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ASPEN — Jazz Aspen Snowmass is celebrating its 20th season this summer by bringing in musicians who haven't played the Aspen area in ages, a combination of horn players that hasn't been together locally in years, and a contemporary rock band — perhaps the best rock band of its time — in its local debut.
Harry Connick Jr., whose last local appearance — in 1991 at the Wheeler Opera House — caused a run on tickets, kicks off the Jazz Aspen summer season with a June Festival concert on June 25. JAS@20! an anniversary bash set for June 26, includes saxophonist Maceo Parker and trombonist Fred Wesley, playing together in the area for the first time since a memorable performance at Jazz Aspen's inaugural Labor Day Festival, in 1995. Both are alums of James Browns' JB Horns and P-Funk's Horny Horns.
And Wilco, the critics' darlings whose 2009 release, “Wilco (The Album)” recently earned a Grammy Award for best Americana album — the band's fifth Grammy overall — makes its first area appearance on Sept. 3, at Jazz Aspen's Labor Day Festival.
The June Festival runs June 25 through July 3, and closes with vocalist Natalie Cole, accompanied by musicians from the Aspen Music Festival and School. The festival includes four concerts — June 25-27 and July 3 — in the Benedict Music Tent, plus small-venue shows and free concerts in downtown Aspen. Also set to appear at the JAS@20! celebration on June 26 are vocalists Dianne Reeves and Patti Austin, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, and bassist John Clayton, with more musicians to be added. A headlining act for June 27 is still to be announced.
The Labor Day Festival is set for Sept. 3-5 in Snowmass Village's Town Park. No other artists have been announced apart from Wilco. It will be the only Colorado date this summer or fall for the Chicago-based group. Wilco, led by singer-songwriter-guitarist Jeff Tweedy, is planning a light schedule of U.S. touring beyond mid-spring; apart from the Jazz Aspen date, they have no shows confirmed west of the Mississippi after early March, and no summer festival appearances scheduled.
“They're one of those bands, as far as Labor Day is concerned, when we do surveys, they always come up,” said Jim Horowitz, executive producer of Jazz Aspen. “They've had a rabid following for years — huge in Colorado, huge outside Colorado.”
Horowitz has never seen Wilco perform, but he did see Connick play in 2007 at the Sonoma Jazz + festival in California, which is also produced by Jazz Aspen. “It was a fantastic show,” he said. “He's a great singer, a great pianist, a great entertainer. And he really lets his band play. He doesn't keep them in the background.”
Tickets for the June and Labor Day Festivals go on sale Friday, Feb. 12, and are available at the Belly Up box office (544-9800 or bellyupaspen.com), by calling 1-866-JAS-TIXX (527-8499), or at jazzaspen.org.
stewart@aspentimes.com
Harry Connick Jr., whose last local appearance — in 1991 at the Wheeler Opera House — caused a run on tickets, kicks off the Jazz Aspen summer season with a June Festival concert on June 25. JAS@20! an anniversary bash set for June 26, includes saxophonist Maceo Parker and trombonist Fred Wesley, playing together in the area for the first time since a memorable performance at Jazz Aspen's inaugural Labor Day Festival, in 1995. Both are alums of James Browns' JB Horns and P-Funk's Horny Horns.
And Wilco, the critics' darlings whose 2009 release, “Wilco (The Album)” recently earned a Grammy Award for best Americana album — the band's fifth Grammy overall — makes its first area appearance on Sept. 3, at Jazz Aspen's Labor Day Festival.
The June Festival runs June 25 through July 3, and closes with vocalist Natalie Cole, accompanied by musicians from the Aspen Music Festival and School. The festival includes four concerts — June 25-27 and July 3 — in the Benedict Music Tent, plus small-venue shows and free concerts in downtown Aspen. Also set to appear at the JAS@20! celebration on June 26 are vocalists Dianne Reeves and Patti Austin, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, and bassist John Clayton, with more musicians to be added. A headlining act for June 27 is still to be announced.
The Labor Day Festival is set for Sept. 3-5 in Snowmass Village's Town Park. No other artists have been announced apart from Wilco. It will be the only Colorado date this summer or fall for the Chicago-based group. Wilco, led by singer-songwriter-guitarist Jeff Tweedy, is planning a light schedule of U.S. touring beyond mid-spring; apart from the Jazz Aspen date, they have no shows confirmed west of the Mississippi after early March, and no summer festival appearances scheduled.
“They're one of those bands, as far as Labor Day is concerned, when we do surveys, they always come up,” said Jim Horowitz, executive producer of Jazz Aspen. “They've had a rabid following for years — huge in Colorado, huge outside Colorado.”
Horowitz has never seen Wilco perform, but he did see Connick play in 2007 at the Sonoma Jazz + festival in California, which is also produced by Jazz Aspen. “It was a fantastic show,” he said. “He's a great singer, a great pianist, a great entertainer. And he really lets his band play. He doesn't keep them in the background.”
Tickets for the June and Labor Day Festivals go on sale Friday, Feb. 12, and are available at the Belly Up box office (544-9800 or bellyupaspen.com), by calling 1-866-JAS-TIXX (527-8499), or at jazzaspen.org.
stewart@aspentimes.com
