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Lineup Announced for 49th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, September 15-17, 2006

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With an array of over 500 artists appearing on 7 stages for 3 nights and 2 days of nonstop jazz, the 49th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival Presented by Verizon offers a wealth of sparkling musical gems and riches for families and fans of all ages. From celebratory anniversaries reflecting the music's storied past to today's “New Grooves", from piano masters like Dave Brubeck to newcomers like Taylor Eigsti, from the world premiere of commissioned music to debut of MJF artist Bonnie Raitt, the world's longest running jazz festival reveals a treasure trove of world class jazz, September 15-17 at the magnificent forested Festival site in Monterey, California.

Tickets are now on sale from the Ticket Office (925/275-9255) and online at www.montereyjazzfestival.org. Arena Packages start at $190 for a reserved seat to all 5 concerts on the Arena/Lyons Stage plus access to all Grounds concerts, events and attractions for the entire weekend. Grounds Tickets are priced at $30 for Friday, $40 for Saturday or Sunday and $95 for all three days. Grounds Tickets include daily access to all Grounds concerts, events and activities on 6 stages spread throughout the Monterey Fairgrounds, plus simulcasts of all Arena concerts in The Jazz Theater and in the Festivals' Champagne Bar, Klub Korbel.

The Festival's Arena concerts on the Jimmy Lyons Stage will mark several significant milestones. Celebrating 40 years since the live recording of “Forest Flower" at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Charles Lloyd Quartet will grace the Lyons Stage on the Festival's Saturday night program. The Yellowjackets, celebrating their 25th anniversary, will perform on the Lyons Stage on Friday night with special guest Robben Ford and others. Several artists will also commemorate their return to the hallowed Monterey Fairgrounds. Richard Bona's return will showcase the bass player's astonishing technique and African and Brazilian world music influences, offering a multi-cultural experience for audiences this year. In addition, two jazz piano luminaries will grace the Lyons Stage: Oscar Peterson, making his first MJF performance since 1990, and Dave Brubeck, an instrumental legend who helped launch the first Festival in 1958.

This year's Festival performers also push jazz forward with glowing new performances and premieres while paying tribute to the music's rich past. Dave Brubeck, this year's MJF Commission Artist, will debut the world premiere of “Cannery Row Suite," based on the book by John Steinbeck, on Sunday night on the Lyons Stage. As part of Friday night's Lyon Stage schedule, Kurt Elling with special guests Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra will perform the world premiere of the John Clayton piece “Red Man-Black Man."

While the Saturday afternoon Arena concert is traditionally devoted to the blues, this year's blues line-up is anything but ordinary. Making a long-waited debut at the Monterey Jazz Festival is blues superstar Bonnie Raitt. A nine-time Grammy Award winner and Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Raitt will inspire MJF audiences with her graceful mix of blues, folk and R&B. Further adding to the sensational Saturday Lyons Stage line-up will be contemporary blues giant Keb'Mo', as well as McCollough Sons of Thunder, a brass choir bringing shout gospel from the heart of Harlem to the stages of Monterey.

Saturday night's Arena show has “jazz legends" written all over the Lyons Stage performances. Highlights will include the McCoy Tyner Trio with special guests Bobby Hutcherson and Roy Hargrove, 2006 Grammy Award Winner Dianne Reeves, and Charles Lloyd Quartet, performing on the same stage from which “Forest Flower" became a hit 40 years ago.

Sunday Afternoon's Arena concert will once again showcase the Monterey Jazz Festival's jazz education efforts with the second annual performance of the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. NGJO features many of the country's top high school jazz players selected at the Festival's second annual Next Generation Festival, slated for April 21-23 in downtown Monterey's Conference Center. The all-star band will be joined by MJF's 2006 Artist-in- Residence Kurt Elling, who will be performing throughout the weekend on several stages. Chris Botti, a jazz star popular around the globe for his elegant and graceful trumpet playing, will be a Sunday afternoon highlight, as will the winning big band from the from the Festival's 36th annual MJF High School Jazz Competition, which is now featured as a part of MJF's Next Generation Festival.

