Monterey Jazz Festival Announces “Jazz at Sunset†Spring Concert Series
Monterey Jazz Festival announces “Jazz at Sunset†Spring Concert Series featuring Ahmad Jamal, Regina Carter, Wayne Shorter, Poncho Sanchez
Pianist Ahmad Jamal launches New Series on March 23rd,
Regina Carter Quintet performs on March 31st,
Wayne Shorter Quartet appears on April 15th,
Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band Stars on May 7th;
Tickets On Sale February 2nd
January 26, 2004; Monterey, California; The Monterey Jazz Festival, the longest running jazz festival in the world, has announced its new Spring concert series, scheduled to take place in Carmel’s historic Sunset Center, from March through May, 2004. The new series of all-star performances, which will be presented in addition to the annual three-day Monterey Jazz Festival in September, follows the successful launch of last Fall’s inaugural Jazz at Sunset season.
Legendary pianist-composer Ahmad Jamal launches the Jazz at Sunset Spring concert season on Tuesday, March 23rd in an 8:00 pm concert. A veteran of six decades in jazz and over 50 recorded albums (including the best selling “But Not For Me/At The Pershingâ€, from which Clint Eastwood featured two selections in his film “The Bridges of Madison Countyâ€), Ahmad Jamal will perform with his trio, including Idris Muhammad on drums and James Cammack on bass.
On Wednesday, March 31st at 8:00 pm, jazz violinist Regina Carter will perform with her quintet (Chris Lightcap/bass, Mayra Casales/percussion, Alvester Garnett/drums). Named top jazz violinist in JazzTimes Magazine 2003 Readers’ Poll, Regina Carter is also The Monterey Jazz Festival’s first ever year-round Artist-In-Residence. She’s played with top artists from the world of pop to R&B to jazz, wowed Monterey Jazz Festival audiences in her 2001 appearance with Kenny Barron, and delighted classical and jazz fans with her new recording “Paganini: After A Dream†(on which she plays Paganini’s historic “Cannon†violin, the first jazz artist and first African-American ever to be so honored).
Wayne Shorter, also a major winner in the JazzTimes Readers Poll, will perform with his quartet (Danilo Perez/piano, John Patitucci/bass, Brian Blade/drums) in an 8:00 pm concert on April 15th. Shorter was not only named JazzTimes Jazz Artist of the Year (for the second year in a row), but was also selected as #1 artist on soprano saxophone. His all-acoustic album “Algeria†(the title piece features the work commissioned by and premiered at the 2000 Monterey Jazz Festival) was named JazzTimes Best New Release and is nominated for a Grammy as the year’s Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
Longtime Monterey Jazz Festival favorite Poncho Sanchez (he has appeared at the Festival seven times) will close the Jazz at Sunset Spring season in an 8:00 pm concert on Friday, May 7th. Widely recognized as one of the most artistically consistent and popular Latin jazz artists in the world, Sanchez’ latest recording, “Out of Sight!†(featuring Ray Charles, Sam Moore and Billy Preston) is winning rave reviews, combining joyous Latin rhythms with funky R&B sounds. His Jazz at Sunset appearance showcases his Latin Jazz Band, whose performance of “Latin Soul†was a 1999 Grammy Award winner.
Tickets for individual concerts are priced as follows:
Ahmad Jamal
$55 / $40 /$25
Regina Carter Quintet
$40 / $30 / $20
Wayne Shorter Quartet
$55 / $40 / $25
Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
$40 / $30 / $20
Jazz at Sunset Series Packages, with one seat to all four concerts, are priced at $175 / $125 / $80.
In the 1950’s, Sunset Center was the site of the first jazz concert presentations on the Monterey Peninsula by Monterey Jazz Festival founder Jimmy Lyons.
Majestically renovated and acoustically acclaimed, Sunset Center re-opened its doors in 2003, with the Festival’s Jazz at Sunset series the first jazz concerts to be presented in the renovated venue. Sunset Center is located on San Carlos between 8th and 10th in downtown Carmel with parking available on site.
Tickets for the Jazz at Sunset Spring series will be available starting February 2nd from the Box Office (925/275-9255) and online, montereyjazzfestival.org.
For out of town visitors and guests, Inns of Monterey are offering jazz fans a Jazz at Sunset Getaway, with special rates at Hotel Pacific, Spindrift Inn, Monterey Bay Inn or Victorian Inn. Patrons are invited to call 1-800-232-4141 for details.
The 47th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival presented by MCI will take place on September 17 – 19, 2004 at the Monterey Fairgrounds. Tickets for the Festival will go on sale on April 2, 2004. They are also available online at The Monterey Jazz Festival’s web site (www.montereyjazzfestival.org) and by phone (925/275-9255).
For more information about The Monterey Jazz Festival and Jazz at Sunset concerts, patrons are invited to phone 831/373-3366.
