SHERYL CROW & JENNIFER HUDSON JOIN WYNTON MARSALIS FOR A SOULFUL & JAZZY JUNE FESTIVAL

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB IN AUGUST

STEELY DAN, LENNY KRAVITZ,

ZAC BROWN BAND

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA & GIRL TALK

IN SEPTEMBER

             It's simple: Aspen/Snowmass will be jazzed, rocked, stirred, salsa'd, wired and souled out .... with one of the most diverse summers of great music in Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) history, as the organization kicks off  its "next 20 years."  JAS is pleased to announce the lineup for its 2011 summer season, along with new ticket pricing options offering great discounts to early purchasers of Labor Festival tickets!  

The JAS June Festival returns to the spectacular Benedict Music Tent with a jazz soaked festival that will feature the first ever appearances by two of the reigning Diva's of pop & soul music: multiple Grammy Winner Sheryl Crow (June 25) and Academy Award & Grammy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson (June 26), each exploring the roots of American music in jazz, R&B and soul.  The festival opens on June 24 with Guitarist/Vocalist Raul Midon (last heard at JAS with Herbie Hancock in '07) along with a strong dose of world music through the prism of jazz from Africa with Richard Bona. Midon and Bona open a fiery double bill with  Monty Alexander's Harlem - Kingston Express, two side by side bands, one Jamaican one American jazz, exploring the music of Bob Marley.

On the heels of a successful winter series celebrating "Women in Jazz", the following week again focuses on jazz vocalists and instrumentalists including a series of performances Downstairs at the Nell with JAS Academy alumnae, the 12 piece Cuban Big Band Maraca and Hot Club of Detroit.

 The Festival concludes with the Pulitzer Prize winning Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis on Sat. July 2, presented in association with the Aspen Music Festival & School.

On Saturday, July 16, JAS' annual summer Gala will celebrate Brazil with a "Brazilian Carnival Samba Dancing and Dinner" evening, benefitting JAS' education and artistic programs.  On Friday, July 22, JAS brings back its wildly successful "Block Party" to Hopkins Ave. (Restaurant Row) in Aspen featuring the 70's sound of "Vintage".  This community wide celebration brought thousands of residents and visitors of all ages to the streets and restaurants at the inaugural event in 2010.

Sunday, Aug. 21 brings a long awaited special event to Aspen: the famed international Cuban sensation " Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, featuring Omara Portundo".  Since their emergence from Cuba in the mid 1990's and international sales of over 12 million copies, BVSC has toured internationally non-stop, but only recently performed in the US for the first time in 8 years.   This sure to sell out concert will take place at the intimate Aspen District Theatre.    

Labor Day weekend September 2-4, JAS closes its season with a sensational line-up of classic and cutting edge artists spanning genres and audiences.  The festival opens Friday, Sept. 4 with a Dance Party for the ages and ALL ages uniting the DJ- electronic mash up sounds of Girl Talk with special guests to be announced.  Saturday, Sept. 3 brings the JAS debut of Steely Dan, supported by the fiery Latin pop guitar and vocal wizardry of Rodrigo y Gabriela and exploding Country superstar Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses.  Sunday, Sept. 4 the festival concludes with Grammy winning 2010 Best New Artist the Zac Brown Band, with the rockin' international celebrity and fashion icon Lenny Kravitz and the retro-soul big band Fitz & the Tantrums supporting the bill.

 This season's festival sponsors include host sponsors The Town of Snowmass Village, the Silvertree Hotel, The Denver Post, Comcast and CME.  Other sponsors include Alpine Bank, Outside Magazine, Patron Tequila and SkinCeuticals.

Tickets for both Festivals will go on sale to the public on Monday, March 14 at 9am mst.  Tickets can be purchased at 888-512-SHOW (7469), www.jazzaspen.snowmass.org or locally at the Belly Up Box Office (544-9800). 

NEW THIS YEAR: JAS is offering early ticket purchase offers for the Labor Day Festival.  "Early Bird" specials starting at $40 will be available until April 8, while supplies last. "Almost There" pricing starting at $50 will be available from April 9-August 5 and "Last Minute" pricing beginning at $60 from August 6 - Sept. 4.  For a full listing of the new pricing structure please visit www.jazzaspensnowmass.org. 

  For information on festival patron (VIP) tickets please contact the JAS office at 970-920-4996 or visit www.jazzaspensnowmass.org. 

            Tickets for the Wynton Marsalis performance at Benedict Music Tent are available now at the Aspen Music Festival Box Office, 970-925-9042 or www.aspenmusicfestival.com.

            Tickets for Maraca, the JAS Academy All-Star Vocalist performance and Hot Club of Detroit, Downstairs at the Nell, are available now at 970-920-4996 or www.jazzaspensnowmass.org. 

            Tickets for the JAS Benefit "Brazilian Carnival" are available now at 970-920-4996.  For more information on all JAS Summer Events please visit www.jazzaspensnowmass.org.

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