Dianne Reeves Headlines 4th Annual Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival This Weekend

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will present the fourth annual Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival (PJLIF) this weekend, June 20-22, 2014. PJLIF will consist of three days of free jazz and jazz-influenced musical performances on outdoor stages throughout downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District. PJLIF attracts more than 20,000 attendees from around the country. The Festival features local, emerging, and national and international musicians in a variety of performance settings, including outdoor performance stages and indoor performance locations within local restaurants, coffee shops and galleries.

"During this Festival we celebrate some of the world's most important Jazz musicians and an art form that has merged several cultures into one distinct style." says Janis Burley Wilson, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement and Director of Jazz Programs for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. "We are thrilled to host Grammy-Award winners, emerging talent, and local favorites in the heart of Pittsburgh's downtown Cultural District."

FESTIVAL HEADLINER: DIANNE REEVES

Dianne Reeves is among the preeminent jazz vocalists in the world. A multiple Grammy-winner, Reeves has recorded and performed extensively with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis, who said of Reeves, "She has one of the most powerful, purposeful and accurate voices of this or any time." Reeves has also recorded with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim and was a featured soloist with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic. In addition, she was the first Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the first singer to ever perform at the famed Walt Disney Concert Hall. Reeves worked with legendary producer Arif Mardin (Norah Jones, Aretha Franklin) on the Grammy-winning A Little Moonlight, an intimate collection of standards. When Reeves's holiday collection Christmas Time is Here was released, Ben Ratliff of The New York Times raved, "Ms. Reeves, a jazz singer of frequently astonishing skill, takes the assignment seriously; this is one of the best jazz Christmas CD's I've heard." More recently, Reeves has toured the world in a variety of contexts including a program entitled "Sing the Truth," a musical celebration of Nina Simone in which Lizz Wright and Angelique Kidjo were also featured. In what has been a storied, extraordinary career, Beautiful Life features some of the most engaging songs Reeves has ever offered. "Even in a world with much sadness," says Reeves, "at its essence, life is beautiful, and I wanted to celebrate that which can be easily overlooked." Most certainly, among those things not to be overlooked is Beautiful Life.

ADDITIONAL PERFORMERS

Grammy-nominated trumpeter, composer, and educator Sean Jones returns to the festival stage with an installation of the lauded series Jazz Meets Funk, performing with Dwayne Dolphin and Fred Wesley, best known for his work with James Brown. A Tribune to Art Blakey is performed by The Messenger Legacy, featuring Ralph Peterson, Bobby Watson, Brian Lynch, Billy Pierce, Donald Brown, and Reggie Workman. Other outstanding artists participating in the Festival include Grammy Award-winning Snarky Puppy, Nancy Harms, Thomas Wendt, Joe Locke, harpist Brandee Younger, Raul Midón, Gregory Porter, and emerging artists and local favorites Benny Benack III and Emmet Cohen.

ADDITIONAL FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

A free Jazz Crawl in the Cultural District, featuring 150 local and regional musicians at 25 venues kicks off the Festival Friday, June 20, from 5:30-9 p.m.

Big Sam's Funky Nation performs late night at the REX on Pittsburgh's South Side, Saturday, June 2. This special performance is a collaboration between the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Grey Area Productions. Tickets are available at the Rex Theater's website rextheater.com.

In addition to late-night club performances, Jam Sessions at locations throughout the Cultural District begin at 10 p.m., June 21 and June 22.

2014's Showcase Noir marks the 11th year for this African American Designer Market that includes pottery, paintings, jewelry, fiber works, and sculptures available for sale by some of the world's finest artists.

A special pop-up vinyl record store Trust Vinyl will be located at Ninth Street and Liberty Avenue, in downtown's Cultural District. Coordinated by Pittsburgh local DJ Malls, visitors can purchase vinyl in this old-fashioned record store.

The outdoor Night Market presented by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership features some of Pittsburgh's most creative independent vendors of food, music, art, jewelry, clothing, crafts, and more.

JAZZLIVE FRIENDS

Jammin' JazzLive Club members enjoy benefits including festival merchandise, access to a VIP lounge, and meet and greet opportunities with PIJLF artists. This year a new VIP pricing structure and seating structure are introduced. Learn more: TrustArts.org/jazzlivefest.

PARTNERS & SPONSORS

The Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival is made possible through the generous support of RK Mellon, UPMC, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and MACY'S. This year, PJLIF is proud to announce megabus.com as the official Pittsburgh Jazz Festival Bus Transportation Sponsor. The company brings approximately 35,000 customers to Pittsburgh per month providing an affordable, convenient and fun way to travel. PJLIF is also supported by numerous collaborators, in-kind and media sponsors.

All artists and show times are subject to change. For updates, a full list of artist biographies, sponsors and more information please visit TrustArts.org/jazzlivefest.

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