KENNY G HEADLINES 6TH ANNUAL JOHN COLTRANE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL

"HIGH POINT, N.C., May 24, 2016 - The Friends of John Coltrane, Inc. is excited to announce contemporary jazz icon, Kenny G will headline the 6^th Annual John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival.  The event will be held Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3-4 at Oak Hollow Festival Park with Kenny G performing on Sunday, Sept. 4.

In a recording career that spans almost three decades and 23 albums, Grammy® Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G has grafted elements of R&B, pop, and Latin to a jazz foundation solidifying his reputation as the premiere artist in contemporary jazz. Since the early ‘80s, his combination of unparalleled instrumental chops and indelible melodies has resulted in sales of more than 75 million records worldwide (45 million in the U.S. alone) and more than a dozen climbs to the top of Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart.

His 1986 album Duotones, included his signature single “Songbird.”  The 1992 release Breathless sold more than 12 million copies.  Kenny G won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for the song “Forever in Love.”  His recent album releases include Heart and Soul (2010) and the 2015 release, Brazilian Nights.

          The yearly celebration of jazz and blues music honors the legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, a High Point native, who graduated from William Penn High School, now Penn Griffin School of the Arts.  

For ticket purchases, directions, or more information, visit www.coltranejazzfest.com.

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About the Friends of John Coltrane:

The Friends of John Coltrane, Inc. formed in 2009.  The mission is to preserve and celebrate the life and music of John Coltrane and to enrich the lives of others through the introduction of jazz and other musical genres.  The organization is an outgrowth of individuals who worked several years to raise funds to commission the John Coltrane statue that was erected in 2006 along with a kiosk in 2008.  In 2009, the Friends of John Coltrane, Inc. decided to create an annual John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival. At that point, it was decided to file to become a 501(c)3 and begin staging events to raise money and awareness.  In August 2010, the IRS recognized the organization as a 501(c)3 charitable organization."

- A Press Release

THE FRIENDS OF JOHN COLTRANE EXTENDS FESTIVAL TO TWO DAYS OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND

"HIGH POINT, N.C. - The Fifth Annual John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival (JCIJBF) is expanding to a two-day event, Sept. 5-6, during the Labor Day Weekend at Oak Hollow Festival Park.

“It was always our intention to move to a multi-day festival from the beginning,” said Joe Williams, co-founding member of the Friends of John Coltrane. Williams is the person in charge of talent acquisition and promotions and serves as the festival’s operations manager.  “For the growth of the festival we always felt like it was necessary,” he continued.  “The second day will give visiting guests more time to spend in our area, which will help support the local and regional economies.”

Jazz vocalist Patti Austin headlined the inaugural festival and Coltrane’s son, Ravi, an esteemed saxophonist in his own right, also christened the first event with his stellar performance. In the subsequent three years, many of the top names in jazz and blues have headlined the festival including Stanley Clarke, George Duke, the master of Latin Jazz - Poncho Sanchez, Al Jarreau, and the ultimate smooth jazz saxophone quartet led by Dave Koz which featured Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot. George Benson and Boney James headlined last year’s festival.

The festival has introduced the Piedmont to many up and coming artists including trumpeter Christian Scott, vocalist Morgan James and guitar phenomenon Andreas Varady.

The expansion to a two day festival is a celebration of its growth and stability.  The additional day will allow headlining artists more performing time.

“It is an opportunity to bring in additional artists, to expose a broader array of talent and to give artists adequate stage time,” Williams explained. “So we’re not pushing a lot of talent in one day -- it gives the festival the ability to breathe.”

The announcement next month of the line-up of artists for the 5th Coltrane Jazzfest will coincide with the new website launch.

About the Friends of John Coltrane:

            The Friends of John Coltrane, Inc. officially formed during the summer of 2009.  The committee is an outgrowth of the individuals who worked for several years to raise funds to commission the John Coltrane statue that was erected in High Point, N.C. in 2006 along with a kiosk in 2008.  In 2009, the group decided to work towards the creation of an annual International John Coltrane Jazz and Blues Festival. At that point, it was decided to file to become a 501(c)3 organization and to begin staging events to raise money and awareness.  In August 2010, the IRS recognized the organization as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization."

- A Press Release

The Friends of John Coltrane, Inc. Host Miles & Coltrane: Blue (.)

"High Point, N.C. –The Friends of John Coltrane, Inc. will be hosting the well-received play, Miles & Coltrane: Blue (.), on Saturday, May 9^th, at the International Civil Rights Museum, 134 S. Elm St. Greensboro, NC. 

Join us for this special presentation of Miles & Coltrane: Blue (.) that captures the galvanizing energy of the 1950′s, an element of time when American society was rapidly changing. During this era, jazz was the soundtrack to a new social revolution. And at the forefront of jazz music was trumpet blaring Miles Davis and skillful saxophonist John Coltrane, who partnered to make a wondrous residual slide in soundscapes that would unleash their names to be forever known as jazz legends. Award winning actors, musicians, and poets articulate this noteworthy shift in music history, taking you on a journey through the artists’ lives and the legacy they left behind.

Hors d' oeuvres will be available at 7pm with Miles & Coltrane: Blue (.) starting at 8pm.

Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased online at www.friendsofjohncoltrane.com, through PayPal.  Tickets are also available at the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro.

Proceeds benefit the 5th Annual John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival being held on Labor Day weekend, 2015, at Oak Hollow Festival Park.

The mission of The Friends of John Coltrane is to preserve and celebrate the life and music of John Coltrane and to enrich the lives of others through the introduction of jazz and other musical genres."

- A Press Release