Individual tickets and all-access passes to the 2011 Bellevue Jazz Festival are now available.
Festival headliners will perform June 1-5 at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center in downtown Bellevue. The lineup features Charles Lloyd, Zakir Hussain, Regina Carter, Chris Potter, Tierney Sutton, Michael Formanek, Luis Perdomo and the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra.
The festival enters its fourth year with a blend of ticketed and free performances by top national and regional jazz musicians. The non-profit Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) organizes the jazz festival and collaborated on artist selection with Earshot Jazz Executive Director John Gilbreath.
“It’s another powerhouse lineup,” said Leslie Lloyd, the association’s president and festival executive director. “These artists are at the height of their craft and bring great variety in style, appeal and instrumentation.”
The lineup and schedule for more than 40 performances by top regional jazz artists at satellite venues throughout downtown Bellevue will be released in May. In addition, several downtown hotels will offer special rates for festival-goers. Complete festival information and festival tickets is available at www.bellevuejazz.com.
“The festival continues to grow,” added Lloyd, “with a strong foundation of support from fans, sponsors, local restaurants, hotels and other businesses, as well as the city of Bellevue.
“With excellent music and the other attractions here, downtown Bellevue is a prime destination for the first weekend of June,” she said.
In addition to online, tickets may be purchased by phone (800-838-3006) or at the Brown Paper Tickets box office at Meydenbauer Center in downtown Bellevue. Student discounts are available for all individual featured artist shows. Most satellite venue performances will be free.
2011 featured artist schedule
Wednesday, June 1
Regina Carter’s “Reverse Thread”
7:30 p.m., $28 ($14 student)
Preeminent violinist and MacArthur Fellow Regina Carter will perform compositions inspired by African folk tunes from her latest release, Reverse Thread.
Thursday, June 2
Chris Potter’s Underground plus Michael Formanek Quartet
7:30 p.m., $28 ($14 student)
World-class saxophone soloist, composer and band leader Chris Potter and the Underground band will perform music from their newest album, Ultrahang. American bass-player, Michael Formanek, and his quartet will open the show.
Friday, June 3
Tierney Sutton Band plus Luis Perdomo Trio
7:30 p.m., $28 ($14 student)
American jazz vocalist and three-time GRAMMY nominee Tierney Sutton will perform with her band of 17 years. Venezuelan pianist, Luis Perdomo, will open the show backed by his trio.
Saturday, June 4
Charles Lloyd Quartet featuring Zakir Hussain
7:30 p.m., $38-$78 ($78 VIP ticket includes private artist reception) ($19 student)
Legendary jazz saxophonist and composer Charles Lloyd will perform alongside Jason Moran (MacArthur Fellow) on piano and Eric Harland on drums, with a special appearance by Indian tabla virtuoso and percussionist, Zakir Hussain.
Sunday, June 5
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra plus the Festival’s Rising Stars
3 p.m., $18 ($9 student)
SRJO is the premier northwest big band co-directed by Clarence Acox (Garfield High School) and Michael Brockman (University of Washington), made up of prominent Seattle-area jazz soloists and band leaders. The ensemble will play highlights from their 2010-2011 concert season following the Festival’s Rising Stars performance.
