News

Vail Jazz kicks off 2015 Vail Jazz @ The Market series, Jammin’ Jazz Kids and new this year, Vail Jazz @ Sweet Basil

It’s official. Summer has arrived and as we soak it up every day of the week, it’s important to note that Sundays are especially superb in Vail, largely due to theswoony sounds of free live jazz music.

Vail Jazz @ The Market

As Vail Village takes on the energetic, festival-like ambiance that coincides with the Vail Farmers’ Market, it wouldn’t be complete without a soundtrack – Vail Jazz @ The Market. The cheerful strains of classic jazz from the Max Wagner Quartet emanate from Solaris Terrace from 12 to 3 p.m. to kick off Vail Jazz @ The Market this Sunday, June 28. Then a rotating lineup of highly acclaimed national artists perform a variety of jazz genres – classic, Latin, R & B, even jazz with a twist – a little rock and country flavor– every Sunday through Aug. 30. Grab lunch, find a spot in the shady tent for some good people watching and feast your ears on the sounds of sweet jazz.

Vail Jazz @ Sweet Basil

Star local pianist Tony Gulizia has etched his unmatchable mark onto Sunday evenings in the past for Vail Jazz @ Kelly Liken. Now, with the closing of Kelly Liken Restaurant, Vail Jazz along with the valley’s kingpin of the keys is relocating the Sunday night soirées to none other than Vail’s No. 1 restaurant – Sweet Basil. “Bottom line, we’re thrilled,” says Sweet Basil co-owner Matt Morgan, whose relationship with Gulizia goes back 20 years, throughout the time when the pianist performed at Morgan’s former haunt, Zino’s, and proved his magic for drawing a crowd. “Tony is a pied piper. The nights Tony was there, people were just streaming through the door. At Sweet Basil for years we’ve tried to figure out how to have some great music but we never had the right fit. We have all of that solved now. We’ve got a great spot for Tony in the dining room and on nice nights he’ll play out to the patio with the doors open. What’s not to love about the whole thing?”

Each week, Gulizia is joined by Brian Lotus on drums. With a rotating musical guest every week, beginning Sunday June 28, with Max Wagner, Gulizia plays Vail Jazz @ Sweet Basil from 9-11 p.m. every Sunday evening. “Whether you’re diving into an amazing dinner or stopping in for dessert or a cocktail, there honestly isn’t a better way to wrap up the weekend,” says Vail Jazz executive director Robin Litt. “We can’t think of a more ideal partnership than these two local institutions – Vail Jazz and Sweet Basil.”

Jammin’ Jazz Kids

While many adults can attest to the hypnotizing quality of jazz music, children are also drawn to the sounds and what better way to introduce them to how it all comes together than by putting instruments directly into their own little hands? Throughout July, Vail Jazz welcomes children between the ages of 4 and 12 years old to try their talent on tambourines, bongos, maracas, xylophones and a variety of percussion instruments from 11 to 11:45 a.m. for Jammin’ Jazz Kids every Sunday in the Jazz Tent at the Vail Farmer’s Market, beginning July 5.

“It’s always been a priority for Vail Jazz to pass the passion for music along to the future generation of musicians and listeners,” Litt says. “Jammin’ Jazz Kids offers an engaging and fun learning experience for all kids and possibly the first chapter of an amazing future for some young talents.”

Jammin’ Jazz Kids, Vail Jazz @ The Market and Vail Jazz @ Sweet Basil are free community programs presented as part of the 21st Annual Vail Jazz Festival. For more information about the programs, or the Festival, visit vailjazz.org.