JAZZ AND BEYOND CONCERTS AT FESTIVAL MIAMI 2009

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Marquis Artists Include Gary Burton, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, and Carmen Bradford

Exceptional Frost Students Perform as Members of the Frost Jazz Sextet, Stamps Jazz Quintet

CORAL GABLES, FL, September 25, 2009 – Festival Miami 2009 will feature a diverse line up of 20 concerts over the course of one month grouped into four themed categories: Great Performances, Creative American Music, Music of the Americas, and Jazz and Beyond.

The Jazz and Beyond concerts during Festival Miami 2009 will feature Gary Burton, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Carmen Bradford, Shelly Berg, Frost Jazz Vocal Ensemble I, Frost Concert Jazz Band, Frost Jazz Sextet, Stamps Jazz Quintet, and the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.

On Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 8:00 pm in Gusman Concert Hall, legendary Count Basie Orchestra vocalist Carmen Bradford will perform an evening of jazz standards and selections from her collaborative CD with Frost School of Music Dean Shelly Berg, Home With You. Carmen will appear with the Frost Jazz Vocal Ensemble I, conducted by Larry Lapin.

On Saturday, October 10th, 2009 at 8:00 pm in Gusman Concert Hall, Festival Miami will present vibraphonist Gary Burton, one of the most important voices in the history of jazz, performing with the new Stamps Jazz Quintet and the Frost Jazz Sextet. The Frost School’s new Stamps Jazz Quintet is comprised of five remarkable freshmen, entrusted with full tuition plus full room and board scholarships for four years. The Frost Jazz Sextet is the flagship chamber ensemble of the Jazz Studies Department at the Frost School. Gary Burton’s 1971 album, Alone at Last, a live solo vibraphone concert recording, garnered Burton his first Grammy Award. His ongstanding relationship with pianist Chick Corea earned him an additional five Grammys. Burton has recorded for RCA and ECM and in 1968 was named Down Beat magazine’s Jazzman of the Year. This concert is part of the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation Distinguished Visitors Series.




On Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 8:00 pm in Gusman Concert Hall, Festival Miami will present Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Frost School Faculty Artists alongside Dean Shelton G. (“Shelly”) Berg. Seven-time Grammy nominated bassist/composer/conductor John Clayton has written and arranged music for Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, and Quincy Jones, and also for the American Jazz Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and Amsterdam Philharmonic. He won a 2008 Grammy for his arrangement on Queen Latifah’s album Trav’lin’ Light. His stirring arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner, performed by Whitney Houston earned him a platinum record. Legendary drummer Jeff Hamilton is one of the most sought after jazz musicians today. Jazz Journal International calls Hamilton "a most driving and technically accomplished drummer," and the Denver Post says Jeff "brought the crowd to its feet with his amazing hand-drumming." Describing Berg's work as a jazz pianist, the Los Angeles Times stated, “Berg burns hard, his fingers flying over the keyboard while his body nearly levitates off the bench. Exhilarating . . . filled with breakneck parallel runs, sudden rhythmic shifts and harmonic modulations that leave the crowd breathless!”

On Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 8:00 pm in Gusman Concert Hall, the Finale of Festival Miami 2009 will feature Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra and the Frost Concert Jazz Band for a spectacular evening of symphonic and big band jazz. The title of the evening’s program, “Open Me First,” references a brilliant orchestral piece by John Clayton, which was commissioned and first conducted by Jack Elliott with the American Jazz Philharmonic. Jack Elliott went on to be the founding Musical Director of the Henry Mancini Institute.

About Purchasing Festival Miami Tickets

The Festival Miami Advance Ticket Sales Office phone number is (305) 284-4940. Hours are Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For a complete listing of concerts and to order tickets online visit www.festivalmiami.com or email festivalmiami.music@miami.edu for additional information. Tickets go on sale September 1. Gusman Concert Hall is located at the Frost School of Music, 1314 Miller Drive, on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables Campus. Clarke Recital Hall is located a short walk from Gusman Concert Hall along shore of Lake Osceola. For more information on the Frost School of Music, visit www.music.miami.edu