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Jazz Condition -- UPI Arts & Entertainment

By JOHN SWENSON, United Press International
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George Wein, the ingenious promoter who invented the concept of the jazz festival nearly a half-century ago at Newport, Rhode Island, has lived to see his brainchild flourish into an international phenomenon. Wein may very well have saved jazz from a kind of extinction by promoting its biggest names during the music's transitional years and by finding bridges to new audiences who ensured that jazz did not remain the provence of nostalgia buffs.

Festival Productions has just wrapped up its biggest success story, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and now moves on to its marquee production, the JVC Jazz Festival in New York.

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From June 16-29 at 21 venues around New York City, the festival will present many of the greatest jazz musicians on the planet.

"For three decades Festival Productions, Inc. has produced a jazz festival throughout New York City, and thanks to JVC -- the festival sponsor for the past 19 years -- we're able to continue bringing great music and star-studded groupings of artists to fans around the world," said Wein. "From solo performances to a 70-piece orchestra, this year's festival has something for everyone, everywhere. Join us from Brooklyn to Harlem, the Eastside to the Westside as we celebrate our 30th anniversary of jazz in New York, festival-style."

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The festival begins on Sunday, June 16th in Harlem at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at 3:00 p.m. with "A Father's Day Gift" featuring the Mickey Bassí New York Powerhouse Ensemble with John Hicks, Abraham Burton, Eric Allen and Antonio Hart. On Thursday, June 20, at 7:30 p.m., the Studio Museum in Harlem presents the Greg Osby Quartet with Jason Moran. On Tuesday, June 18, Harlem's Apollo Theater hosts The Roots and Living Colour, then on the 27th and 28th George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic land the Mothership on the Apollo stage in what promises to be a wild excursion.

The Carnegie Hall shows begin on June 20 with Michael Feinstein and a 70-piece Symphony Orchestra; the final appearance of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (Jon Faddis, Musical Director) and the hall debut of Brad Mehldau Trio (June 21); Joao Gilberto, (June 22); Lauryn Hill (June 23); Cassandra Wilson plus Patricia Barber with special guest Dave Douglas, (June 25); Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette (June 26); Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Roy Hargrove with Willie Jones III and George Mraz, (June 28); and Eddie Palmieri y La Perfecta II with special guests Ismael Quintana and Herman Olivera plus Orquesta AragÛn with guest soloists Dave Valentin and Eddy Zervigon (June 29).

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The Wynton Marsalis Septet headlines the first of the Beacon theater shows, supported by Birds of a Feather's "Tribute to Charlie Parker" featuring Roy Haynes with Kenny Garrett, Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride and Dave Kikoski on June 26, followed by Dave Koz & Friends featuring Norman Brown and Brian Culbertson with special guest James Ingram, (June 27); Bebel Gilberto and Angelique Kidjo, (June 28); and Omara Portuondo and Miriam Makeba, celebrating her 70th birthday (June 29).

The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College will host "We Remember Teddi King," a benefit to support Lupus research (S.L.E. Foundation, Inc.), featuring Barbara Lea, Marian McPartland, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Daryl Sherman, Marlene VerPlanck, Ronny Whyte with Michael Abene, David Finck, Joe Cocuzzo and special guests Diahann Carroll and Charles Osgood on June 24.

Pianist John Bunch celebrates his 80th birthday on June 25, when he is joined by a bevy of friends including Harry Allen, Barbara Carroll, Bill Charlap, Joe Cocuzzo, Benny Green, Jay Leonhart, Russell Malone, Marian McPartland, Bucky Pizzarelli, Mickey Roker, Ted Rosenthal, George Wein and Joe Wilder.

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Proceeds from this concert benefit the Jazz Foundation of America. "A Penthouse Serenade" featuring Jane Monheit, Barbara Carroll & Trio and Peter Cincotti Quartet winds up the Kaye Playhouse series on June 26.

In the clubs, Birdland presents The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra featuring Lew Tabackin at 9:00 p.m. and Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band directed by Arturo O'Farrill at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 23; the Bill Charlap Trio with Kenny Washington and Peter Washington with special guests Phil Woods and Frank Wess, June 24; Cecil Taylor, June 25; Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joe Beck, Bob Berg, Idris Muhammad and Adam Rogers, June 26; the Kenny Barron Quartet with Ray Drummond, Derrick Gardner and Ben Riley, June 27; and the Charles McPherson Quartet featuring Cyrus Chestnut with Lewis Nash and Peter Washington, June 28 and 29.

The Village Vanguard presents the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra with special guest Joe Lovano on June 24; The Bad Plus with Ethan Iverson, Reid Anderson and David King, June 25; Don Byron Music for Six Musicians with James Zollar, Edsel Gomez, Leo Traversa, Milton Cardona and Ben Wittman, June 26; the Mark Turner Trio with Jeff Ballard and Ben Street, June 27; the Dave Douglas New Quintet with Uri Caine, James Genus, Rick Margitza and Clarence Penn, June 28; and the Jason Moran Trio with Tarus Mateen and Nasheet Waits, June 29.

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The popular free afternoon concerts at Bryant Park begin June 19 with the William Paterson University Jazz Quintet, the New England Conservatory of Music Quartet and the University of the Arts Jazz Quintet from noon to 2:00 p.m. The Lonnie Plaxico Group and Erik Truffaz are scheduled for June 20, and the series concludes on June 21 from noon to 5:00 p.m. with the Lew Tabackin/Howard Alden Quartet with Dennis Irwin and Mark Taylor, Loren Stillman Quartet, Roberta Gambarini and Art Baron & The Duke's Men.

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