Vail, CO - The Vail Jazz Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization located in Vail, Colorado, announces an expanded schedule for The Eighth Annual Vail Jazz Festival to be held in Vail, CO June 21 - September 2, 2002.

The eleven-week long festival, a summer long celebration of America's musical gift to the world - Jazz, offers a different kind of festival experience - inspiring, engaging and easy going. An expanded schedule highlights 33 separate performances spanning the summer in a number of unique venues, so there's something for everyone - from hardcore jazz fan to casual listener. Whether it's one of the many free outdoor concerts in the afternoons, Jazz on the Plaza, Jazz at Noon, and Jazz @ the Market; or evenings, Jammin' Jazz Nights or an intimate Club Date at some of the finest restaurants and clubs in the Vail Valley, great jazz can be heard throughout the summer with international, national and local headliners performing for enthusiastic audiences. The Festival culminates in a unique mix of world-class musicians in a one-of-a-kind format that has lived up to its title, the Labor Day Weekend Party.

This summer the festival will kick off with the addition of two new series: Jazz on the Plaza in Beaver Creek's Resort Village and Jazz @ the Market, held in conjunction with the successful Minturn Market. Ten concerts will be presented on the Plaza in Beaver Creek beginning June 21 and five are planned for the Minturn Market beginning July 27. Three additional concerts will be presented through Jazz at Noon, which was overwhelmingly received by the locals and visitors during the 7th Annual Festival.

Jazz on the Plaza - Free Concerts on the Beaver Creek Plaza, Fridays 12:00 Noon to 2:00 pm, presented by the Beaver Creek Resort Company

Jazz at Noon - Free Concerts at the Top of Bridge Street at Seibert Circle, Vail Village, Saturdays at 12:00 Noon presented by Wells Fargo Bank

Jazz @ the Market - Free Concerts at the Minturn Market, Saturdays 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Once again the Foundation joins with the Town of Vail and the Vail Chamber and Business Association in presenting free jazz concerts every Thursday evening in August. This is the sixth year for the presentation of these successful concerts which are entitled Jammin' Jazz Nights in order to communicate the energy and extraordinary musicianship of the performers. The concerts get under way rain or shine at 6:00 p.m. and run until approximately 7:30 pm. Spectators will hear great music in an all-new tented venue in Lionshead's Sun Dial Plaza. The line-up is as follows:

In addition to the Afternoon Series and the Jammin' Jazz Nights concert series, the Foundation will present the Club Series featuring great jazz in intimate club settings at some of the finest restaurants and clubs in the Vail Valley. This year's schedule is as follows:

Club Series - Great jazz in intimate club settings in the Vail Valley during the month of July and August

The eleven-week long festival culminates with The Eighth Annual Vail Jazz Festival's Labor Day Weekend Party, held Friday August 30 - September 2, 2002. This internationally acclaimed event features the world's greatest jazz musicians in over 24 hours of music over Labor Day Weekend. Hosted at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa, the Labor Day Weekend Party brings together the best jazz musicians in the intimate, cabaret-style setting of the Marriott's Grand Ballroom for a blend of jazz music not found anywhere else. This year's line-up features:

The 8th Annual Vail Jazz Festival Labor Day Weekend Party

Sessions are scheduled as follows in the Marriott's Grand Ballroom:

In addition, the Foundation will once again organize its Jazz Workshop for young jazz musicians. Twelve fully paid scholarships will be granted to high school students who have distinguished themselves in their respective music programs at some of the best known high school jazz programs located throughout the United States.

Many of the 8th Annual Vail Jazz Festival's performances are offered free to the public including all Afternoon Series and Thursday's Jammin' Jazz Nights; however, for both the Club Series and Labor Day Weekend Party a minimal cover charges will apply:

Free Performances

Club Series - for more information regarding cover charges and time of performance, please contact the venue direct:Zino Ristorante, Edwards: 970-926-0444 for reservations or for more information. www.zinoristorante.com Sanctuary, Vail Village: 970-479-0500 for reservations or more information. www.sanctuaryvail.com Game Creek Restaurant on Vail Mountain: 970-479-4275 for reservations or to find for more information.

Tickets for the Labor Day Weekend Party - a variety of ticketing options are available as follows:
Patron's Pass - $250:
The Patron's Pass includes priority seating for all performances and access to all performances and functions, Friday, August 30, 2002 through Monday, September 2, 2002, including: Opening Night Reception - 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 31, 2001 - Cocktails and Hors d' Oeuvres and Entertainment, Friday's Opening Night Performance and Sunday's Gospel Prayer Meetin'.

Full Pass - $195:
The Full Pass includes priority seating for all performances Saturday, August 31 through Monday, September 2, including Sunday's Gospel Prayer Meetin'.

Session Tickets:
Tickets may be purchased for any session Friday, August 30 through Monday, September 3; prices are as follows:
Evening performances - Friday, August 30; Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1 at 8:00 p.m. - $40
All other performances - $35

The Eighth Annual Vail Jazz Festival is sponsored in part by Alpine Bank, BBE Sound, Inc., City Market/The Kroger Foundation, Colorado Council on the Arts, Colorado Mountain Express - the Official Transportation Provider, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, KVBA-TV8, KUVO-FM - 89.3 FM, National Endowment for the Arts, Town of Vail, Vail Daily, Vail Valley Chamber & Tourism Bureau, Yamaha.

For more information, contact:
Christine Richards
The Vail Jazz Foundation
P.O. Box 3035, Vail, CO 81658
1-888-VAILJAM (1-888-824-5526)
vjf@vailjazz.org
www.vailjazz.org

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