At this point in the summer, you’ve probably become aware of the tour-de-force of jazz music in Vail over the last several weeks, featuring an eclectic lineup of the world’s best jazz artists. If you’ve missed out, you will have a final opportunity to catch a piece of the magic this weekend when the 20th Anniversary season of the Vail Jazz Festival culminates with the Vail Jazz Party. From Aug. 28 through Sept. 1, straight ahead jazz music of all varieties envelopes Vail as 46 of the genre’s heavyweights perform outdoors in Lionshead at the Vail Square stage and in the ballroom at the Vail Marriott.
The Party kicks off with the final Jazz@ Vail Square of the season, featuring a triple bill at 6 p.m. Thursday in the jazz tent in Lionshead. The evening begins with 12 teenage protégés selected from more than 125 of the nation’s top applicants – the Vail Jazz All-Stars. Then comes the Alumni Quintet – comprised of former students and current stars Justin Kauflin, Katie Thiroux, Bryan Carter, Grace Kelly and Alphonso Horne. The performance wraps up with a thunderous set by The Vail Jazz Party House Band, starring John and Jeff Clayton, Lewis Nash, Terell Stafford, Bill Cunliffe and Wycliffe Gordon. All three bands will perform several times throughout the Vail Jazz Party, the All-Stars playing for free at the Jazz Tent in Lionshead at 11:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
As for the rest of the lineup, which truly reads like a Who’s Who of contemporary jazz music, groups on the Vail Jazz Party bill include the Jeff Hamilton Trio and Curtis Stigers.
Famed pianist Monty Alexander returns for the Vail Jazz Party as a soloist along with iconic stars such as Ernie Adams, Eric Reed and many others. Singer Ann Hampton Callaway will perform a special multimedia tribute to Sarah Vaughan, clarinetist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski plays a tribute to Benny Goodman and trumpeter Byron Stripling performs a tribute to Clark Terry. Before it’s all said and done, things get rowdy with Niki Haris’ Gospel Prayer Meetin’.
Single day-time session tickets (including access to several performances) to the Vail Jazz Party are $55 and night-time sessions are $75. Prices increase four hours prior to show time.
For tickets, schedule and more information, visit vailjazz.org or call 888-VAIL-JAM.