For Immediate Release:
DIANA KRALL AND TONY BENNETT TO HEADLINE INAUGURAL SONOMA JAZZ + FESTIVAL MEMORIAL WEEKEND 2005
ACTS TO PERFORM IN SONOMA’S VALLEY OF THE MOON
February 24, 2005– Diana Krall, Tony Bennett, Boz Scaggs with Steve Winwood, Regina Carter and Lizz Wright are set to bring world-class jazz to the town of Sonoma when they headline the inaugural Sonoma Jazz+ Festival this Memorial Day weekend May 26 – 29. This four-day event will take place in Sonoma’s historic town plaza under a spectacular 3,000 capacity canopy tent. Sonoma Jazz+ Festival will also partner with the pre-eminent local wine industry to provide food and wine hospitality at the highest possible level.
For four days in May, the town of Sonoma will be a gourmet’s delight and a music fan’s paradise. Additional diverse “Wine and Song” events will be held at multiple venues around the central town plaza, making Sonoma Jazz + a pedestrian-friendly experience steeped in the ambience of great European summer music festivals. Unlike most first-time events, the festival will enjoy an exceptional level of experience and sophistication because it is a sister festival to Jazz Aspen Snowmass, one of America’s premiere music festival events.
Founded in 1991, and now celebrating its 15th season, Jazz Aspen Snowmass began as a simple three-day festival and evolved into two major summer festivals as well as year-round free and paid concerts and renowned educational programs. Jazz Aspen Snowmass will be announcing thier line-up for the June and Labor Day festival soon.
Jim Horowitz, founder of Jazz Aspen Snowmass and the Executive Producer of Sonoma Jazz + noted, “The community of Sonoma has embraced this idea and made planning for the inaugural festival a smooth experience. There seems to be great anticipation surrounding the festival. This first foray into Sonoma promises fabulous music, memorable wines and a great time for audiences.”
The Sonoma Jazz + Festival is a not-for-profit organization, and all net proceeds are earmarked for distribution equally to the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation and the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation. James Z. Pugash, Chairman of the Festival Board, commented, “Sonoma Jazz Plus is being organized not just to be a world-class music festival, but to deliver a substantial contribution to the local community in the areas of health and education. As such, we’re pleased to announce our commitment to the Valley Education and Hospital Foundations for the year 2005.”
Founding Sponsors to the festival will include Hearthstone (one of the nation’s leading investors in residential development), the Marin IJ (part of the Alameda News Group, which includes, locally, the Oakland Tribune, Vallejo Times Herald, San Mateo Times, and many more), NelsonJobs.com, part of the Nelson Family of Companies (a national leader in human resources and employment solutions), the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, Southern Wine & Spirits (one of California’s leading distributors of premiere wine and spirit products), and Sherman-Clay (the Bay Area’s home for Steinway Pianos.
Tickets will go on sale on Monday, February 28, 2005, and are available at (toll free) 1 866 527 8499. They will range in price from $35 to $85. Patron Tickets (which will include admission to the festival’s patron tent, with premiere seating, nightly gourmet dinner, and on-site parking) will be available at 1 866 468 8355. Further information will be available at www.sonomajazz.org
For more information please contact Allison Elbl at PFA, 212.334.6116 or aelbl@pfamedia.net . Please also visit www.jazzaspen.org