Arena seats still available for 51st Monterey Jazz Fest

Arena Seats Still Available For
51st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival
Presented By Verizon September 19 - 21, 2008

Rare Opportunity For Public To Purchase Arena Packages,
Renewable Every Year For Future Festivals
Packages Offer Reserved Arena Seating Plus Access To 8 Additional Grounds Stages Featuring Over 500 Artists For 3 Days Of Nonstop Jazz

Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joshua Redman, Nancy Wilson, Christian McBride, Jamie Cullum, Maceo Parker, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Maraca, Cassandra Wilson, Derek Trucks Band, Kurt Elling & More Appear On Arena/Jimmy Lyons Stage At MJF/51
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The Monterey Jazz Festival has consistently sold out its Arena Packages over the past two decades, but for the 51st annual edition of the world's longest running jazz festival, MJF has announced that Arena packages are still available. Patrons are advised to act quickly as the packages are very likely to sell out again this year. Arena Packages for last year's landmark 50th MJF were snapped up by eager fans within days of going on sale. For 2008, jazz fans have a rare opportunity to purchase Arena Packages offering reserved seating in the Arena and access to 8 additional stages featuring over 500 of the world's finest jazz artists.

Arena Packages and Ground Tickets may be purchased online at www.montereyjazzfestival.org
or by calling the MJF Ticket Office at (925) 275-9255.

“People traditionally hang on to their Arena seats for years and years,” said Timothy Orr, Marketing Associate for MJF. “This is a golden opportunity for people who have not been able to purchase Arena tickets in the past, and an opportunity to keep them for years to come, as well.”

The world-renowned event takes place September 19 - 21, 2008 on the magnificent, oak-studded Monterey Fairgrounds, the location of the Festival since its inception in 1958.

MJF/51 features some of the living legends and future stars in jazz and is one most anticipated live jazz events of 2008. The Arena/Jimmy Lyons Stage will be one of the hottest sites of the Festival, with a lineup that crosses genres and styles with Grammy-winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson, Jamie Cullum, Ledisi, Kurt Elling and three-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master Nancy Wilson; nine-time Grammy-winning saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Wayne Shorter, Joshua Redman, and Maceo Parker, the two-time Grammy-winning Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride, Cuban flautist Orlando "Maraca" Valle, guitarist Derek Trucks and the twelve-time Grammy-winning pianist and NEA Jazz Master, Herbie Hancock.

MJF/51 Artist-In-Residence Christian McBride will be in superlative musical company with his new acoustic Quintet, his electrified Quartet, and with the Festival’s all-star band, the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. MJF/51 Commission Artist and two-time Grammy winner Maria Schneider will unveil her second MJF-commissioned piece on Saturday night on the Jimmy Lyons Arena Stage. MJF/51 Showcase Artist, drummer Matt Wilson will be at large on the grounds, performing with his own Arts and Crafts, in a rare duo with guitarist-extraordinaire and Grammy winner Bill Frisell, and with the no-holds-barred improvisation group, Trio M.

The long-time tradition of Arena artists performing on the grounds is also unusually rich for MJF/51. The Joshua Redman Trio, Maceo Parker, Christian McBride, Maria Schneider Orchestra, the two-time Grammy-winning saxophonist Tom Scott, Terence Blanchard, Orlando "Maraca" Valle, Ledisi, Maria Schneider Orchestra and Kurt Elling will all put in dual performances on the Grounds during the MJF/51 weekend.

Two special tributes will be featured during the weekend, both on the Arena Stage and on the Grounds. On Saturday night, A Tribute to Cannonball Adderley will feature a modern take on the music of the influential and celebrated saxophonist with renowned vocalist and NEA Jazz Master Nancy Wilson, trumpeter Terence Blanchard (2007 MJF Artist-In-Residence and two-time Grammy winner) and the two-time Grammy-winning saxophonist Tom Scott. Sunday will spotlight John Coltrane’s beloved collaborations with vocalist Johnny Hartman, with Kurt Elling’s Dedicated to You. This special band features the two-time Grammy-winning saxophonist Ernie Watts, the Laurence Hobgood Trio and ETHEL.

All together, the MJF/51 experience will include the cream of the world of jazz, representing four NEA Jazz Masters, emerging and cutting edge vocalists and instrumentalists, with a record number of thirty-five Grammys won by artists performing this year!
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MJF: THE ARENA, DAY BY DAY

Friday, September 19 in the Arena will kick off MJF/51 in a Latin style with the MJF debut of Cuban vocalist & flautist Orlando "Maraca" Valle, followed by the angular modernism of the Joshua Redman Trio and the luxurious vocals of Cassandra Wilson, also debuting at MJF.

