Infinity Hall

"Jazz'd 4 Life Benefit Concert"

"Proceeds for this Concert to benefit Litchfield Jazz Camp, Camp AmeriKids, Camp Farnam, Back Country Jazz, Bridgeport's Achievement First Academy, and Joe Beck Scholarship Fund, as well as Projects helping Youth overseas in Haiti, Kenya, and India."

ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION!! ~~

______ Takamine Acoustic/Electric Guitar donated from Music&Arts Center in East Hartford

______ Unique "Jazz" necklace especially designed for this event by Neill Walsh, Local jeweler

______ Tickets (2) "Friends of Litchfield Jazz Fest" includes Opening Gala Night and all weekend Festival pass (Jul 31 through Aug 2)

______ Tickets to Monterey Jazz Festival in September (inc 50,000 AmEx miles)

______ Website - initial setup and design by i M Corp Net

_______ Thimble Island Yacht Cruise w/ Lobster Dinner on board for 6 (Wadsworth Family Fndtn)

_______ Spa Day – Michele’s salon, Great Barrington, MA

_______ Tickets(2) to Newport (this year called Fort Adam’s Festival, Aug

______ Voice Lessons with Dianne Mower (4)

_______ Vintage, autographed Dave Brubeck posters

_______ Time Out Brubeck Lover’s Basket – includes 50^{th Anniversary DVD Edition of Time Out, plus photo and other autographed items}

_______ Other priceless jazz memorabilia inc B&W Photos of Musicians, Autographed

_______ Tickets to Tanglewood Jazz Festival: Summer Series, inc Elegant Picnic Basket

______ Tickets for 6 to Performance at Yale School of Music Summer Series

______ Tickets (2) to Infinity Hall&Bistro

______ (2) Tickets to see Triple Play, Sandisfield Arts Center, w/ autographed CD of Triple Play

______ Lemmon Basket – inc never seen before Jack Lemmon Movies, "A Twist of Lemmon" autographed

by Chris Lemmon

______ 2 Nights at Mountain View Inn, Norfolk

______ 1 night at Manor House, Norfolk

Dave Brubeck, designated a "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress, continues at age 88 to be one of the most active and popular musicians in the world today. In a career that has spanned more than six decades, his introduction of odd time signatures into jazz, improvised counterpoint, and distinctive harmonies remain hallmarks of a unique musical style unfazed by fad and fashion.

The Dave Brubeck Quartet played at jazz clubs in major cities and toured in "package shows" with such artists as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan. They repeatedly won top honors in trade magazine critics' and readers' polls. Time Magazine in 1954 ran a cover story about Brubeck’s remarkable ascendancy in the jazz world. Brubeck is also known for playing with legends such as Jimmy Rushing, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Bill Evans and countless more world class musicians.

Since the Quartet’s first appearance at a White House State Dinner to honor Jordan’s King Hussein during the Johnson administration, Brubeck has performed at The White House for many Presidents. He has received numerous national and international awards, most notably the National Medal of the Arts presented by President Clinton, and the highest cultural award given by the Austrian government presented to him in Salzburg. His other international honors include a citation from the French government, the Bocconi Medal from Italy and a recent Lifetime Achievement Award from the London Symphony Orchestra. He has received A "Grammy" Lifetime Achievement Award and the Smithsonian Medal. In the year 2000 the National Endowment for the Arts declared him a Jazz Master and in 2007 he was officially designated a Jazz Legend by the NEA at Kennedy Center ceremonies in Washington, DC.

Dave Brubeck is a Duke Ellington Fellow at Yale University and holds honorary degrees from American, Canadian, English and German universities, including an Honorary Doctorate in Sacred Theology from Fribourg University, Switzerland and the prestigious Laetare Award from Notre Dame. His alma mater, the University of the Pacific, presented him with the President’s Medal and established in his honor the Brubeck Institute to preserve and perpetuate his musical legacy. Each year five jazz fellowships are offered to gifted high school graduates. The Brubeck archive is in a special collection at the University library.

In 2008 Condoleezza Rice presented Dave with the U.S. State Department’s Benjamin Franklin Award for public diplomacy. Other honors in 2008 include an award from Veritas, The Friends of Charlie Parker Foundation; guest of honor at the Russian Embassy at an event sponsored by the Foundation for American-Russian Cultural Cooperation, and induction by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger into the California Hall of Fame. Brubeck continues to be active in the jazz mainstream, appearing at jazz festivals, recording (primarily for Telarc) and touring internationally with today’s version of the Dave Brubeck Quartet-- Bobby Militello, sax and flute, Randy Jones, drums, Michael Moore, bass. His most recent record release "50 Years of Dave Brubeck: Live at Monterey Jazz Festival 1958-2007" has received rave reviews, one critic calling it "almost a history of jazz itself".

Check out some of Brubeck’s tunes you’ll be sure to recognize: "Take Five" , "Blue Rondo A La Turk" , "The Duke" , "Koto Song" , and "Stardust"…

Opening Act: The Nicole Zuraitis Trio

Vocalist and Litchfield native, Nicole Zuraitis opens the benefit. Nicole has performed from NYC to Italy and in 2006 she won 1st place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing University Competition in New York City. She has been involved with Litchfield Performing Arts since she was 12 years old and as vocal teaching assistant at the Litchfield Jazz Camp. She is accompanied by Chris DeAngelis on Bass and Rachel Z on Piano.

At the reception ... The Ali Ryerson Trio

Video:
Website:

Ticket Price: $85, $110, $225* ($225* Includes Private Reception From 5:30-7:00pm)