Berklee Today

Holliday and Sanabria Will Headline Vineyard Vibes 2006

	Bobby Sanabria '79

For this year's annual Vineyard Vibes Festival on Martha's Vineyard, Berklee Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Steven Lipman, the festival's executive producer, and coproducer Dick Weisberg of B/R Creative have lined up a roster of artists sure to please concertgoers. Over the past five years, Vineyard Vibes has built a reputation as a showcase for some of Berklee's top students, alumni, and faculty and as a premier music event on the island.

Kicking off the three-day series on Friday night, July 28, New York-based Latin-jazz percussionist, arranger, and Berklee alumnus Bobby Sanabria '79 will lead his nonet Ascensión in a night of high-energy mambo and salsa. The dance floor at Outerland, formerly known as the historic nightspot Hot Tin Roof, is sure to fill quickly. Even the most timid group of wallflowers will find it difficult to resist the infectious rhythms of these world-class musicians.

Saturday, July 29, Vineyard Vibes proudly welcomes Jennifer Holliday, a 2000 Berklee honorary doctorate recipient, as the artist in residence for the weekend. Holliday, a Grammy and Tony winner best known for her role in the Broadway show Dreamgirls, will host a concert that highlights the classic sounds of Motown in a special Vineyard edition of Berklee's popular Singers Showcase. A group of Berklee's most talented student vocalists and instrumentalists will perform under the direction of Associate Professor Ken Zambello. Holliday will close the night in a way that will leave little doubt that the influence of Motown is just as powerful today as it was 40 years ago.

Jennifer Holliday

The Vineyard Vibes festival is coproduced each year by B/R Creative and the college. "Berklee continues to provide a limitless pool of extraordinary musical talent that we are thrilled to present to Vineyard summer audiences," says Dick Weisberg, B/R Creative's managing director. "The shows are a treat for all who attend them."

For Lipman, helping to produce Vineyard Vibes is a labor of love. "As the concerts bring together various generations of Berklee musicians to showcase their talents, the breadth of contemporary music genres offered by Berklee is undeniable."

General information about the festival and ticket reservations is available online at www.vineyardvibes.com or by calling (508) 693-0305.