16 de maig, 2012

George Wein and Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.™ Announce Formation of Newport Jazz Festival® Advisory Committee



George Wein in Barcelona, May 2010.

To enhance dialogue and share knowledge about the ever-evolving art form of jazz, George Wein and the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.™ today announced the creation of the Newport Jazz Festival® Advisory Committee, made up of some of the leading jazz festival producers from around the world.

"The members of the committee are the true source of knowledge about what is happening in jazz. Collectively, they listen to everything that is being produced and their awareness of the extraordinary musicians in their countries is invaluable," said Wein, Newport Jazz Festival Producer and Chairman of the Newport Festivals Foundation. "Since jazz is becoming more of a global music each year, having formal access to this outstanding group of international producers will help ensure that the Newport Jazz Festival, as well as other festivals, remain significant and influential institutions for years to come."

Advisory Committee members are: Iñaki Añúa, Festival de Jazz de Vitoria-Gasteizn Ant; Joan A. Cararach, Voll-Damm Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona; John Cumming, London Jazz Festival; Quint Davis, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; Bertrand Flamang, Gent Jazz Festival; Tim Jackson, Monterey Jazz Festival; Jan Willem Luyken, North Sea Jazz Rotterdam; Miguel Martín, San Sebastian Jazz Festival; André Ménard and Alain Simard, Festival International de Jazz de Montreal; Carlo Pagnotta, Umbria Jazz Festival; Ken Pickering, Vancouver International Jazz Festival; Fritz Thom, Jazz Fest Wien; and Penny Tyler, Ravinia Jazz Festival.

Wein and some of the Newport Jazz Festival Advisory Committee are members of the International Jazz Festival Organization (IJFO), an umbrella association to currently 17 leading jazz festivals worldwide. The members do not compete territorially and their events are held at times that allow potential touring of common projects.

In addition, the Newport Festivals Foundation also created an Advisory Board in 2011 for its Newport Folk Festival. While that group is made up of artists Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, Gillian Welch, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Ben Knox Miller of The Low Anthem, Wein chose to fill this Committee with fellow jazz festival producers. However, the jazz impresario says he is "open to bringing on artists and other industry professionals who understand the importance and challenges of promoting jazz, presenting and developing emerging performers and keeping the legacy of the Newport Jazz Festival, and jazz in general, alive."

The 2012 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management, which takes place August 3 - 5, features Pat Metheny Unity Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jack DeJohnette's 70th Birthday Celebration, Dianne Reeves, Dr. John, Kurt Elling, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Jason Moran and The Bandwagon, Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet, Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks, the 3 Cohens, Christian McBride's Inside Straight and more. For tickets and the complete line-up, go to www.newportjazzfest.net. The Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.* was founded by George Wein in 2010 to build up and continue the legacies of the famed Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival. Under the auspices of the Foundation, the Newport Jazz Festival presents performers who respect and honor jazz music traditions, and at the same time reflect the changes in today's musical trends. Through the establishment of partnerships with local high schools and colleges/universities, the Foundation will present programs to educate young people about jazz music as presented at the annual festival. For more information, please visit www.newportfestivalsfoundation.org.

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The Newport Jazz Festival® and Newport Folk Festival® are productions of Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.™, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation, under license from Festival Productions, Inc. and George Wein; all rights reserved.