Prescott 10th Annual Jazz Summit

10th Annual Prescott Jazz Summit August 27-29

Join Jazz Legends for Three-Day Music Event

The 10th Annual Prescott Jazz Summit takes place August 27-29 in Prescott, Arizona. More than 40 local and national jazz musicians will perform a series of concerts and events to bring the best of jazz to Prescott Arizona and raise funds for local school music departments and jazz camp scholarships.

Festival Director Mike Vax of Friends of Big Band Jazz, a nonprofit organization, has brought together a group of international jazz legends that includes Fred Radke-leader of the Harry James Orchestra, Bill Tole-leader of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Dennis Roland-vocalist with The Count Basie Orchestra, Rusty Higgins-studio great from Los Angeles, Judy Roberts, Greg Fishman, Scott Whitfield, Gary Hobbs, and many others. Arizona jazz favorites include Jack Petersen, Ted Sistrunk, Joel Robin, Frankie and Rosemary Chavez, and Tony Vacca, plus local school bands and the Prescott Jazz Summit Youth Band.

“Jazz is America’s true art form and the Prescott Jazz Summit is dedicated to perpetuating that art and creating enthusiasm for jazz music,” said Festival Director Mike Vax, an international artist in his own right who played lead trumpet with the Stan Kenton Orchestra and the Clark Terry Big Band, and now leads the Stan Kenton Alumni Band.

Blaise Lantana of radio station KJZZ and Sandy Moss of radio stations KQNA/KPPV will serve as mistresses of ceremonies for the event, which kicks off at noon on August 27th with a free concert at Prescott’s Courthouse Square. Tickets to the other concerts and events, including Friday and Saturday concerts, Sunday afternoon concerts, and a Sunday jazz brunch at the Hassayampa Inn, range from $25 to $40, plus a special scholarship fundraising “meet the musicians” dinner and concert at $90, with all weekend concert passes at $70, and all weekend Patron passes at $180, which include the fundraising dinner and the jazz brunch. Please verify pricing and order your tickets here.

Friday
Noon: Free outdoor concert on the lawn at Courthouse Plaza
5:30 – 7:00pm: “Meet the Musicians Scholarship Fundraising Dinner” with music at the Hassayampa Inn
7:30 – 10:30pm: Three simultaneous concerts (One ticket is good at all concerts):
• Hassayampa Inn’s Arizona Ballroom (nightclub style)
• Hassayampa Inn’s Marina Ballroom (nightclub style)
• Dancing at Hotel St. Michael’s historic hardwood floor ballroom.

Saturday
1:00 – 4:00pm: • Concert at the Hassayampa Inn’s Arizona ballroom
• Dancing at Hotel St. Michael
(one ticket is good for both)
7:30pm: “A tribute to the great Big Bands”
Gala concert at Ruth Street Theater.
Fred Radke, leader of the Harry James Orchestra,
Bill Tole, leader of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, and
Mike Vax, leader of the Stan Kenton Alumni Band,
Dennis Roland, vocalist from the Count Basie Band,
Rusty Higgins, LA Studio Musician & Conductor for Toni Tennille.
the festival All Star Big Band,
Prescott High School Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Summit Youth Band
plus all the acclaimed artists involved with the festival.

Sunday
10:00am – 12:30pm: Jazz Brunch in Arizona and Marina ballrooms at the Hassayampa Inn.
(concert after the brunch is included in ticket cost)
1:00 to 3:00pm: Concerts in both ballrooms at the Hassayampa Inn

MUSICIANS WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO PERFORM:
Critically acclaimed jazz musicians from around the country,
including the best and most popular artists from the Phoenix area:
Fred Radke – Bill Tole – Mike Vax – Dennis Roland – Rusty Higgins -
Judy Roberts – Reggie Thomas – Scott Whitfield – Gary Hobbs -
Greg Fishman – Blaise Lantana – Ginger Berglund – Joel Robin –
Tony Vacca – Jack Petersen – Steve Annibale – Frankie and Rosemary Chavez – Ted Sistrunk – Cleve Huff – Denny Garr – Tom Winker – Larry Kantor

plus other musicians to be announced.

MASTERS OF CEREMONIES:
Blaise Lantana – KXJZ Radio
Sandy Moss – KQNA/KPPV Radio

PROCEEDS GO TO:
The Clare Willey Memorial Scholarship Fund
Prescott City school music departments

The Prescott Jazz Summit is sponsored by “Friends of Big Band Jazz”,
a 501c3 nonprofit corporation

ONLINE TICKET PURCHASING – click here:
Early Bird Pricing Until August 6th. Tickets go up August 7th.

Tickets are all general admission, with open seating

Our main objective is to expand the educational reach to students
and introduce them to Jazz, America’s original art form, through school assemblies in Prescott and music scholarships to exceptional Jazz students from Arizona.

Places to Stay and Accommodations.
If you plan an extended overnight stay in the Prescott area, see Prescott Hotels, Prescott Bed and Breakfasts, Prescott Cabins and Prescott Vacation Rentals.

Restaurants – Night Life.
Prescott offers dining for every unique taste and style, great food, great views and great flavors! Check out Prescott Restaurants. There are so many things to do in Prescott that the real difficulty will be deciding what to do first. Entertainment in one of the top Prescott, AZ activities including live music, theater and community events. Check out Prescott Night Life here.

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