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Litchfield Jazz Festival

The 13th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival is set and tickets are now on sale 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 (www.winvian.com). The party will offer hors d'oeuvres, micro-brews, premium wines and music by Litchfield Jazz Camp students. The party is followed by performances at the Goshen Fairgrounds. Winner of nine Grammy Awards and the National Medal of Arts, Paquito D'Rivera appears with the Zaccai Curtis Trio. Next on the double-bill is Tony & Emmy Award winner, 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 is 23-year-old vocalist and Litchfield native, Nicole Zuraitis. Following Nicole is pianist, Kenny Werner with his Trio. Next up is the Wayne Shorter Tribute Big Band led by trumpeter, David Weiss. Next, the festival welcomes back the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, pianist, 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 Magazine, with his Trio. Following Madsen is the one of the "25 Young Rising Stars in Jazz, " according to DownBeat Magazine, Jimmy Greene with his Quartet. Next to the stage is the Cyrus Chestnut 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.

Premium tickets are $350 for Best Friends VIP weekend passes and $150 for the opening gala and performance. These include upfront seating and VIP parking. Multi-day JazzPasses are available from $65 - $150 only until June 13. Advance-purchase general admission tickets are $35 for lawn and $55 for tent. Visit http://www.litchfieldjazzfest.com/jazzfest_tickets.htm for ticket information.

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, Jazz Corner, 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 from the CT State Department of Education Interdistrict Grants and additional assistance from Shure, Keilwerth and Friendship Fun. For tickets visit www.litchfieldjazzfest.com or call 860-567-4162.



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