Janus Jazz Aspen Snowmass, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, has just announced the line-up for the June Experience and Summer JAS Café Series, which will now include shows at both the Little Nell Hotel and on the upstairs level of the new Aspen Art Museum.
The JAS June Experience at the Benedict Music Tent kicks-off with two very special performances on June 26. First, at 6 p.m., JAS will celebrate Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday and jazz roots with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra, with Grammy winning vocalist Kurt Elling, reprising the iconic “Sinatra at the Sands” recordings with Basie, and Grammy nominated vocalist Roberta Gambarini, with her quartet.
The evening will conclude with Maceo Parker and his white hot 10-piece band performing “Soul Classics” from the songbooks of James Brown, Stevie Wonder and other legends of soul, along with his trademark “Funk Fiesta.” Maceo’s current show features James Brown inspired dance moves and will set the tone for a true 25th year opening night celebration.
The majority of seats for the Friday performances will be general admission which JAS is pricing at $35, the same ticket price that the initial Jazz Aspen Festival in 1991 featured, making it possible for the widest cross section of the Roaring Fork Valley to attend.
From Sinatra to Brown, the evening will celebrate iconic American music in a community celebration marking the launch of JAS’ 25th Summer Season.
“Most of the artists on this opening night celebration have special relationships with JAS, from Basie performing in ’92, Maceo playing long Friday sets opening our Labor Day Festivals, and Gambarini’s memorable JAS Café shows in recent years,” said Jim Horowitz, president and CEO of JAS. “Along with the Free Lawn Party, this will make for a great night and kick-off.”
On June 27 the legendary Chicago makes its first ever Aspen appearance. Considered one of the longest running and most successful pop/rock ‘n’ roll groups in history, Chicago is the highest charting American band in Billboard Magazine’s list of Top 100 artists of all time, coming in at No. 13.
The first weekend of the Experience concludes on June 28 with the return of Naturally 7 followed by guitar virtuosos Rodrigo y Gabriela.
On July 6, JAS and the Aspen Music Festival and School will co-present a very special evening at the Benedict Music Tent with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis. JAS and AMFS will once again offer an on-site pre-concert dinner at the JAS Patron Hospitality Tent, mirroring the patron ticket that JAS provides at the experiences. Patron tickets will include gourmet catered hors d’oeuvres, dinner and dessert, full open bars, on-site parking, and premium floor seating for the concert. Reserved and general admission seating are also be available for the performance.
The expanded Free Lawn Party will again take place on the Benedict Music Tent grounds prior to the main stage acts starting at 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday and 6 p.m. Saturday June 26-28. The party includes a variety of on-site food booths, beverage and full bar service vendors and live music on two stages.
Tickets for the June 26-28 JAS June Experience performances at Benedict Music Tent will go on-sale Thursday through the JAS Box Office at 866-JAS-TIXX (527-8499), www.jazzaspensnowmass.org or at the Belly Up Box Office in Aspen (970-544-9800). Tickets for the JALC/Wynton Marsalis show are on-sale now at the AMFS Box Office, 970-925-9042 or www.aspenmusicfestival.com.
Patron (VIP) tickets for the JAS June Experience are available now at 970-920-4996 or www.jazzaspensnowmass.org. Lodging and ticket packages can be found at 800-SNOWMASS.
For more information on Jazz Aspen Snowmass special events and education programming please visit www.jazzaspensnowmass.org or call JAS at 970-920-4996.
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