Litchfield Jazz Festival Announces 2008 Line-up

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13th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival Announces 2008 Line-up. Tickets On-Sale Now! The 13th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival is set and tickets are now on sale on-line for August 1, 2, 3, at the Goshen Fairgrounds in Northwest Connecticut. Diana Krall recently called it "one of the best festivals, " JazzTimes named it "among the best of the best, " and the New York Times hailed it "a model jazz lineup." The weekend kicks off on Friday, August 1, with the "Friends of the Festival Gala" at Winvian Luxury Resort in Morris. The party will offer hors d'oeuvres, micro-brews, premium wines and music by outstanding Litchfield Jazz Camp students. The party is followed by performances at the Goshen Fairgrounds. Paquito D'Rivera, winner of nine Grammy Awards and the National Medal of Arts, appears with the Zaccai Curtis Trio. Next on the double-bill is Tony & Emmy Award winner, singer Bebe Neuwirth, best known as Lilith on Cheers and Frasier.

On Saturday, August 2, the music begins at noon with the Winard Harper Sextet. Up next, making her debut, is 23-year-old vocalist, Nicole Zuraitis with her Quartet. Following Nicole is pianist, Kenny Werner with his Trio. Next up is the Wayne Shorter Tribute Big Band led by trumpeter, David Weiss. Then, the festival welcomes back the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Dave Brubeck with his Quartet. Closing the evening is Conrad Herwig's Latin Side of Miles & 'Trane.

Opening on Sunday, August 3, at noon is the fun and spunky Claire Daly's Rah! Rah! Band. Daly has played with Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Rosemary Clooney and others. Up next is pianist, Peter Madsen, called "a well-kept secret favorite among piano enthusiasts, " by JazzTimes, with his Trio. Following Madsen is the one of the top "25 Young Rising Stars in Jazz, " according to DownBeat Magazine, Jimmy Greene with his Quartet. Cyrus Chestnut will then appear with his Trio. Chestnut has played with Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, Bette Midler, Dizzy Gillespie and many others. And bringing the Litchfield Jazz Festival to a close is a Litchfield favorite – John Pizzarelli. He brings with his quartet, a full orchestra and a wonderful show: Dear Mr. Sinatra: The Frank Sinatra Songbook.

Advance-purchase general admission tickets are $35 for lawn and $55 for tent. Multi-day JazzPasses are available from $65 - $150 only until June 13. Premium tickets are $350 for Best Friends VIP weekend passes and $150 for the opening gala and performance. VIP tickets include upfront seating and VIP parking.

The Litchfield Jazz Festival is sponsored in part by the CT Commission on Culture and Tourism, NEA Jazz Masters on Tour, Steinway & Sons, The Republican-American, Down Beat, Heritage Hotel, Winvian, Northeast Beverage Corporation of CT, Magic Hat, Crystal Rock Water, JazzCorner.com, Litchfield Magazine, Home Living Connecticut, CT Business Magazine, LPA Members and others. Litchfield Jazz Camp students, who study for up to a month prior to The Festival and perform on the student stage, participate through the generous support of the CT State Department of Education and additional assistance from Shure, Keilwerth and Friendship Fund.

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