The Monterey Jazz Festival's 2006 Arena performances will wind down in star-studded style with some of the jazz world's top pianists gracing the Lyons Stage on Sunday night. Piano great Oscar Peterson will perform in Sunday night's Arena show in his first MJF visit since 1990. Also joining Peterson for the Sunday Arena finale will be the Dave Brubeck Quartet and special guests, premiering the MJF Commission “Cannery Row Suite," based on the novel by John Steinbeck.

Many Arena artists will be performing on Grounds stages as well, including Richard Bona, Roy Hargrove, Kurt Elling, Yellowjackets, Robben Ford, and McCollough Sons of Thunder.

Friday night's entertainment will once again highlight “New Grooves" across the Festival Fairgrounds. The Friday night line-up in Dizzy's Den is set to showcase the soulful electronic-infused grooves of Roy Hargrove & RH Factor, as well as Uri Caine & Bedrock. Elsewhere on the Fairgrounds, Friday Festival patrons will enjoy the virtuosic electric bass talent of Richard Bona, as well as the piano phenoms Robert Glasper, Eldar and Taylor Eigsti, each with their own respective ensembles. Santa Cruz native, vocalist Sasha Dobson returns to home to perform with New York artists Richard Julian and Jesse Harris, who is best known for his songwriting collaborations with Norah Jones. Percussionist Babatunde Lea completes the Friday night Grounds program with his spiritually infused African and Afro-Cuban take on modern jazz.

Saturday's Grounds entertainment will also include an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, top-shelf instrumental artists and award-winning vocal talent. Saturday Grounds performers include Kurt Elling Quartet, Yellowjackets, Tierney Sutton, Hiromi Peter Apfelbaum & the New York Hieroglyphics featuring Abdoulaye Diabate, Lionel Loueke, Robben Ford Group, Duke Robillard Band featuring Hubert Sumlin, Jeff Hamilton Trio, McCollough Sons of Thunder, John Worley & Worlview, Trio Paradiso, The Fins, and Robert Lowery & Virgil Thrasher.

Sunday marks Family Day at the Monterey Jazz Festival, with performances, activities and more for the whole family to enjoy. Patrons will be treated to a variety of music perfect for families and fans of all ages. Performing on the Grounds on Sunday will be the winners from the Festival's 36th annual MJF High School Jazz Competition - part of the Next Generation Festival - including the Next Generation Festival's winning Combo and Vocal Group. Some of the country's top high school and college jazz groups will perform, including the Berklee-Monterey Jazz Quartet and IAJE's Clifford Brown-Stan Getz All-Stars.

Baby Loves Jazz will also be an entertaining group for the Monterey Jazz Festival's Sunday “Family Day" schedule. A funky and fun group featuring singer Sharon Jones, slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein, and pianist Aaron Goldberg, Baby Loves Jazz interprets favorite classic children's songs, providing terrific entertainment for youngsters and families while enjoying the festivities of the Fairgrounds' grassy picnic areas, international food, shopping, and more.

Sunday's line-up offers sophisticated fare from the Roy Hargrove Quintet, Hank Jones Trio featuring Roberta Gambarini, Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio, Ben Monder Trio, Aaron Goldberg Trio, Christine Tobin, and Sadza.

All five of the Arena/Lyons Stage concerts will be simulcast on a 9' x 12' theater screen in the Jazz Theater and in Klub Korbel, a popular Champagne Patio Bar hosted by Korbel Champagne for the second consecutive year. And, honoring a longstanding tradition of work with longtime Festival partner Yamaha Instruments, Sue Downs will be performing on the Yamaha Disklavier on the Courtyard Stage on Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to performances by some of the top names in the world of jazz, the Monterey Jazz Festival will focus on the festival side as well, with clinics, conversations, panel discussions, exhibitions, shopping, food, fun and festivities happening throughout the Festival weekend. Kurt Elling will discuss “Jazz & The Creative Muse “ in a jazz conversation. On Saturday, noted jazz journalist Dan Ouellette will quiz the Yellowjackets for Down Beat Magazine's “Blindfold Test."

John Steinbeck will play a prominent role in this year's Festival. In addition to the Dave Brubeck commission piece, “Cannery Row Suite," there will be a Roundtable Discussion on John Steinbeck and 'Cannery Row', setting the stage for the world premiere of the MJF Commissioned Brubeck piece. In addition, Festival partner Starbucks Coffee will again host the Starbucks Coffee Gallery and a Special Exhibit curated by the National Steinbeck Center exploring “John Steinbeck & Cannery Row."

