World Class Jazz Returns to Roswell this Weekend

Still waiting until the last minute to make some weekend travel plans? Then you are in luck, as 18 world class tradition, mainstream and Latin jazz artists will join musical forces at the fourth annual Pecos Valley/Roswell Jazz Festival Friday-Sunday (October 9-11, 2009) in Roswell.

Jazz musician and composer, Dr. Roger Dickerson, a Hurricane Katrina refugee, came to Roswell to stay with his Army Band mate, Frank Schlatter. From a series of local events, Dickerson developed the Pecos Valley Jazz & Arts Festival, now known as the Roswell Jazz Festival.

“Music is an integral part of New Mexico's culture,” said Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, “and we have no better messenger than the Roswell Jazz Festival. New Mexicans and their visitors will experience a golden showcase of the kind of music that knows no bounds. The folks in Roswell are to be commended for their unlimited support of this incredible event.”

Festival returnees are Dickerson; Eddie Erickson, banjo (Los Angeles); Tom Fischer, clarinet (New Orleans); Nicki Parrot, bass, (New York City); Dan Barrett, trombone (Los Angeles); Randy Sandke, trumpet (New York City) Michael Francis, keyboards and the Music Director of the Festival (Lincoln); George Aiuvalasit, harmonica (Las Cruces); Ricky Malichi, drums (El Paso), Chris Beaty, saxophone (Portales), and Ken Tuttle, trumpet (Roswell). Festival newcomers are Harry Allen, tenor sax (New York City); Wilfred Hernandez, Latin percussion (El Paso); Chuck Redd, vibes (Washington D.C.); Ross Sportiello, piano (New York City); Eric Unsworth, bass (El Paso); Curt Warren, guitar (El Paso); and Aaron Weinstein, violin (New York City).

The free, opening concert is Friday, noon-1 p.m., on the steps of the Old County Courthouse on Main Street.

Club venues Friday (limit seating) include Peppers Lounge, 5-7 p.m. (tickets $10); Pecos Flavors Winery, 5-7 p.m. (ticket $25); and Sally Port Inn and Suites, 7:30-11:30 p.m. (adult tickets $25, student tickets $10).

Club venue Saturday is Sally Port Inn and Suites, 7:30-11:30 p.m.

Venues Sunday are Pueblo Auditorium, Third & Kentucky Streets, 10:30 a.m., (Worship in Jazz, featuring 12 festival artists and keyboard solo by Music Director Michael Francis.); and the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, 2-5 p.m., with Nicki Parrot, Ricki Malichi, Curt Warren, Aaron Weinstein and friends (tickets $25).

Festival spokesperson Paula Grieves says, “We have learned from previous Festivals that club settings are the most popular, and for 2009, we have chosen to continue partnerships with local businesses for the Friday night club dates at Peppers and the Pecos Flavors Winery. This year we’ve chosen to stay with two larger-setting club dates on Friday and Saturday at the Sally Port Inn and Suites. One central site with four different sets of music is a very exciting way to be up close and personal and to listen to various combinations of artists playing different types of jazz. We think this is a great approach.”

Tickets for the 2009 Roswell Jazz Festival may be purchased at the Roswell Convention Center (1-888-767-9355 or 575-624-7704. The Festival Office at the First Presbyterian Church may also be contacted, 575-622-4910, ext.13.

For more information visit http://www.pecosvalleyjazz.com/

For more information about other top events in New Mexico, please visit the New Mexico top events page at Top Events USA at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-new-mexico.html

NEVILLE BROTHERS TO HEADLINE 2ND ANNUAL SUNNY ISLES BEACH JAZZ FEST

The second annual 2009 Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Fest announces an artist line-up that will bring cool jazz sounds to the beautiful city. This event promises to once again generate excitement within the South Florida community and abroad; attracting both local audiences and tourists from around the world.

Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Fest will celebrate the extraordinary diverse sounds of jazz music the weekend of October 16-18, 2009. Produced by the City of Sunny Isles Beach in partnership with the Sunny Isles Beach Resort Association, this year’s jazz fest will benefit Joshua’s Heart Foundation, the festival’s official nonprofit partner (www.joshuasheart.org). Event corporate sponsors include Le Meridien, Acqualina Resort & Spa, Trump International Beach Resort, St. Tropez Condominiums, Atlantic Broadband Television, The Miami Herald, Around Town Magazine, WLRN and WDNA Radio.

The event will feature world-renowned celebrity jazz entertainers, notable jazz artists, and several illustrious music groups. Headlining the festival is New Orleans’ first family of funk, The Neville Brothers, which continue to provoke, entertain and excite audiences around the globe. Also returning this year is talented jazz artist Nicole Henry.

The Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Fest will showcase and highlight the best that the City of Sunny Isles Beach has to offer including: great food, fine dining, exclusive resorts and much more! Up-close and personal, set amid the backdrop of 2 ½ miles of the turquoise Atlantic Ocean and spectacular beaches, held in one of the most beautiful oceanfront parks and one of the most panoramic skylines in the southeastern United States, with various beachfront resorts, the Jazz Fest will be enjoyed by all who experience it.

Corporate sponsorship for the 2009 Jazz Fest is still available at various levels. Each with escalating advantages for the sponsor to reach a broad-based, international, national and regional audience of upscale concert goers estimated at more than 10,000. Packages range from ‘Bronze Sponsor’ to ‘Platinum Sponsor’ or a customized sponsorship can also be designed. All major sponsors will receive broad national and regional media recognition through an integrated media marketing campaign as well as a national/international public relations campaign.

“The 2nd Annual Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Fest promises to be bigger and better than last year’s,” said Ibis Romero, executive director of the Sunny Isles Beach Resort Association. “Moreover, corporate sponsors will benefit by receiving an unprecedented amount of earned media impressions and recognition before, during, and following the festival through our agency’s aggressive marketing campaign,” added Romero

For more information on the Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Fest or for an updated list of scheduled artists performing visit the website at www.sunnyislesbeachjazz.com

For information on other events in Florida visit http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-florida.html