JVC Jazz Festival Features Al Jarreau, Savion Glover

Lois Gilbert · May-9th-2006, 11:22 PM

JVC Jazz Festival Features Al Jarreau, Savion Glover
Festival Opens With Sinatra Tribute

POSTED: 4:37 pm EDT May 9, 2006
UPDATED: 5:34 pm EDT May 9, 2006

George Benson, Al Jarreau, Chris Botti and Savion Glover will headline the 52nd edition of the JVC Jazz Festival in Newport, event organizers announced Tuesday.

The festival opens Aug. 11 at the Newport Casino with a musical salute to Frank Sinatra. Singer and guitarist John Pizzarelli makes his Newport debut with his 16-piece big band in "Dear Mr. Sinatra." Jazz singer Jane Monheit and her quartet will also perform.

The jazz festival moves to Fort Adams State Park for the weekend. Benson, Jarreau and Cuban trumpet titan Arturo Sandoval will join Robert Glasper in separate appearances on the JVC Jazz Stage on Aug 12. The Pavilion Stage will feature the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza.

Pianist Dave Brubeck and singer Angelique Kidjo will take the JVC Jazz Stage on Aug. 13. Botti and tap dancer Glover will also perform. The Pavilion Stage will feature impresario George Wein and the Newport All-Stars.

Tickets to "Dear Mr. Sinatra" and Jane Monheit at the Newport Casino are $30, $50, $65 and $85.

General admission tickets to Fort Adams State Park events are $65 in advance and $70 on festival weekend, if available. Children under 12 are admitted for $5 at all times. There is no admission charge for children under 2. Reserved seating at the JVC Jazz Stage is $75.

Tickets go on sale May 10 at 10 a.m. and are available at the festival ticket office at 770 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, and at the Newport County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 23 America's Cup Ave., Newport.

Tickets are also available online at TicketWeb, by phone at (866) 468-7619 and by mail. To order by mail, send a check or money order for the ticket cost plus a $4 handling charge per order to: Festival Productions Inc., P.O. Box 605, Newport, RI 02840. Order forms are available on the Festival Productions Web site.