On Wednesday, September 13, the Monterey Jazz Festival will present “Jazz with Steinbeck," an exclusive supper club evening in support of the MJF Jazz Education Programs and the National Steinbeck Center 's Youth Programs. Taking place at the National Steinbeck Center, the event will feature jazz entertainment by Taylor Eigsti Quartet with special guest Erin Boheme, savory tastes created by celebrity chef Cal Stamenov of Bernardus Lodge, and beverages matched by famous sommeliers featuring Master Sommelier Fred Dame.

The “Jazz with Steinbeck" event is one of several ways that the Monterey Jazz Festival encourages patrons to support its world-renowned Jazz Education Programs. On Thursday, September 14, MJF will present the 8th Annual Golf 'n' Jazz Tournament, offering a fun golf outing and rare opportunity to play Pasadera, the magnificent Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Registration includes a buffet lunch, jazz gift bag, beverages on the course, golf cart, and elegant evening at the Pasadera Country Club with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, silent and live auction, sumptuous buffet dinner, jazz concert, awards ceremony and prizes.

MJF's “Front Box Auction" presents another opportunity for jazz fans to enjoy the Monterey Jazz Festival while supporting Jazz Education. From March 30 until June 1, patrons can bid to sit at the front of the Arena with three of their closest friends in a Front Box for the 2006 Festival. During the Festival, fans are also encouraged to visit the MJF Booth in the center of the midway to participate in the MJF Silent Auction featuring unique jazz memorabilia and collector's items. All auction proceeds benefit MJF Jazz Education Programs.

Partners play an important role in helping the Festival fund its Jazz Education Programs, efforts led by Presenting Partner, Verizon. The Monterey Jazz Festival welcomes Verizon, incorporating MCI, long time Presenting Partner of MJF for 21 years. In keeping with a long -standing MJF tradition, Verizon will offer free phone calls for fans at the Festival, and generously donating to MJF Jazz Education Programs. Starbucks Coffee is hosting the Coffee House Gallery for the third year in a row.

In addition to making a generous contribution to the Festival, Starbucks will once again be donating proceeds from its Festival coffee sales during the weekend to the MJF's Jazz Education Programs. Returning for 2006 is Microsoft, continuing to offer selected Lyons Stage performances, available for download on msn.music.com, in addition to soon-to- be-released archival music from the Festival's recorded history. Yamaha, friend of the Festival and its Jazz Education Programs since the earliest days, also returns as a valued partner for Monterey, providing instruments to the Festival and to its year-round education endeavors.

Also returning to the Festival this year is JetBlue Airways, flying MJF artists across country for their performances, and offering MJF fans low fares, new planes and free DIRECTV at every comfy leather seat. Five Rivers and Jekel return as Official MJF Wines, and Korbel returns as Official MJF Champagne, hosting Klub Korbel with closed circuit simulcast of Lyons Stage concerts. MJF thanks returning partners at the San Jose Mercury News for helping get MJF news out, and for offering a donation to our Jazz Education Programs with subscriptions sold during the Festival. MJF is proud to welcome new partners Monterra Realty and Tehama Realty, Official Real Estate Partners of the 49th and 50th Monterey Jazz Festivals.

The Monterey Jazz Festival proudly thanks the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts for their support of the 49th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival Presented by Verizon. The Monterey Jazz Festival also thanks all of the other generous grantors and donors for their support of the Festival and MJF's year-round Jazz Education Programs.

As always, fans will find an international array of shopping, food, and festivities throughout the Festival weekend, spread across the 20-acre, oak-studded Monterey Fairgrounds, offering perfect spots for picnics and more, with fun for the whole family.

The Monterey Jazz Festival encourages jazz fans to purchase tickets early for the 49th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival Presented by Verizon. Arena Packages traditionally sell out and are available only on a first come, first served basis. Patrons are invited to contact the Festival Ticket Office for tickets, (925) 275-9255 or purchase online from the Festival's web site, montereyjazzfestival.org. For more information, patrons are invited to contact the Monterey Jazz Festival at (831) 373-3366.

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