JVC Jazz Festival-Newport Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Newport Jazz Festival

(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The 2004 JVC Jazz Festival – Newport will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival August 11-15 in Newport, RI. "It will be a celebration of the glory that the Newport Jazz Festival has brought to jazz, and a verification of the fact that jazz is alive and healthy, and continues to be an important force in American music," said George Wein, CEO of Festival Productions.

"The festival opens Wednesday August 11th at Rogers High School with Dave Brubeck presenting a sacred concert, The Gates of Justice, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Bill," Wein continued."

On August 12 there will be a gala at Newport's most opulent Gilded Age mansion, The Breakers. This event will benefit the non-profit
Preservation Society of Newport County. Harry Connick, Jr. and His Orchestra will perform at the annual Friday night celebration on August 13 at the famed Newport Casino at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

On August 14-15 at Fort Adams State Park, the programs will feature an incredible array of jazz stars on three stages from 11:30 am – 7:30 pm. The August 14 program includes: Dave Brubeck, Harry Connick, Jr. Quartet, Branford Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, McCoy Tyner, Michael
Brecker, Phil Woods, Ron Carter, Roy Haynes, Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra (The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band Reunion), George Shearing, Christian McBride, Clark Terry, Cedar Walton, James Moody, Marian McPartland, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lew Tabackin, Russell Malone, Howard Alden, Lewis Nash, Mulgrew Miller, Peter Washington, Randy Sandke, Frank Wess, Ravi Coltrane, Ken Peplowski, Renee Rosnes, Terell Stafford and many others.

The August 15 program includes: Herbie Hancock, Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Wynton Marsalis with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Dave Holland, Clark Terry, Dave Douglas, Bill Cosby, Mingus Big Band, Peter Cincotti, Nicholas Payton, Regina Carter, Roswell Rudd, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, James Carter, Lee Konitz, Gary Burton, Geri Allen, Chico Hamilton, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Wallace Roney, Percy Heath, Bobby Watson, Peter Washington, Cedar Walton, Donald Harrison, Brian Blade, Doug Wamble, Lewis Nash, Steve Turre, Barry Altschul and many others.

JVC, the jazz festival's sponsor, is celebrating its 20th year of jazz festival sponsorship. Negra Modelo is the featured beer of the JVC Jazz Festival – Newport. –Bob Grosswinerand Jane Cohen