2008 Berkeley and L.A. Jazz Festivals Score MAJOR MUSICAL COUPS All-The-Way-Around

R&B Balladeer Will Downing returns to the west coast (first appearance in two years!) and the concert stage after long fight with life threatening neuro-muscular disease polymyositis

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Berkeley & l.a. jazz festival
STARRING:
WILL DOWNING - KENNY G – ANGIE STONE –
BRIAN CULBERTON – THE ESCOVEDO FAMILY

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS:
MAYSA OF INCOGNITO - NAJEE (BERKELEY FESTIVAL ONLY)– 
LALAH HATHAWAY - MIKE PHILLIPS (LA SHOW ONLY) 

Two of the most hotly anticipated and star-studded West Coast summer music events are the Berkeley Jazz Festival (Sunday July 20, 2008 at the UC Berkeley Greek Theatre) and the L.A. Jazz Festival (Saturday July 26, 2008 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles).  

This year those all-day shows will be graced with the return of singer supreme Will Downing, “The Prince of Sophisticated Soul”.  Downing has spent the last two years in a arduously slow recuperating process for the muscle disorder Polymyositis which has kept him from concert stages for over two years. His dedication to music, however, encouraged him to complete the album he started before his body was overtaken which resulted in 2007’s After Tonight, the thirteenth of his career and certainly among his most poignant and powerful. Will’s triumphant performances in California in July will mark his first EVER concert appearances since his condition was disclosed, giving local fans a historical and personal milestone to share. To make the celebration extra special, Downing will be joined by saxophonist Najee and singer Maysa (solo artist and star lead singer of the U.K. soul jazz band Incognito) in Berkeley, and in L.A. will be joined by singer Lalah Hathaway and saxophonist Mike Phillips.  

What makes these concert dates even more poignant for Downing is that this will be one of the first opportunities where he has been able to perform any of the songs from his new CD LIVE.  Downing has been unable to perform on a concert stage for almost two years. The entire CD – After Tonight was recorded during the serious stages of his illness where Downing did ALL of the recording from his hospital bed or wheelchair!  When you listen to After Tonight, you are listening to music created and recorded by a man coming to terms with and battling a rare and severely debilitating condition known as Polymyositis. 

Polymyositis is a chronic muscle disease - an inflammation of the muscle fibers - the cause of which is not known. It results in weakness that can be severe with equally maddening, random and inexplicable periods of flares and remissions. 

BERKELY JAZZ FESTIVAL
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Doors open:  11am
Showtime: 12Noon - until
Location:  The Berkeley Greek Theater – Berkeley, CA
Starring: Will Downing, Angie Stone, Brian Culbertson,
& the Escovedo Family

L.A. JAZZ FESTIVAL
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Doors open:  2pm
Showtime:  3pm – 11pm
Location:  The Greek Theater / Griffin Park – Los Angeles
Starring:  Kenny G., Will Downing, Angie Stone, Brian Culbertson
& the Escovedo Family

  Inque Public Relations

Taj Mahal is on the trail following the new release of his project, "Maestro" on Heads Up International.
Taj’s live show is a reflection of that same rhythm, accessibility and fun that characterize the new recording.

Thu      September 25^th              Napa, CA                                 Napa Valley Opera House

Fri        September 26^th              Redding, CA                             Cascade Theater

Sat       September 27^th              Arcata, CA                               Van Duzer Theatre

Sun      September 28^th              Bend. OR                                 Tower Theatre

Thu      October 2^nd                   Glenside, PA                            Keswick Theatre

Fri        October 3^rd                   Tarrytown, NY                         Tarrytown Music Hall

Sat       October 4th                  TBA

Sun      October 5^th                    Washington D.C.                      Duke Ellington Jazz Festival

Thu      October 9^th                    Oberlin, OH                              Finney Chapel at Oberlin College

Fri        October 10^th                  Chicago, IL                              Morse Theatre

Sat       October 11^th                  Chicago, IL                              Morse Theatre

Sun      October 12^th                  Minneapolis, MN                      Fitzgerald Theater

Wed     October 15^th                  Missoula, MT                           University Theater

Thu      October 16^th                  Idaho Falls, ID                          Idaho Falls Performing Arts Center

Fri        October 17^th                  Boise, ID                                  Egyptian Theatre

Sat       October 18^th                  Salt Lake City, UT                    The Depot

Sun      October 19^th                  TBA

Tue      October 21                    Tucson, AZ                              Rialto Theatre or Fox

Wed     October 22^nd                 Solana Beach, CA                     Belly Up Tavern

Thu      October 23^rd                  TBA

Sat       October 25^th                  San Francisco, CA                    The Fillmore (Featuring Phantom Blues Band and Special Guests)

Sat       November 1^st                Troy, NY                                  Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

Mon     November 3^rd                Brownfield, ME                        Stone Mountain Arts Center

Tue      November 4th               Brownfield, ME                        Stone Mountain Arts Center

Wed     November 5^th                New London, CT                      Garde Arts Center

Thu      November 6^th                Wilmington, DE                       The Grand Opera House

Fri        November 7^th                Great Barrington, MA               The Mahaiwe Theatre

Sat       November 8^th                Fall River, MA                          Narrows Center for the Arts

November 21, 22, 23,                Seattle, WA                              Jazz Alley

                 25, 26, 28.

                 29, 30                     

Ms. Spensha Baker is creating a splash wherever she may be! From special appearances at the White House, all the way to the 2008 Gospel Explosion to come to you July 11th, here are more details in regards to her scheduled events!

Upcoming Events

June 21, 2008 - Priest Holmes Celebrity Basketball Game, AT & T Center, San Antonio, Texas

June 23, 2008 - Full Gospel Convention Celebrity Basketball Game, Birmingham, Alabama

June 28, 2008 - I Hear Music in the Air Conference, Cincinnati, OH
 
July 5, 2008 - WPPZ, Gospel Fest 2008, Philadelphia, PA

July 6, 2008 - Essence Music Festival, New Orleans, LA

July 11, 2008 - Gospel Explosion 2008, Killeen, TX

July 13, 2008 - Shirley Caesar Conference, Raleigh, NC

July 26, 2008 - Worlds of Fun- JoyFest Gospel Concert,

Please visit Spensha Baker's website for more information. Her new release "Spensha!" is set to be released August 5th, 2008! Click here for details regarding her new project!
Kansas City, MO