December 1, 2004; Monterey, California; An all-star cast of jazz greats will be featured in the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Spring 2005 Jazz at Sunset concert season, with performances scheduled for March 17th, April 7th, and April 20th in Carmel’s historic and acoustically acclaimed Sunset Center.
The season kicks off with the SFJAZZ Collective on March 17th, led by SFJAZZ Artistic Director Joshua Redman, and featuring a virtual who’s who of notable players. In addition to the renowned saxman, the 8-person Collective features vibraphone master Bobby Hutcherson, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, Renee Rosnes on piano, Miguel Zenon on alto saxophone, drummer Eric Harland, Matt Penman on bass and trombonist Issac Smith (a former member of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s High School All-Star Band). The SFJAZZ Collective is one of the only ensembles of its kind in the country and divides its repertoire between all-new compositions by band members and works by a selected jazz master, with John Coltrane’s music as the focus for 2005. The New York Times recently recognized members of SFJAZZ Collective as “among the most in-demand” artists in the jazz world.
On April 7th, the multi-talented, Grammy award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis appears at Sunset Center. This is a special occasion for both Marsalis and the Monterey Jazz Festival, his first appearance as the Festival’s 2005 Artist-In-Residence. In addition to his Jazz at Sunset appearance, Marsalis will perform and conduct clinics in the Monterey Jazz Festival’s new Next Generation Festival Kick-Off Concert, conduct clinics at the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Summer Jazz Camp, and perform throughout the weekend of the Monterey Jazz Festival. Marsalis is widely recognized by the jazz, classical, pop and entertainment worlds for his many talents as a composer, arranger, producer, educator and player. The Chicago Tribune described Marsalis as achieving “a new level of emotional intensity and instrumental brilliance.”
The Spring series final performance on April 20th will bring a true jazz icon to the Sunset Center stage. Legendary pianist Dave Brubeck appears with his quartet in a much anticipated concert. Brubeck has a long and storied history with the Monterey Jazz Festival, even before the first Festival note was sounded. It was Brubeck’s impromptu performance before the City Council that convinced members to issue a permit for the first Monterey Jazz Festival in 1958. Brubeck, one of the stars of that historic weekend, also brought the 2002 Monterey Jazz Festival audience to its feet with the reprise of his tribute to Louis Armstrong, “The Real Ambassadors”, which was commissioned by the Monterey Jazz Festival and debuted on the Festival’s stage in 1962. With ticket sales already reported as brisk, the Brubeck appearance is likely to sell out, so patrons are advised to order tickets now.
Individual concert tickets are priced as follows:
SFJAZZ Collective
$57/$42/$27
Branford Marsalis Quartet
$67/47/32
Dave Brubeck Quartet
$77/$47/$32
Jazz at Sunset Series Packages (Including one seat to all three concerts) are priced at $190/$130/$88
Jazz at Sunset partner, Inns of Monterey, is 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 for details (800/232-4141).
Sunset Center, the site of the first jazz concert presentations on the Monterey Peninsula by Monterey Jazz Festival founder Jimmy Lyons, offers luxurious seating in a beautiful historic venue. Located on San Carlos between 8th and 10th in downtown Carmel, Sunset Center offers parking on site.
Tickets for the Spring 2005 Jazz at Sunset concert series are available from the Monterey Jazz Festival Box Office (925/275-9255) or online at www.montereyjazzfestival.org.
i dropped by for a friday flash back. it would have been my first in months… but to no avail. i am making a request… you spotlight russell gunn