Blue Note Jazz Festival Sets 2016 Lineup

With over 100 events in 10 venues throughout New York City, the 2016 Blue Note Jazz Festival will take place June 1-30. Ticket information and a current schedule of events is available on the official website, www.BlueNoteJazzFestival.com. Additional performances, venues, and events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Highlights for the sixth edition of the annual festival include breakout saxophonist Kamasi Washington (co-presented with City Parks Foundation at Central Park SummerStage); a rare New York City theater performance by vocal icon Al Jarreau at The Town Hall; Salsa legend Gilberto Santa Rosa's return to Carnegie Hall; collaborations such as keyboardist Robert Glasper (three projects: Trio, Duo with Jason Moran, and Duo with Taylor McFerrin + special guests), power trio John Scofield / Brad Mehldau / Mark Giuliana, and Sangam featuring Charles Lloyd / Zakir Hussain / Eric Harland; working jazz groups such as the Joshua Redman Quartet, Christian McBride Quartet, and Avishai Cohen Trio; prolific hip hop MC Talib Kweli; Rebirth Brass Band; Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; Brazilian singer/guitarist Rosa Passos; and a special Central Park SummerStage show featuring three distinctive groups led by jazz legends: pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Roy Haynes; and more. Please visit www.BlueNoteJazzFestival.com for dates and venue information.

Established in 2011, the Blue Note Jazz Festival was initially formed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Greenwich Village's iconic Blue Note Jazz Club. Presented by Blue Note Entertainment Group - which owns and operates the diverse venue lineup of Blue Note, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, Highline Ballroom, Subrosa, and Lucille's Grill - the festival has quickly grown into an annual 30-day event, emerging as the city's largest jazz festival, with each venue offering its own unique cultural contribution to the New York City musical landscape. Additional venues include Carnegie Hall, The Town Hall, Central Park SummerStage, Brooklyn Bowl, and IFC Center. Festival co-presenters include Jill Newman Productions, The Town Hall, City Parks Foundation, CEG/Nolafunk, Jazz Journalists Association, and JazzReach.

"This year's festival showcases a depth of diversity crossing genres and generations," says Steven Bensusan, President of Blue Note Entertainment Group. "With headliners ranging from Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper to Talib Kweli and Rebirth Brass Band to McCoy Tyner and Ron Carter, in addition to special collaborations such as John Scofield, Brad Mehldau, and Mark Giuliana, the festival is a unique opportunity for fans to hear an eclectic mix of artists within one month."

"We're also pleased to present rare New York City theater shows featuring legacy artists Al Jarreau [The Town Hall] and Gilberto Santa Rosa [Carnegie Hall], rounding out our festival headliners," adds Bensusan.

B.B. King Blues Club and Highline Ballroom will present a wide range of performances, including rock artists such as singer Gary U.S. Bonds, keyboardist Al Kooper's annual birthday show, and eclectic rock group The Samples; blues guitarist Ana Popovic; funk-centric groups Average White Band, The Brand New Heavies, and Big Sam's Funky Nation; contemporary jazz singer-songwriter Michael Franks; rising crossover stars such as keyboardistCory Henry (of Snarky Puppy) and violinist Damien Escobar; versatile singer-songwriterGarland Jeffreys; eclectic global-centric acts such as the South African Afro-fusion collectiveFreshlyground, Brazilian singer-songwriter Céu; as well as singer-songwriter Judith Hill(Produced by Jill Newman Productions).

Blue Note Jazz Festival will also continue to present Latin shows at Subrosa, its latest venue, which opened in 2014. Latin for "under the rose," Subrosa is an intimate 120-capacity Latin & World Music listening room located in New York City's Meatpacking District, dedicated to showcasing music and culture. Festival shows at Subrosa will include Supermambo! (a vibraphone tribute to Tito Puente), the Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra, and The Music of Buena Vista Social Club, among others to be announced.

Please visit www.BlueNoteJazzFestival.com for the most current public lineup and schedule.

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