CARAMOOR JAZZ FESTIVAL 2001: RED HOT; SHIMMERING COOL

August 4: John Stetch, Rufus Reid, Jane Ira Bloom, Rashied Ali, James Blood Ulmer, Reggie Workman, John Hicks, Randy Weston Trio, Joe Lovano Nonet, Tommy Flanagan Trio, Rene Rosnes Trio, Randy Brecker, Ravi Coltrane, Gary Bartz, Lew Soloff

THE BEST OF THE BEST, ALL DAY AND MOST OF THE NIGHT -- ONLY AT CARAMOOR !

Katonah, New York............The Caramoor Jazz Festival is hovering now, poised to land, bringing along its powerful assortment of style, technique, and virtuosity. According to Jim Luce, Caramoor's Jazz Producer, this Festival is up there with the best of them. “I don't know where you get such a wide variety of outstanding jazz masters in once place, in one day, in such a beautiful place -- it's got to be the best in New York." Luce is one of the most sought-after jazz producers in the United States. Adding to his long list of credits are the hundreds of programs he has created in the last three years for NPR that celebrated the Ellington and Armstrong centennials and the 75th anniversary of the birth of Miles Davis.

This year, keeping Satchmo uppermost in mind, Luce arranged for the Caramoor Jazz Festival to have its own special tribute to the 20th century American icon on July 28, the first day of a two-day event. But, let us bypass, for a moment, the dozen or so jazz greats who will dazzle you each day, and travel directly to the headliners.

On Saturday evening, July 28, the Jon Faddis All-Star Quintet with Jimmy Heath will celebrate Louis Armstrong's 100th Birthday in their own inimitable style. Faddis took up the trumpet when he was seven, and the connection to Armstrong was born. “For some odd reason, my parents asked me what instrument I wanted to play. I remembered seeing Louis Armstrong on the Ed Sullivan Show, and I just said trumpet. The next thing I knew, I had a horn in my hands." And jazz had a star in the making. Ultimately, Fadd's became a red-hot sensation, making giant splashes on concert stages all over the world with his high-flying virtuosity.

The great Armstrong tribute will be preceded by an afternoon filled with equal brilliance: there's the Herbie Nichols Project at 1, Dave Burrell, Reggie Workman, and Charli Persip at 2, the Tom Harrell Quintet at 3:15, Eric Alexander Quartet at 4:30, and the Cyrus Chestnut Trio at 5:45. Dazzling.

On August 4, Luce has organized not one, but two birthday tributes: the first, to Randy Weston in honor of his 75th; the second, to legendary trumpeter Miles Davis in honor of his 75th. Headliners are the Tommy Flanagan Trio and Rene Rosnes Trio along with Randy Brecker, Ravi Coltrane, Gary Bartz, and Lew Soloff. They get it going at 8, after the dinner break. We'll have you on your feet.

During the course of his long career, Flanagan played with the legends of modern jazz -- Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane. If you were to ask a jazz pianist for a list of his or her favorite pianists, Tommy Flanagan's name would surely be on it. At the other end of the spectrum, pianist Rene Rosnes is one of brightest lights and most imaginative, soulful pianists on the jazz scene today. Inventive and complex, her playing demonstrates a sweep, breadth, and excitement that barely seem containable.

The prelude to this sensational music-making begins at 4:30 when the Randy Weston Trio takes the stage. Weston remains one of the world's foremost pianists and composers today, a true innovator and visionary. As one who captured the American Jazz Masters Award, Weston has been a pioneer in emphasizing the African roots of jazz and the connections between the two styles. In 1960, he recorded an influential album for Roulette, the five-movement suite Uhuru Afrika, with an all-star cast -- Max Roach, Charli Persip, Armando Peraza, Candido, and others. For the last decade, his group, the African Rhythms, has worked as a sextet or septet, often performing arrangements by the late trombonist and arranger Melba Liston, well-known classics, and his own material. A disciple of Duke Ellington and his music, Weston was also influenced by Thelonious Monk, his mentor.

Preceding this fabulous array, another fabulous array: the Canadian pianist John Stetch at 1; Rufus Reid and Jane Ira Bloom at 2; Rashied Ali, James Blood Ulmer, Reggie Workman and John Hicks at 3:15; (the Randy Weston Trio at 4:30); and Joe Lovano at 5:45.

“I don't know where else you can get all of this at once," Luce says. “A full day of great jazz, sunshine, picnics, gardens, good friends -- only at Caramoor!" And, remarkably, only for the price of a $45 ticket! Memories are made of this.

Order your tickets today by calling Caramoor's Box Office at 914-232-1252, or visit caramoor.org.

What's Caramoor? Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is located on a magnificent 100-acre estate in Katonah, New York -- just one hour north of midtown Manhattan. During the summer months, concerts take place in two outdoor theaters, the Spanish Courtyard and the Venetian Theater. Both are tented. There