JVC Lights Up New York

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The 2008 JVC Jazz Festival in New York lights up the city June 15–28 with 38 concerts plus nearly 200 additional events at clubs, schools, museums, retail outlets and other venues throughout the city.

Highlights of this year’s fest include Herbie Hancock and the River Of Possibilities Tour; a celebration of 50 years of bossa nova starring João Gilberto; Bad Plus 1 featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel. Other artists include Jill Scott, Mos Def Big Band with special guest Gil Scott-Heron, Charlie Haden Quartet West and Bill Frisell Trio; tributes to pianist Hank Jones, Art D’Lugoff’s Salsa Meets Jazz and Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights In Jazz, as well as performances by Chris Botti, Al Green, Cecil Taylor, Soulive with guest Joshua Redman, George Cables and Sergio Mendes.

Concerts will be held at several venues including Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium and Zankel Hall, New York Society for Ethical Culture, Le Poisson Rouge and Rubin Museum of Art.

Throughout the festival, clubs will offer special discounts to festival ticket holders for select shows at the Blue Note, Birdland, Cachaça, Iridium, Smoke and Zinc.

More info: festivalnetwork.com



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    “Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”

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    Cécile McLorin Salvant busts out Jelly Roll Morton’s “The Murder Ballad” at Big Ears, here with pianist Sullivan Fortner.

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    Each of the 25 JAMs has delivered a poster featuring a jazz legend that is sent out to schools across the nation. This year’s poster features Tony Bennett.

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    “We thought it’s important that Ronin has a new statement,” said Nik Bärtsch of his band’s latest album, Spin. “The sound is differently produced, so it reflects more of who we are.”

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    Bollani demonstrates at the piano during a live Blindfold Test in Umbria, Italy, while writer Ashley Kahn, right, and translator Greg Burk look on.