Sedona Jazz Fest

[Lois Gilbert]

Sedona, AZ: From scat and traditional jazz vocals to Latin jazz, the B3 organ and Bobby Hutcherson’s mastery of the vibraphone, the 27th annual Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Festival brings together a diverse and eclectic mix of jazz artists and an expanded event schedule, September 23-28, at locations throughout Sedona.

Proceeds support Sedona Jazz on the Rocks educational programs and scholarships for students from across Arizona. The 2008 sponsors include Abundance Vineyards, APS, Arizona Informant, The Arizona Republic, Bistro Bella Terra, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa, KJZZ, KYOT, Radisson Poco Diablo Resort, Sedona Arts & Culture Commission, and Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa. The Arizona Commission of the Arts also supports the Festival. The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation sponsors the SJOR Youth Jazz Band.

The main event on Saturday, September 27, is an all-day outdoor JazzFest on the lawn at the Radisson Poco Diablo Resort that begins at 10 a.m., featuring the Bobby Hutcherson Quintet, vocalist Giacomo Gates, B3 organist Tony Monaco, Cinco de Moio with vocalist Salome, and the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Youth Jazz Band.

Individual tickets start at $65 for lawn seating and $85 for chair seating. Seats in the VIP Tent are $125 for SJOR members only.

On Thursday night, September 25, Gates headlines the Jazz Circle Party, an evening of wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and music from 7-10:30 p.m., at a private Sedona home. Tickets are $100 each.

Pianist Kenny Werner will perform Friday, September 26, at
5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., at the Creative Life Center, 333 Schnebly Hill Road (tickets are $50), and vocalist Jeff Baker will close out the weekend at the Jazz Brunch at the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa, 90 Ridge Trail Drive (tickets are $80).

Gates, Werner and Baker also will conduct educational programs and master classes at schools at the Creative Life Center during the week.

The Jazz Festival kickoff takes place Tuesday, September 23, at 7 p.m., with the screening of the jazz documentary film, Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon, at the Harkins Theatre, 2081 W. Highway 89A, in Sedona. The story of trumpeter-vocalist-actor comedian Sheldon is told using his own words and through interviews with a star-studded list of friends, colleagues and associates from Clint Eastwood, Billy Crystal, and Merv Griffin to trumpeter Chris Botti, Oscar-winning composer Johnny Mandel, and producer Frank Marshall.

A pre-film dinner begins at 5:30 p.m., at Reds Restaurant at the Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa, at 2250 W. Highway 89A. Tickets for the dinner and movie are $45. Movie tickets alone are $10. Reds will host a free concert after the movie screens.

In between are six days of free outdoor concerts, dinner-jazz and dinner-jazz-dancing packages, and the always-popular Jam Sessions, which attract many of the Festival’s artists to share the improv stage with SJOR Youth Jazz Band members and others. Jam Sessions are scheduled Friday (9-11 p.m.) and
Saturday (8-11 p.m.) at Bistro Bella Terra, at 101 N. Highway 89A in the Hyatt Plaza, and Saturday, September 27, from 8-11 p.m., at Relics Restaurant and Nightclub. The cost is $20 per ticket.

[Valerie]

too bad this overlaps with Monterey's festival!