Jazz Aspen Celebrates 15th Anniversary Season

New York, NY The inaugural Sonoma Jazz + Music Festival held over the Memorial Day Weekend was a smash success that set a firm foundation for what should be one of the nation's top music festivals for years to come. The four-day food, wine & music extravaganza drew in thousands of people to the Sonoma Valley region and featured A-list entertainers including the legendary Tony Bennett, Isaac Hayes, Diana Krall, Boz Scaggs and Steve Winwood for a series of sold out shows, which is a remarkable achievement for a new festival.

Sonoma Jazz + is a sister festival modeled after the vastly successful Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) which will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary Season this summer. Jim Horowitz, founder and executive producer of Jazz Aspen, is also executive producer of Sonoma Jazz +.

Now in its 15th year in the concert business, JAS produces year round programming including its annual June and September festivals, winter and summer concert series as well as the all scholarship JAS Academy Summer Sessions which will be held July 18 through 27 and pairs noted Jazz Masters with gifted young artists for two weeks of master-classes, seminars, and performances.

Jazz Aspen's June Festival is set for June 23 - 26 in Aspen's Rio Grande Park nestled under a gorgeous canopy tent and featuring headliners Isaac Hayes, Bobby McFerrin, David Byrne and Boz Scaggs. Jazz Aspen's Labor Day Festival has been extended to five days and is set for September 1 - 5 in Snowmass Town Park. This year's line-up includes Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, Karl Denison's Tiny Universe and the newly reunited Loggins & Messina among others. The JAS Labor Day Festival is five full days of open-air music featuring rock, funk, blues, world, soul, R&B, reggae & more with a village that hums with an international bazaar of exotic food & drink, funky crafts, side stage performances and more.

JAS also sponsors an annual Saute & Swing that hosts private celebrity chef dinners and intimate home concerts. This year's Saute & Swing event will pair celebrated chef Emeril Lagasse with one of the brilliant young JAS Academy bands in residence for unforgettable evenings of wine, food and music at the highest level.

For more information on JAS, festival dates or ticket pricing please visit www.jazzaspen.org