Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet
Litchfield Jazz Festival is proud to introduce to its audience trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, winner of the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. Making waves since then, 2011 was his break-out year among fans who picked him as the #1 New Artist in the JazzTimes Reader’s Poll and the release of
Salute to George Coleman with Gary Smulyan and Eric Alexander
INTERVIEW WITH GARY SMULYAN Check out this great interview between A-I-R Gary Smulyan and Festival PR & Marketing Director about artist talks & clinics, Gary’s roots in the jazz world and more. Click HERE to read it. Gary Smulyan, baritone saxophonist and bebop master, is one of the major voices on
Benny Green Quartet
“One of jazz’s finest pianists” — Jesse Hamlin, San Franciso Chronicle Born in New York in 1963, pianist Benny Green has the history of jazz at his fingertips. He grew up in California and began classical piano at seven. Influenced by his father, a tenor saxophonist, his attention soon
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
In 1977, the Dirty Dozen Social and Pleasure Club in New Orleans began showcasing a traditional Crescent City brass band. It was a joining of two proud, but antiquated, traditions at the time: social and pleasure clubs dating back over a century to a time when black southerners could rarely
Grégoire Maret Quartet
Grégoire Maret was born in 1975 in Geneva, Switzerland and began playing the Harmonica at age 17. His childhood was filled with a diverse array of musical influences from his Harlem born, African-American mother and his Swiss father, a local jazz musician. Upon graduating from the prestigious Conservatoire Supérieur de
Donny McCaslin Group
CLINIC: Aritst-in-Residence, Gary Smulyan, will host a clinic with Donny McCaslin on Sunday, August 12th. Time TBA. Saxophonist Donny McCaslin (b.1966) has been active in jazz since he was a 12 year old member of his vibraphonist father’s band. As a teen ager, he played for three years with his
Hubert Laws Quartet
A giant on jazz flute since the 70’s, Hubert Laws is one of the few classical artists to master jazz, pop, and rhythm & blues, and move effortlessly from one to the other. Born in Houston, he grew up directly across from a honky-tonk called Miss Mary’s Place with a
Miguel Zenón Quartet
“This young musician and composer is at once reestablishing the artistic, cultural, and social tradition of jazz while creating an entirely new jazz language for the 21st century.” –MacArthur Foundation, 2008. Multiple Grammy Nominee and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow Miguel Zenón represents a select group of musicians who have masterfully
Kevin Mahogany and Dave Stryker’s Kansas City Swing
“The standout jazz vocalist of his generation.” — Newsweek on Kevin Mahogany “One of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.” — Gary Giddins on Dave Stryker Kevin Mahogany – With his gift for bebop, ballads, blues and swing Kevin Mahogany’s talents bloomed early. By 1970, a 12
Andrew Hadro Quartet w/ Tony Malaby & Mario Pavone
“I chose Tony as my mentor for this project because he has always, and continues to, show me how to have a unique and individual voice. In his music…he always manages to stand out and be clearly different from everyone while making beautiful music. I have always valued individuality. Tony’s