Summer Jazzfest returns to the Two River Theater

The Jazz Arts Project will be presenting their annual Summer Jazzfest at the Two River Theater (TRT) starting the weekend of July 1st and 2nd with subsequent shows every Friday and Saturday (8PM) through August 6th. The concert series began at the Two Rivers Theater in 2006, the same year the music organization was formed.  The event, held in the Marion Huber performance space within the Two River Theater, offers audiences the opportunity to experience intimate jazz performances with some of the craft's most skilled players, bands and solo artists.

"This is an intimate space holding no more than 100 people and is perfectly suited for jazz music as the acoustics are just right and the audience can be close up to the artists," said Jazz Art's Project Artistic Director, Joe Muccioli. 

The Huber is arranged to give audiences the feeling of elegant cafe or jazz club.  "It is a cafe setting akin to the old style nightclub days," Muccioli said.  "And what we are presenting here is world-class jazz...perhaps what used to be the pervue of traditional saloons, nightclubs and jazz clubs from the jazz age to the bebop era, we present this as sort of a combination of the old style venues with the presentation of serious concert art music."

This year's Jazzfest includes, A Tribute to Les Paul with Les Paul's Trio, Ralph Bowen Quartet, Charenee Wade, Wallace Roney, Mingus Dynasty Quartet and Bruce Williams Quartet and Quintet.

The theme of this year's series is  In Tribute.  Each of the artists plays a tribute to some of the great innovators of the past.  Whether blatantly by namesake or by stylized performance, each artist acknowledges their own gratitude and honors the contributions of those who influenced them most.  And that motif is part of the very mission of the Jazz Arts Project, to expose local audiences to best of jazz yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The Jazz Arts Project is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and perpetuating the American musical art form known as jazz, which the organization considers, “America’s classical music” form. The organization produces performances, creates educational programs about jazz and its history and serves as an advocate by continuing efforts to raise awareness of the art form in the public eye through lectures, workshops and publications.

Muccioli has had a long career in the industry and has performed, produced or been a part of thousands of live performances and recording sessions. In over 25 years in the jazz biz he has worked with almost everyone in the industry, including Quincy Jones and Wynton Marsalis.

Muccioli said that the fruits of his organization's labors can be measured by the growing numbers of audience members and supporters and their appreciation for the music.

"Often there are standing ovations and many people offer additional donations and sign up as supporting members of the organization," he said.  "They realize that we must subsidize these performances with donations and grant money in order to keep the ticket prices reasonable and accessible to all."    

For more information or to support the Jazz Arts Project, check them out on the web at: http://www.jazzartsproject.org/WP/

To order tickets go to: http://trtc.org/plays_events/events.php