2010 February

George Wein and CareFusion Announce New York Jazz Festival Schedule

On 02.25.10, In Festivals, Jazz, By CMPR

CAREFUSION JAZZ FESTIVAL MAKES NEW YORK DEBUT JUNE 17 – 26

45 Concerts at 20 Venues Highlight CareFusion Jazz Festival New York

NEW YORK, NY, February 25, 2010 – CareFusion, a leading global medical device company, and festival producer George Wein today announced the schedule for the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York, which takes over the city June 17 – 26 with 45 concerts at 20 venues.

“I am grateful that CareFusion came forward to re-ignite the tradition of New York’s annual jazz festival in June. With more than 1,000 jazz events taking place throughout New York every month, it’s an exciting challenge to program a 10-night festival, said Mr. Wein, CEO of New Festival Productions, LLC. “We booked the festival using the underlying theme of “accentuate the positive,” which includes partnering with some of the city’s hottest venues from Manhattan to Queens, from Brooklyn to the Bronx. Together, we have booked a stellar festival filled with great music for all tastes and at all prices.”

As in past years, some of the great legends of jazz will make their only major New York appearances. At Carnegie Hall, the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York presents Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette on June 17; An Evening with Chris Botti, June 19; The Genius of João Gilberto, June 22; and Herbie Hancock, Seven Decades: The Birthday Celebration featuring the birthday honoree himself, Herbie Hancock, plus Terence Blanchard, Bill Cosby, Joe Lovano, Wayne Shorter and others, June 24.

For the free concert of a lifetime, head to Central Park SummerStage on June 23 for dynamic sets starring the McCoy Tyner Quartet featuring Ravi Coltrane, Esperanza Spalding and Francisco Mela plus the Stanley Clarke Band featuring Hiromi.

The festival continues with the best in jazz at concert halls, clubs, parks, museums and libraries across the city.

“The CareFusion Jazz Festival Series uses jazz to shine a light on patient safety and those working to improve health care,” said David Schlotterbeck, chairman and CEO of CareFusion. “We are especially excited to bring back the New York Jazz Festival this year and support and preserve the arts in New York City and the surrounding communities.”

The complete schedule of the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York, which George Wein says “speaks for itself,” is below. Tickets for concerts at Carnegie Hall and The Town Hall go on sale Monday, March 22. For more information on events and tickets, please visit www.nycjazzfestival.com. To learn more about the CareFusion Jazz Festival Series, log on to www.carefusionjazz.com.

Please click HERE for the complete CareFusion Jazz Festival New York Schedule of Events

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About CareFusion Corporation

CareFusion (NYSE: CFN) is a global corporation serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals measurably improve the safety and quality of care. The company develops market-leading technologies including Alaris^® IV pumps, Pyxis^® automated dispensing and patient identification systems, AVEA^® and Pulmonetic Systems ventilation and respiratory products, ChloraPrep^® products, MedMined™ services for infection surveillance, NeuroCare neurological monitoring and diagnostic products, V. Mueller^® surgical instruments, and an extensive line of products that support interventional medicine. CareFusion employs more than 15,000 people across its global operations. More information may be found at www.carefusion.com.

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Seeing Jazz with George Wein & Randy Weston, Symphony Space

On 02.25.10, In Jazz, By CMPR

SEEING JAZZ with GEORGE WEIN features HISTORIC PHOTOS and CONCERT by RANDY WESTON

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 ~ 7:30 PM

LEONARD NIMOY THALIA at SYMPHONY SPACE

NEW YORK, February 24, 2010 – Take a musical journey at SEEING JAZZ with NEA Jazz Master George Wein as he shows images from his extensive historic photo album and shares anecdotes about his life in jazz on Thursday, March 11, at 7:30 pm at Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95^th Street, in Manhattan. Following the photo exhibition, the world-renowned jazz impresario welcomes piano giant and fellow NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston for a short conversation about his music and a stellar performance.

Randy Weston, born in Brooklyn in 1926, didn’t have to travel far to hear the early jazz giants that were to influence him. He cites Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Art Tatum and Duke Ellington as his piano heroes, but he says it was Monk who had the greatest impact. Weston’s first recording as a leader was released in 1954 and throughout the decade he played around New York with Cecil Payne and Kenny Dorham. Weston has always made connections between African and American music. His dedication is due in large part to his father, who told his son that he was, “an African born in America.” In the late 60’s, Weston went to Africa, where he settled in Morocco and traveled throughout the continent tasting the musical fruits of other nations. After contributing six decades of musical direction and genius, Randy Weston remains one of the world’s foremost pianists and composers.

Jazz Impresario George Wein is considered to be as much a legend as his festivals. Through his company (now called New Festival Productions, LLC), he has spearheaded hundreds of music events annually since 1954 when he produced the first Newport Jazz Festival – an event that started the festival era. Five years later, Wein and folk icon Pete Seeger founded the Newport Folk Festival where the two music giants celebrated 50 years of folk with 15,000 fans in August 2009. At 84, Wein has as much creative fuel as he did when he started the Newport festivals and advanced the concept of live music. He pioneered the idea of sponsor association with music events, beginning with The Schlitz Salute to Jazz and the Kool Jazz Festival. His company went on to produce titled events for JVC, Mellon Bank, Verizon, Essence, Ben & Jerry’s and others. He continues that tradition with the CareFusion Jazz Festival New York (June 17 – 26) and CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival (August 6 -8).

Tickets to SEEING JAZZ are $25 in advance; $30 Day of Show; $20 for Members. For more information and tickets, call (212) 864-5400 or visit www.symphonyspace.org.

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Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society Is First Band Booked For 2010 CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival

On 02.21.10, In Festivals, Jazz, By CMPR

DARCY JAMES ARGUE’S SECRET SOCIETY
IS FIRST BAND BOOKED FOR
2010 CAREFUSION NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL
SET FOR AUGUST 6 – 8

NEW YORK, NY, February 01, 2010 – Booking for the 2010 CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival is off to a great start with the signing of Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society. Produced by George Wein’s New Festival Productions, the 56^th annual jazz festival is set for August 6 – 8 at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino.

One of the most visible young composers on today’s jazz scene, Argue moved to New York from Canada in 2003 after studying with Bob Brookmeyer. Since 2005, he has led his own 18-piece big band, Secret Society, in regular performances around the city. The band’s debut recording, Infernal Machines (New Amsterdam Records), which takes its name from a John Philip Sousa quote about the dangers of music technology, was released in May 2009 to widespread acclaim. Following the CD’s release, Secret Society performed throughout Europe and the U.S. Argue has collaborated with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and the Cologne Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and is a founding member of Pulse, six New York-based composers who have collaborated with singer Joy Askew, guitarist John Abercrombie and trumpeter John McNeil. His work as an arranger includes the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as well as concerts with alt-country artist Shelby Lynne, the Klezmer Conservatory Band and vocalist Lizz Wright. He calls his music “steampunk big band; but whatever he calls it, the music swings when he wants it to.

“I recently saw Darcy at The Jazz Gallery in New York and I was blown away by his dynamic presentation and rousing compositions. It’s the kind of music that the Newport Jazz Festival is known,” said producer George Wein. “Thanks to CareFusion, we were able to present an exciting festival in Newport last year and we look forward to celebrating jazz with them again.”

More artists and information on the 2010 CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival will be announced by the end of February. Visit www.newfestivalproductions.com for updates and more information.