05/20/09

VIP Passes Available for Vision Festival 2009

The jazz avant-garde is an egalitarian, communal art, a dynamic musical space where classes, cultures and eras collide in the quest for raw artistic expression and sonic discovery.

But sometimes it helps to be VIP.

For its 14th edition, to be held June 9-15 in New York City, the Vision Festival is offering a $250 VIP pass. The pass grants festivalgoers the following perks and amenities:

Admission to all Vision Festival performances and panel discussions

Complimentary admission to two after parties

Reserved VIP seating rows at all performances

Complimentary ticket to benefit dinner at Two Boots Tavern (384 Grand St.) on June 10

A special Vision Festival gift: choice of T-shirt, hat, CD

A voucher for a pair of complimentary beverages at the Vision Festival concessions

Not a bad deal considering the top-notch array of out music scheduled—everything from solo recitals (Matthew Shipp) to loaded small groups (Sunny Murray Quartet, Charles Gayle Trio) and must-see large ensembles (the Sun Ra ghost band under the direction of Marshall Allen, Jason Kao Hwang’s Spontaneous River).

This year’s Vision Festival will take place June 9-14 at the Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand Street [at Pitt Street]) and June 15 at the Angel Orensanz Foundation (172 Norfolk Street near Houston). For full schedules and more information visit visionfestival.org. To purchase tickets to the Abrons Art Center events, visit henrystreet.org. Tickets for the June 15 show will be available at the door that night. The VIP pass is made possible by Arts for Art. If you’ve already purchased tickets, it is possible to upgrade: inquire at info@visionfestival.org.