Fourth Annual New Mexico Jazz Festival

The Fourth Annual New Mexico Jazz Festival opens on Tuesday, July 14, with a free concert on the Santa Fe Plaza featuring The Cal Haines Trio with Grammy-winning vocalist, John Proulx and renowned trumpeter, Bobby Shew, plus Albuquerque's favorite Dixieland band, Jazz a la Carte from 6-8:30 p.m. Then, it's the opening night concert at The Outpost Performance Space with the Matt Brewer Quartet featuring pianist, Aaron Parks on Thursday, July 16. Outpost hosts its Raffle Drawing for the 16th Annual Raffle Fundraiser at this concert.

Also in the line up for the festival is Santa Fe-based pianist, renowned film composer and record producer, Dave Grusin and his brother, Don Grusin, also a renowned pianist, record producer and composer, together at The Lensic (7/17); NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath and the Generations Band at The Lensic (7/19); a ‘Meet the Artist' event and New Mexico Jazz Festival tradition, featuring retired NEA Deputy Chairman and jazz historian A.B. Spellman with Jimmy Heath (7/19); the preeminent young male jazz vocalist, Kurt Elling at the Outpost Performance Space for two nights (7/22, 23); the dynamic 7-piece Mingus Dynasty band at The Lensic (7/26); a free concert on Civic Plaza in Albuquerque featuring the revolutionary New Orleans funk and bebop group, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, as well as pianist and sound sculptor, Marco Benevento and his trio and Albuquerque's own gypsy jazz band, Le Chat Lunatique (7/18).

Plus, new to the Jazz Festival Summerfest event this year will be The Jazz Tent featuring The Brazil Project with vocalist, Patti Stephens and The Dimi DiSanti Quintet. In addition, the New Mexico Jazz Festival continues its partnership with the City of Albuquerque Cultural Affairs' Old Town New Fun series, which offers free concerts in Old Town (The Jazz Singers: Tommy Gearhart, Hillary Smith & Soul Kitchen and Cathryn McGill - 7/24). This year the festival also continues its partnership with Santa Fe Bandstand/Outside In Summer Series featuring free concerts on the Santa Fe Plaza (The Cal Haines Trio with vocalist John Proulx and renowned trumpeter, Bobby Shew and Albuquerque's favorite Dixieland band (7/14).

Tickets are on sale now for the entire New Mexico Jazz Festival at Tickets Santa Fe, 505-988-1234; www.TicketsSantaFe.org and at the Outpost Box Office by phone or in person, 210 Yale SE, 505-268-0044, M-F, 2:00-5:30 p.m. Visit www.newmexicojazzfestival.org for complete Festival information!

FOURTH ANNUAL NEW MEXICO JAZZ FESTIVAL: JULY 14-26, 2009

July 14, Tuesday:                    Cal Haines Trio w. John Proulx  & Bobby Shew / Jazz a la Carte

6-8:30 p.m.                              Santa Fe Plaza

July 16, Thursday:                   Matt Brewer Quartet w. Aaron Parks (16^th Annual Raffle Fundraiser Drawing)

7:30 p.m.                                 Outpost Performance Space                

July 17, Friday:                        Dave & Don Grusin Quartet

7:30 p.m.                                 Lensic Performing Arts Center                        

July 18, Saturday:                    Albuquerque Summerfest at Civic Plaza

6-10:30 p.m.                            Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Marco Benevento Trio, Le Chat Lunatique

(The Jazz Tent: The Brazil Project w. Patty Stephens and the Dimi DiSanti Quintet)

July 19, Sunday:                      Meet the Artist w. A.B. Spellman and Jimmy Heath

2:00 p.m.                                 Lensic Performing Arts Center

July 19, Sunday:                      NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath & The Generations Band

7:30 p.m.                                 Lensic Performing Arts Center

July 22 & 23: Wed, Thu                      Kurt Elling

7:30 p.m.                                 Outpost Performance Space

July 24, Friday:                        The Jazz Singers: Tommy Gearhart, Hillary Smith & Hip Pocket & Cathryn McGill

6:00 p.m.                                 Old Town Plaza, Block Party                                      

July 26, Sunday:                      The Mingus Dynasty

7:30 p.m.                                 Lensic Performing Arts Center