Dates Announced for 2004 Healdsburg Jazz Festival

HEALDSBURG, Calif. (January 8, 2004) - One of Northern California's most celebrated musical events, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, has announced dates for its sixth annual festival. From June 5 to 13, 2004, Healdsburg will host the more than week-long series of soulful concerts, intimate jam sessions and community education programs with some of the country's finest jazz musicians, in an atmosphere of conviviality and camaraderie. Saxophonist Joe Lovano, a performer at this year's festival, described the Healdsburg Jazz Festival as “one of the nicest festivals anywhere in the world."

The fifth annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival took place in June 2003, and featured vocal legend Abbey Lincoln as well as many other notable jazz artists. Among the special moments were surprise appearances by vibes master Bobby Hutcherson and guitar prodigy Julian Lage at Joe Lovano's concert with singer Judi Silvano, and drummer Billy Hart playing with his son Lorca Hart for the first time in public, on stage at Rodney Strong Winery.

Flute virtuoso James Newton, and jazz veterans such as George Cables, Ray Drummond and vocalist Mary Stallings also participated in the festival, held at local wineries and theaters. The line-up for the sixth annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival will be announced soon.

Jessica Felix, artistic director for the festival, points out the advantages of Healdsburg as a festival location, including its temperate climate, five-star restaurants, distinctive shops and boutiques, and location in the heart of Northern California's wine country. But the festival's main appeal, Felix believes, lies in the camaraderie that exists in Healdsburg between musicians and locals.

“While other jazz festivals may draw larger numbers, it is the intimacy and high quality of the week-long event that makes the Healdsburg Jazz Festival magical," said Felix.

The Healdsburg Jazz Festival, Inc., is a non-profit corporation. Among its other projects are jazz education programs held in area elementary and secondary schools to teach area youth about jazz music and its role in American heritage. For more information visit http://healdsburgjazzfestival.com or call (707) 433-4633.

Media contact: Alison Hirschfeld at Glodow Nead Communications. (415) 394-6500 or [email protected].