Theatre 11p late sets feature trios led by local pianists Arthur Goldstein (7/19) and Bill Test (7/20).

Other local artists slated to perform at SCJF'07 are The Tarnished Six, The Valley Jazz Orchestra (led by Dan Yoder and Rick Hirsch), The Friends Band (featuring vocalist Catherine Dupuis and led by Don Keat (bari sax)), the Jazz Monsters, Hirschtet (led by Rick Hirsch), Trombone Chowder (led by Mike Loewen) and the Grammy Award-winning and 2006 J@LC "Essential Ellington" finalist State College Area High School Jazz Band. On Saturday July 21, Andy Kimbel (Allen Street Stage, 5:30p) returns to State College from Philadelphia with his highly acclaimed blues band the Andy Kimbel Express. On Thursday July 19 at 6:30p, hailing from Johnstown and Pittsburgh, the McManus/Bodolosky Quintet, led by Kevin McManus (tbn) and Mike Bodolosky (dms) featuring Ralph Guzzi (tpt) appears at Central Parklet. Many more local and regional musicians will be performing in venues all over State College, including the All-American Alehouse and Grill, the Allen Street Grill, Bar Bleu, Café 210 West, the Deli, Sozo, Tony's Big Easy, Zeno's and Zola Bistro. For more on who's where when, visit www.statecollegejazzfestival.com.

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