Monday, February 20, 2017

DC Jazz Festival Announces 2017 Artists

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From our friends at DC Jazz Festival...

The DC Jazz Festival Introduces DCJazzPrix

New national competition will recognize and support top rising jazz band talent

The fastest growing jazz festival in the U.S., the DC Jazz Festival (DC JazzFest) today released its initial headliners, a diverse selection of renowned artists performing in venues across the nation's capital. Nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians confirmed to date are an impressive array of GRAMMY award winners and nominees, including Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper Experiment, Pat Metheny, Black Violin, Kenny Garrett, Roy Haynes, Ron Carter, Russell Malone, Hiromi, Edmar Castañeda, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, Mbowie and the Blast, and the Odean Pope Saxophone Choir

The DC JazzFest, scheduled for June 9-18 with more than 125 performances in 40+ venues, will present an amazing array of emerging and master-level talent that includes more than 90 bands and 300 artists!


"This remarkable lineup exemplifies the richness and soulfulness of the genre, boasting a plethora of brilliant vocalists, and a bevy of strong strings as well," said DC JazzFest Artistic Director Willard Jenkins. "We also continue our international collaborations and may have the largest number of women performing as band leaders and band members."

"This year, it's all about discovering the unexpected," adds DC Jazz Festival Executive Director Sunny Sumter. "Expect jazz's best vocalists, masterclass string instrumentalists and jazz musicians from all over the world taking over the district for ten days of incredible jazz."

All ticket sale information can be found at dcjazzfest.org. Special pre-sale tickets are currently on sale for the Saturday and Sunday shows at The Yards in the Capitol Riverfront, through Ticketmaster.com /Saturday 6/17 and Sunday 6/18. Use Code "DCJAZZ" for $30.00 early bird price through February 16, 2017, a 37% savings over the $49 GA price.

SIGNATURE EVENTS:
Events DC Presents: DC JazzFest at The Yards in the Capitol Riverfront Neighborhood begins with a free concert on Friday, June 16 at 5:00 pm with two stellar vocalists: Lori Williams and Introducing Nigerian-Britishman of song, Ola Onabule. Artists scheduled to perform at ticketed events on Saturday, June 17 are GRAMMY-winners Robert Glasper Experiment, and the perennial poll-winning saxophonist Kenny Garrett; along with rising star Kandace Springs. Sunday, June 18 promises more spectacular music in the idyllic waterfront setting with the people's choice and GRAMMY-winning vocalist Gregory Porter, the exciting hip-hop group Black Violin, the 2016 DCJazzPrix winning band the New Century Jazz Quintet, and Korean sensation, pianist Youngjoo Song. The Washington Post is the official media sponsor of DC JazzFest at The Yards.

"The 2017 DC Jazz Festival brings the broadest, most-varied menu of jazz and jazz-extension offerings ever to the nation's capital and Events DC is excited to continue as a presenting sponsor," said Erik A. Moses, senior vice president and managing director of sports, entertainment, and special events at Events DC. "It is a remarkable celebration that connects the diverse neighborhoods of the District of Columbia through the international language of jazz."

"The Washington Post is proud to be the official media sponsor of DC JazzFest, an incredibly important event in our community that celebrates the cultural significance and impact of jazz," said Kris Coratti, vice president of events and communications at The Washington Post.

As the largest and most diverse music festival in the nation's capital, the annual DC JazzFest reaches more than 65,000+ visitors of all ages each year. Other DC JazzFest stages and programs include:

DC JazzFest at the Howard (June 9-18) marks an exciting new partnership with the historic Howard Theatre for four nights of exciting concerts including internationally recognized jazz legends Roy Haynes, Ron Carter, Russell Malone and millennials Hiromi, Edmar Castañeda and more.

A Night at the Kennedy Center (June 12.) The DC Jazz Festival returns to the Kennedy Center in 2017, with An Evening with Pat Metheny w/Antonio Sanchez, Linda Oh and Gwilym Simcock in a Concert Hall performance, in addition to free Millennium Stage concerts that are part of Jazz in the 'Hoods. This year's Millennium Stage series, Bass-ically Yours, focuses on DC's incredible wealth of bass playing bandleaders.

MBOWIE and the Blast presents YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN! at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, an explosive multi-media performance piece exploring themes of social justice directed by once in a generation artist Michael Bowie.

Jazz in the 'Hoods Presented by Events DC (June 9-18) unites DC in a citywide partnership with local clubs, restaurants, hotels and galleries in celebration of jazz in our nation's capital. Jazz in the 'Hoods takes place in 21+ neighborhoods, presenting a mix of local and nationally recognized artists attracting large, varied audiences of DC residents and tourists of great diversity. Events include the CapitalBop D.C. Jazz Loft Series featuring innovative, boundary-breaking and beyond-jazz artists.Jazz in the 'Hoods performances will also be held at Twins Jazz, Dance Place, Gallery O/H, National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Atlas Performing Arts, Sixth & I, the Japanese Information and Culture Center, New York University's Abramson Auditorium, the Embassies of Korea and Spain, UDC/Jazz Alive, Alice's Jazz and Cultural Society, Capital Fringe, The Alex, Rhumba Cafe and other venues across DC.

Jazz 'n Families Fun Days (Prelude Weekend, June 3-4) In partnership with The Phillips Collection, DC JazzFest celebrates the synergy between jazz and the visual arts with performances by more than a dozen regional artists and rising star ensembles. This free, family-friendly weekend event will feature storytelling, unique meet-the-artist opportunities, an instrument petting zoo, art workshops, and more!

For more information about the DC Jazz Festival, visit www.dcjazzfest.org.

2017 DC Jazz Festival Artists

Gregory Porter
Robert Glasper Experiment
An Evening with Pat Metheny w/ Antonio Sanchez, Linda Oh, and Gwilym Simcock
The Kenny Garrett Quintet
Black Violin
Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band
Ron Carter-Russell Malone Duo
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque
Odean Pope Saxophone Choir
Mary Halvorson Octet
Hiromi & Edmar Castañdeda Duo
Kandace Springs
Chano Dominguez
Mbowie and the Blast Presents YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN'
Ola Onabule
New Century Jazz Quintet
Sarah Elizabeth Charles
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra
Lori Williams
The Trio of Bill Cole, Joseph Daley and Gerald Veasley
Michael Thomas Quintet
Allyn Johnson UDC JAZZtet w/Nasar Abadey
Princess Mhoon Dance Project
Youngjoo Song Septet
James King Band
Tommy Cecil/Billy Hart/Emmet Cohen
Herman Burney's Ministerial Alliance
Kris Funn's CornerStore
Amy Shook and the SR5tet
Trio Vera w/Victor Dvoskin
Cowboys and Frenchmen
Anthony Nelson
Lena Seikaly
Jo-Go Project
2017 DCJAZZPRIX FINALISTS
and many more!

Keep up with the DCJF:
Twitter: @dcjazzfest
Instagram: @dcjazzfest