|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Rosslyn Jazz Festival 07 Praised among the DC region's standout jazz festivals by JazzTimes magazine, the 17th Annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival features one of the biggest and brightest lineups ever, including violinist extraordinaire Regina Carter; velvet-voiced Kevin Mahogany, and vibraphone icon Bobby Hutcherson, on Saturday, September 8, 2007, in Rosslyn's Gateway Park, located at North Lynn Street and Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia. . Free and open to the Public, it is co-sponsored by the Arlington Cultural Affairs Division, Rosslyn Renaissance, and the Rosslyn BID. The event will be broadcast live by jazz station WPFW 89.3 FM, and hosted by their on-air personalities!. Replacing previously-announced guest artists Red Holloway and Kathy Kosins, headliner Kevin Mahogany has personally selected a Special Mystery Guest Pianist to join him in his “Big Joe Turner Tribute” set. This Mystery Guest is internationally-renowned for their work with Betty Carter, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Terence Blanchard and Wynton Marsalis, this BIG name on the ivories has Baltimore 'roots' and is known for their gospel-infused style. For 17 years, jazz music has echoed through Gateway Park, a sylvan slice of urban greenery nestled between the sheer towers of Rosslyn and the gothic spires of Georgetown University just across Key Bridge from DC. The event has featured regional treasures like Juanita Williams and the late Charlie Byrd, as well as stars Ahmad Jamal, Nnenna Freelon, Marc Cary, and Dave Valentin. The event now draws nearly 10,000 jazz aficionados from across the U.S. Ms. Carter is among the most revered instrumentalists of our time. The magnitude of her specific accomplishments is perhaps best illustrated by her being the first jazz musician and the first African American invited by the City of Genoa, Italy to play the priceless Guarneri del Gesu violin of classical music virtuoso and composer Nicolo Paganini in December 2001. Her triumph was confirmed by the attendant SRO concert, and sealed in 2002 when she returned to record a classical-infused jazz CD! Time Magazine exclaims that “Regina Carter creates music that is wonderfully listenable, probingly intelligent and, at times, breathtakingly daring ... taking the listerner into the future of jazz.” With his gift for bebop, ballads, blues, and swinging jazz, vocalist Kevin Mahogany's talents emerged long before he was old enough to spell” record deal”. “When I was a kid, music was just as important as English and math in our household,” says the Kansas-City-born Mahogany. By age 12, Kevin had mastered the piano, clarinet and baritone saxophone. Of the multi-talented vocalist, New Yorker magazine writer Whitney Balliet writes, “There is little Mahogany cannot do.” With eleven CD's as a leader, and several more as a sideman, Newsweek describes him as “the standout jazz vocalist of his generation.” Joining Mahogany for a “Big Joe Turner” tribute set will be an internationally renowned pianist as “Special Mystery Guest Artist” This artist replaces the previously announced Red Holloway and Kathy Kosins, neither of whom are able to appear due to schedule conflicts. Los Angeles born vibraphonist and composer Bobby Hutcherson is credited, along with Gary Burton, with ushering the vibraphone into the modern era. Relocating to New York City in 1961 when he was 20 years old, Hutcherson's illustrious career includes collaborations with jazz greats such as Jackie McLean, Grachan Moncur III, Charles Tolliver, Archie Shepp, Eric Dolphy, Hank Mobley, Herbie Hancock, Grant Green and McCoy Tyner. Origem (Portuguese for “origin”) balances a unique blend of styles to develop a powerful musical experience built upon the African-derived rhythm that sensuously underpins much of the music heard during Carnival in Brazil. The Lucini brothers, drummer Alejandro and bassist Leonardo, bring their rhythmic telepathy to Brazilian classics, jazz standards and their own compositions. Joining the group at the end of their set will be the amazing six-year-old trumpeter (and Arlington resident) Geoffrey Gallante. He has already appeared on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the Today Show (performing with jazz icon Chris Botti). He also has appeared with Wynton Marsalis, Phil Driscoll and Arturo Sandoval. As always, The ROSSLYN JAZZ FESTIVAL also will offer a range of fantastic food from local restaurants “We're very pleased to join in partnership not only with Rosslyn's business and restaurant community but also with the Washington area's premier jazz radio station,” says Rosslyn BID Executive Director Cecilia Cassidy. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |