Press

EDWARDS — Vail Jazz is hosting live webcasts of Jazz at Lincoln Center performances featuring some of today’s most notable jazz artists. Watching the pros at work from a few thousand miles away with a glass of wine and good company is a wonderful way to combine front-row seats with an intimate viewing experience.

Local Edwards eatery eat! drink! is teaming up with Vail Jazz throughout the winter season to pair live webcasts from Jazz at Lincoln Center with boutique wines and delectable small plates. The series kicked off on in mid December and continues Thursday evening with Papo Vazquez Band of Mighty Pirate Troubadours at 7:30 pm. A veteran trombonist and bandleader, Vazquez presents a seven-piece Afro Puerto Rican jazz combo that melds Caribbean percussion with a blazing jazz horn section, delivering a hyperkinetic party with spirited and soulful improvisation.

February and March dates have just been added.

• Feb. 13th features Dianne Reeves, the most awarded female jazz vocalist of all time. Reeves’ signature sound and fondness for love songs will make for a perfect pre-Valentine’s Day performance. Reeves will treat audiences to an intimate evening of music and storytelling, delivered as only she can.

• Feb. 20th brings The New Orleans Songbook with Vail vocal favorite, Cyrille Aimee. Aimee, described as having “a voice like fine whiskey — oaky and smooth, with a hint of smokiness,” will kick off the evening by celebrating the composers and songs of New Orleans, the historic epicenter of jazz. The evening continues with The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra’s special premiere of the “New Orleans Jazz Market.”

• A Salute to Betty Carter on March 6th will feature Benny Green, a frequently featured artist at the annual Vail Jazz Party, and vocalist Charenee Wade. Carter blazed her own trail as one of the most original jazz vocalists of our time, known for her flawless phrasing, uncanny unpredictability and signature glissando. Expect to hear familiar favorites of Carter’s legacy.

“With the expansion of our community outreach activities this year, Vail Jazz is offering this incredible webcast series as an accessible, informal option for music lovers in our community to gather and enjoy great jazz performances,” said Robin Litt, executive director. “While live concerts are core to our summer festival and winter series, this series is a great opportunity for those infrequent jazz listeners to explore the genre in a really fun, casual way. Our partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center speaks to a shared goal of both of our organizations, to expand the audience of this exceptional American art form. There’s something special about the combination of eat! drink!’s cozy atmosphere and the music of Wynton Marsalis and these fabulous musicians, albeit from afar!”

Tickets are on sale for Vail Jazz Winter Series live performances, which take place through early April. Featured performances include soirées with Marcus Roberts on Feb. 15 and Diego Figueiredo on March 13, each at private homes as well as a trio of performances at Cucina at the Lodge at Vail. Gypsy Jazz Jam on Feb. 28 highlights Frank Vignola, Vinny Raniolo and Andreas Oberg, three of today’s most outstanding guitarists in the French Gypsy swing style, Hammond B3 organ extraordinaire Tony Monaco will return to Vail with his signature Jimmy Smith sound on March 27, and finally the Allan Finney Sextet will hold their CD release party on April 2 as a lively conclusion to the Vail Jazz Winter Series.

More information is available at www.vailjazz.org or by calling 970-479-6146.