You'll Be Jazzed, Orinda! 2014 Festival Draws Award-Winning Artists

By Beau Behan

The Fourth Annual Orinda Jazz Festival comes to the Orinda Library Auditorium on Sunday, August, 17, 2014 from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM. A one-day event benefiting The Orinda Arts Council ~ Community Programs, it will feature well-acclaimed international, regional, and local musicians and artists.

This year’s featured artist is Amikaeyla Gaston, a multi-award winning jazz vocalist, proclaimed by NPR as one of the “purest contemporary voices.” MTV also describes her sultry sound “like listening to velvet waterfalls.”

Other headliners scheduled to appear will be two-time Grammy Award recipient, Mads Tolling, an internationally renowned violinist and soloist for Grammy Award Winning Turtle Island Quartet; popular Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center flutist/vocalist, Carol Alban ; bass performer Marc Levine, who has performed with Barry Manilow and Dionne Warwick; Jazz pianist and educator, Ben Flint, who toured with Grammy Winner Isaac Hayes; and other celebrated performers.

Open to all ages, this is an event where people come to see, to be seen, and most importantly, to enjoy the company of friends and relatives while enjoying great music.

As a special opportunity for aspiring musicians of all ages, a free community Music Workshop will be provided from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm by Amikaeyla -- the “POWER OF SOUND,” offering tips and tools to strengthen speaking and singing voice!

Last year’s third annual event had a sold-out attendance, and this year’s Orinda Jazz Festival is expected to reach the same level of success so it is highly recommended that tickets be purchased in advance.

A ticket admission to the “Mads Tolling & Carol Alban & Friends Concert” (3:30 PM – 4:30 PM) and to the “Amikaeyla Gaston Concert” (5:00 PM – 6:00 PM show) ranges from $13 to $20 for the general public.

The festival has also created two types of special backstage pass packages, and both include an admission to the “OAC Après Jazz Party,” including a Meet & Greet with the Jazz Artists, wine and hors d’oeuvres.

In addition, The “PLATINUM Pass” ($40) level includes a ticket to the “Amikaeyla Gaston Concert” whereas the “VIP Pass” ($50) level includes both concerts.

All tickets are available for purchase at the festival’s website OrindaJazzFestival.org (<http://www.OrindaJazzFestival.org> or <http://www.orindajazzfestival.altpro.net> ). For more details, e-mail OrindaJazz@gmail.com or call 925.255.5164.

Proceeds will be donated to The Orinda Arts Council, a 63 year old non-profit volunteer organization. The mission of the Orinda Arts Council is to ignite and sustain artistic expression and appreciation for all ages throughout the Lamorinda community.

Orinda Jazz Festival was founded by Carol Alban and Beau Behan in 2011. In the past three years, the annual event has received rave reviews here in the US and abroad, for its wide and eclectic range of Jazz offerings, and its commitment in furthering Jazz education in local San Francisco Bay Area communities.