Jazz festival debuts soon

From October 25 to October 28, New York City will become a hot spot for jazz enthusiasts as Jazz Improv Magazine hosts the First Annual Jazz Improv LIVE! 2007 Convention & Festival.
The four-day-long event, which has been tailored to cater to the music genre’s fans, will take place at The Manhattan Center and New Yorker Hotel, which is located at 34th Street and 8th Avenue.
An extensive list of 100 performers, including legendary icons as well as emerging artists, representing various forms of jazz music will participate in the convention and festival. Some of those who are in the lineup are Dave Burrell, Jimmy Heath Big Band, Wallace Roney Quintet, Eddie Gomez and Mark Kramer, Geri Allen Trio, Roy Haynes Quartet, Pat Martino Quartet, Sonny Fortune Quartet and the Jimmy Bruno Trio, among many others. There will be several stages where performances will take place throughout the day and evening.
Aside from the many performances attendees can enjoy, there will also be more than 80 panels and workshops for them to take part in. They will be comprised of jazz authorities and musicians. The various topics that will be discussed will address music, personalities, recordings and history and can be enjoyed by fans, musicians, students, hobbyists, educators, and others in the business.
“It’s a kid in a candy factory experience for anyone who likes jazz,” said Jazz Improv and Jazz Improv’s New York Jazz Guide publisher and independent artist Eric Nemeyer, also describing the event as the only international festival for jazz fans. “If you love jazz, this is literally a must-attend event.”
When they first began approaching people in the jazz music industry to take part in the convention and festival, Nemeyer said that “the reaction was ecstatic.”
In order to reach out more to students, as part of the festival there will be “Free Friday Morning Jazz.” It will include performances of various kinds of jazz and there will be a workshop on how to become a better listener. Schools interested must contact Jazz Improv in advance.
“People will get a wonderful opportunity to see the breadth and scope of this,” said Nemeyer, who also said that, due to the response they have already gotten for the convention and festival, they have made reservation to have the second annual one in October of 2008.
On Saturday night of the convention, Nemeyer will front and lead a big band of all-star musicians. He has also written all of the musical arrangements that will be used for the show.
Nemeyer said that the main goals of the festival and convention are to reach a broader jazz audience and “feed” an audience for the future while also providing an opportunity for artists to get more exposure.
“We wanted to give the people and extraordinary amount of value,” Nemeyer said of the event. “We’re really spanning the gamut.”
The cost of a full conference pass is $195 with advance registration and the cost of a single day pass is $125.
For more information on Jazz Improve LIVE! Convention & Festival 2007 or to register to attend, call 1-888-472-0670 or visit www.jazzimprov.com/live.