Saturday, September 20 will be a fistful of funk in the Arena, starting off with the 2008 Grammy nominee for “Best New Artist,” Ledisi, followed by the legendary funk-soul saxophonist Maceo Parker appearing with the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. The debut of the Derek Trucks Band concludes the blues-driven afternoon. Saturday evening in the Arena gets off to an explosive start with the new Christian McBride Quintet, followed by MJF/51 Commission Artist Maria Schneider and her Orchestra with her signature piece for 2008. The evening ends with NEA Jazz Master Nancy Wilson, trumpeter Terence Blanchard and saxophonist Tom Scott in their Tribute to Cannonball Adderley, on the very stage where the legendary saxophonist last played in 1970 (and was filmed by Clint Eastwood for a scene in Play Misty for Me)!

Sunday, September 21 will cap off the 51st Monterey Jazz Festival with the biggest names in jazz. In the Arena, the day starts off with the Buchanan High School Big Band, followed by MJF’s youthful Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with Christian McBride. The afternoon show in the Arena will feature the eclectic British superstar, crossover vocalist Jamie Cullum. Sunday evening in the Arena will be a spectacular affair, starting off with Kurt Elling and Dedicated to You, featuring Ernie Watts, ETHEL, and the Laurence Hobgood Trio, celebrating John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. The nine-time Grammy-winning NEA Jazz Master, Wayne Shorter will perform a masterful deconstruction of the post-bop language with his Quartet that he has pioneered over the last 50 years, and will set the stage for another living legend, twelve-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master, Herbie Hancock, who will close the Sunday night Arena in his 8th performance at MJF since 1963.

Tickets are now on sale by phone at (925) 275-9255 and on the Monterey Jazz Festival’s website, montereyjazzfestival.org. Arena Packages are available from $220; Daily Grounds Tickets are also available from $35.

Arena/Lyons Stage Artists:

Friday, 9/19: Cassandra Wilson, Joshua Redman Trio, Maraca “Cuban Lullabies”
Saturday, 9/20: The Derek Trucks Band, Maceo Parker with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Ledisi, Nancy Wilson “Tribute to Cannonball Adderley” with special guests Terence Blanchard & Tom Scott; Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra debuts MJF/51 Commission; Christian McBride Quintet
Sunday, 9/21: Jamie Cullum, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with Christian McBride, Buchanan High School Big Band, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter Quartet; Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings Coltrane/Hartman featuring Ernie Watts, ETHEL & the Laurence Hobgood Trio
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Partial List of Grounds Artists:

Friday, 9/19: Joshua Redman Trio, New Grooves with the Christian McBride Band, Rudder; Quantic & 4onefunk in Lyons Lounge; Matt Wilson Arts & Crafts, Anat Cohen, Spencer Day, Yaron Herman Trio, George Young Quartet, Berklee Latin Jazz All-Stars

Saturday, 9/20: Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, Terence Blanchard Quintet, Tom Scott “Celebrating Cannonball Adderley”; Maraca “Cuban Lullabies”; Maceo Parker; Matt Wilson & Bill Frisell Duo, Ledisi, Ryan Shaw, Tuck & Patti, Quantic & 4onefunk in Lyons Lounge; Marc Cary Trio, La Tuque Bleue, Junko Moriya, Pacific Crest Jazz Orchestra , United States Air Force Falconaires, Sadza, Antonio Sanchez & Migration, Rebeca Mauleón & Afro Kuban Fusion, Berklee Latin Jazz All-Stars; jazz theater with Electric Heart: Don Ellis, a conversation with Nancy Wilson & John Levy, hosted by Clairdee, and more!

Sunday, 9/21: Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings Coltrane/Hartman featuring Ernie Watts, ETHEL & Laurence Hobgood Trio; Christian McBride Quintet; Hammond B3 Blowout with Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express & Barbara Dennerlein Trio; Kyle Eastwood; Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band; Trio M with Myra Melford, Mark Dresser & Matt Wilson; Jamie Davis Big Band, Quantic & 4onefunk in Lyons Lounge; La Tuque Bleue, Brass Menažeri; Family Day with ZunZun, the Jazzschool Advanced High School Jazz Workshop & the country’s best high school and college ensembles; DownBeat Blindfold Test with Cassandra Wilson, conversation with Clint Eastwood and Jamie Cullum, jazz theater with The Albert Ayler Story and more!