Beantown Jazz Festival, September 27–29, 2007

Includes All-Star Benefit Concert Directed by George Wein to Establish Scholarship in Memory of Wife Joyce and Free, All-Day Festival on Three Outdoor Stages

Presented by Sovereign Bank and Target

Berklee College of Music announces a star-shining lineup for the 7th Annual BeanTown Jazz Festival, September 27–29, at various locations around Boston. In its second year of producing the festival, Berklee will bring Grammy-winning, internationally renowned superstars and cornerstones of the Boston jazz scene together on a number of stages in free and ticketed offerings that last year drew upwards of 50,000 people.

More than 30 jazz, Latin, blues, and groove acts will perform at Symphony Hall, Scullers Jazz Club, the Beehive, and outdoor stages along Columbus Avenue. The BeanTown Jazz Festival is sponsored by Sovereign Bank and Target. For a complete list of all events, venues, and performers, visit beantownjazz.org.

The crown jewel is the September 28 opening night concert directed by Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein entitled A Celebration of Jazz and Joyce—A Concert to Establish the Joyce Alexander Wein Scholarship Fund. Promising to be one of the great jazz concerts in Boston's history, the lineup features Herbie Hancock, Roy Haynes, Branford Marsalis, Jon Faddis, Joe Lovano, Lizz Wright, Geri Allen, Regina Carter, Michel Camilo, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Lew Tabackin, Claudia Acuña, Joey Calderazzo, Esperanza Spalding, Kenny Werner, Howard Alden, Jimmy Cobb, and Ray Drummond. More names will be announced soon. The concert takes place at Symphony Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $100, $70, $55, and $40.00 and are on sale now at bso.org. Tickets will be on sale at the Symphony Hall box office or by calling 888-266-1200 on September 4.

"It's exciting for me to produce this concert for a scholarship fund in the name of my wife, Joyce Alexander Wein," says Wein. "We look forward to seeing many old friends in Boston where, of course, I started my life in jazz at Storyville at Copley Square. I want to thank Roger Brown and Berklee for making this possible."

On Saturday, September 29, the free BeanTown Jazz Festival will take place from noon to 6:00 p.m. on three stages over six blocks on Columbus Avenue, starting at Massachusetts Avenue, with a shimmering array of talent. Appearing will be the Mike Stern Band, Bobby Hutcherson, the Charles Tolliver Big Band, Blues After Dark, Entrain, the Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra, Claudia Acuña, the Berklee Rainbow Band, and Conrad Herwig and Brian Lynch presenting Latin arrangements of music by Miles Davis.

Also at the Columbus Avenue festival site will be the Target Family Park with many fun activities for the kids, including inflatables, photos, face painting, temporary tattoos, and an instrument petting zoo. Adults will enjoy the beer and wine garden. More than 50 vendor booths will offer a variety of home products and food from Bob's Southern Bistro, Thai Hut, Popeyes, Jakes Boss BBQ, and Bukara Restaurant.

"Producing the BeanTown Jazz Festival feels like Berklee is throwing a big party for Boston," says Larry Simpson, Berklee senior vice president for academic affairs and BeanTown Jazz Festival executive director. "And our party has all of the essential ingredients for a memorable time: stunning live music that will make you move, a diverse mix of engaging people, a variety of delicious foods, and plenty to keep the kids entertained."

Executive Producer: Larry Simpson, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Producer: Rob Rose, Associate Vice President for Special Programs
Director: Tom Riley, Vice President for External Affairs

For editorial information or digital photos, the media may contact:

Allen Bush
Office of Public Information
abush@berklee.edu
617 747-2658