Monterey Jazz features artist-in-residence Terence Blanchard

The Monterey Jazz Festival, a leader in jazz education since 1958, announced that MJF's 2007 Artist-In-Residence, Terence Blanchard, will play a special concert with his Quintet at the historic Golden State Theatre in Downtown Monterey on Thursday, March 22 at 8:00 PM.

Tickets go on sale on February 20th and are available through the MJF website, www.montereyjazzfestival.org or by calling the MJF Ticket Office at 925-275-9255. Tickets are priced at $30 for General Admission, $45 for Premium General Admission and $75 for Gold Circle Admission, which includes an after-concert reception with the Grammy Award winning artist.

The concert kicks off the 3rd Annual Next Generation Festival, which is sponsored by MJF. The weekend-long event is an expansion of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Annual National High School Jazz Competition, now in its 37th year. Featuring more than forty groups from across the nation, the top big bands, combos and vocal ensembles will win cash awards and an invitation to perform at the 50th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival presented by Verizon, September 21-23, 2007. Auditions will also be held for chairs in the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, which tours internationally and is a featured ensemble on the Festival's Sunday afternoon Arena/Lyons Stage.

Blanchard was named as the 2007 MJF Artist-In-Residence last fall, and has been a committed supporter of jazz education throughout his career. Terence was one of the fire-tempered “Young Lions” of the early 80s, and has been on the cutting edge of the resurgence of hard-bop and other modern jazz styles for his entire adult life. As one of his generation’s most artistically mature and innovative artists, Blanchard will be thoroughly engaged with the Monterey community in 2007. He will perform with his own group on the stage of the newly renovated and historic Golden State Theatre, act as a judge during the MJF's 37th Annual National High School Jazz Competition, mentor students at the MJF Summer Jazz Camp and perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival presented by Verizon, September 21-23, 2007.

"We are very excited to feature Terence this year as our Artist-In-Residence,” says Tim Jackson, MJF’s General Manager and Artistic Director. “His artistry, breadth of experience and ability to communicate will make this a residency worth remembering for our community and for our young students. We are also pleased to present our first concert at the beautiful Golden State Theatre in downtown Monterey and hope that this will be the first of many MJF musical moments at this historic facility."

Featured in Terence’s band will be some of the most talented new stars on the jazz scene: Brice Winston on saxophone; Fabian Almazan on piano; Derrick Hodge on bass and Kendrick Scott on drums. Winston’s work includes membership in Terence’s regular band, and he is a featured musician and soloist on numerous soundtracks by Terence as well. Fabian Almazan, a Cuban native and recent graduate from the Manhattan School of Music, is poised to be one of the leading pianists of his generation. Derrick Hodge and Kendrick Scott are both members of Terence’s Flow group, have contributed to Blanchard’s recent soundtracks, and have gigged or recorded with Donald Byrd, Dianne Reeves, Pat Metheny, Mulgrew Miller, Kanye West, Mos Def, David Sanborn, and many others.

The Golden State Theatre is located at 417 Alvarado Street in downtown Monterey, California, and has been recently restored to its stately and opulent 1926 glory, with beautiful frescos, gilded details and stained glass lighting.