Press

August 19, 2011 – Vail, Colorado – The Vail Jazz Foundation is gearing up for the 17 th annual Vail Jazz Party over Labor Day Weekend featuring over 30 jazz musicians performing over five days and four nights of traditional jazz. The performances will be held both in their traditional cabaret venue inside the Marriott Grand Ballroom, with five dynamic shows presented in the open air in Vail Square, Lionshead.

“We really pulled out all the stops in 2011,’ said Howard Stone, chairman and artistic director of the Vail Jazz Foundation. “Monty Alexander will celebrate his 35 reunion with Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton, but that’s just the beginning. Some of the finest jazz musicians on earth will be here over Labor Day Weekend – and together they’ll create the magic that is the Vail Jazz Party.” continued Stone.

The Vail Jazz Party, also known as the Labor Day Weekend Party, is the culmination of the summer long Vail Jazz Festival. This unique mix of world-class musicians utilizes a one-of-akind format that includes group performances, multi-artist jam sessions and inspiring multimedia salutes to Jazz legends. The festival’s party atmosphere is ensured by the bringing together of today’s rising stars and the true jazz veterans – jamming in an intimate venue, surrounded by the natural beauty of Vail. With over twenty-four hours of performances throughout the weekend (morning, noon and night), the audience and musicians are connected in a manner that consistently inspires great performances. The Vail Jazz Festival boasts a unique party spirit that attracts musicians and jazz lovers from all over the world.

Confirmed artists for the Labor Day Weekend Jazz Party include accomplished soloists, enlightening multimedia tributes to jazz legends, and dynamic jazz groups. Grammy winning arranger and pianist Bill Cunliffe will present a tribute to the Modern Jazz Quartet, while Louis Armstrong will be saluted by Byron Stripling. Back by popular demand will be trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, drummer Ernie Adams, and vocalist Niki Haris. The Clayton Brothers Quintet anchors the five night, four day festival; consisting of John and Jeff Clayton, Terrell Stafford, Bill Cunliffe and Lewis Nash, the member of the Quintet are educators-in-residence for the annual Vail Jazz Workshop, a week-long intensive course for 12 of the most promising high school-aged jazz musicians in North America, which takes place in Vail during the week before Labor Day. The workshop students perform as the Vail Jazz All Stars, debuting Thursday, September 1 with the Clayton Brothers Quintet at Vail Square.

17TH ANNUAL VAIL JAZZ PARTY – SEPTEMBER 1-5, VAIL COLORADO

GROUPS

Monty Alexander Trio – The Reunion

Clayton Brothers Quintet

Bill Cunliffe’s Multi Media Salute to the Modern Jazz Quartet

Dena DeRose Trio

Terell Stafford Quintet

Byron Stripling’s Multi Media Salute to Louis Armstrong

Vail Jazz All-Stars

SOLOISTS Ernie Adams

Shelly Berg

Graham Dechter

Bobby Floyd

Wycliffe Gordon

Jeff Hamilton

Niki Haris

Jay Hoggard

Tom Kennedy

Byron Stripling

Dave Tull

Jerry Weldon

Tickets, Passes and More Information

Tickets, passes, and gift certificates to the Labor Day Jazz Party can be purchased through the Vail Jazz Foundation office at 970.479.6146, or 888-VAILJAM (824-5526). Afternoon sessions are $45 ($55 after August 15), evening sessions are $55 ($65 after August 15), an all event pass including preferred seating, Friday wine tasting and Saturday dinner with the artists is $350/person, and students with ID are free with a paid adult ticket at morning and afternoon sessions.

Online tickets are available for purchase at www.vailjazz.org, or purchase them now by phone at 970.479.6146, or 888-VAILJAM (824-5526).

About the Vail Jazz Foundation

The Vail Jazz Foundation (VJF)’s mission is to perpetuate jazz music through live performances that showcase the artistry and talent of great jazz musicians, and through jazz education, with a focus on young musicians and young audiences. By taking jazz into the schools, the VJF hopes to create an awareness at a younger level, thus creating future audiences and potentially, future jazz musicians. The VJF is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization that is funded by private and corporate donations as well as grants, and is based in Vail, Colorado.

Sponsors

The Vail Jazz Festival is generously sponsored by Alpine Bank, Colorado Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, EverVail, The Jazz Cruise, Vail Resorts Echo, Vilar PAC Community Use Fund, Colorado Mountain Express, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Londer Vineyards, Ravenscroft Pianos, United Way Eagle River Valley, Vail Valley Foundation, Vilar Performing Arts Center Beaver Creek, and numerous other corporate and private donors.