One of the vital jazz events in the region each year, Caramoor’s annual weekend-long Jazz Festival – taking place this weekend, August 6, 7, 8 – is renowned for its star-studded line-up of jazz greats and new forces on the scene. Returning after his superlative solo concert during Caramoor’s inaugural fall festival in 2009, the visionary Chick Corea headlines this year’s festival with his Freedom Band – featuring Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride, and the equally legendary Roy Haynes – as the final concert of the weekend on Sunday evening. Saturday night’s headline event is World Vibraphone Summit with the legendary Bobby Hutcherson and his ensemble passing on the torch to the young Stefon Harris and his group Blackout. The talented Mulgrew Miller and his trio kick off the festival on Friday with an evening of prowess and captivating elegance in the Spanish Courtyard.

The afternoon concerts set capture the sheer breadth of global influences on the jazz scene today. On Saturday, Roswell Rudd brings his Trombone Tribe for a chameleon-like set of music with eclectic influences from down home to Kurt Weill to Eastern European gypsy brass music. Brazilian artist Clarice Assad’s versatility and sophistication as a pianist, vocalist, and composer ensures a deeply musical experience. A high-energy celebration of polyphonic rhythms, Spoken Hand Percussion Orchestra unifies four percussion batteries into one distinct voice: North Indian tabla, Afro Cuban bata, Brazilian samba, and West African djembe.

On Sunday, well-versed world traveler and guitarist Brad Shepik presents his Human Activity Suite—his most expansive and committed project to date—with Ralph Alessi, Gary Versace, Drew Gress, and Tom Rainey, and Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca returns to Caramoor with his Quintet and guest artists Lewis Nash and Terell Stafford. After his solo performance two years ago and his quartet set last summer, Cuban piano luminary Chuchito Valdés returns with his Big Band performing the music of his grandfather Bebo Valdés—a central figure in the Golden Age of Cuban music. Chuchito Valdés and Elio Villafranca are presented as part of Sonidos Latinos, Caramoor’s ongoing Latin American music initiative.

Caramoor provides concertgoers will an exceptional all around experience during this weekend of Jazz. Great Performances® will grill chicken, ribs, burgers and hot dogs on the picnic lawns Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Visitors can also opt to arrive early and enjoy their own picnic amidst the beautiful gardens, or order a Great Performances® picnic ahead of time to be picked up upon arrival by calling 212-337-6055 or visiting www.greatperformances.com/caramoorpicnics

TICKETS: Friday $25, $35; Saturday $25, $40, $55; Sunday $25, $40, $55. Order by calling the Box Office at 914.232.1252 or online at www.caramoor.org.

PROGRAMS:

Friday, August 6, 2010 in the Spanish Courtyard
Caramoor Jazz Festival (I)
$25, $35
8:00pm – Mulgrew Miller Trio: Mulgrew Miller, piano; Ivan Taylor, bass; Rodney Green, drums

Saturday, August 7, 2010 in the Venetian Theater
Caramoor Jazz Festival (II)
$25, $40, $55
2:00pm – Roswell Rudd’s Trombone Tribe
3:15pm – Clarice Assad
5:00pm – Spoken Hand Percussion Orchestra
Dinner Break: Great Performances® will grill chicken, ribs, burgers and hot dogs on the picnic lawns.
8:00pm – World Vibraphone Summit: Bobby Hutcherson Quartet / Stefon Harris Blackout

Sunday, August 8, 2010 in the Venetian Theater
Caramoor Jazz Festival (III)
$25, $40, $55
1:00pm – Brad Shepik’s Human Activity Suite
2:15pm – Elio Villafranca Quintet featuring guest artists Lewis Nash and Terell Stafford
3:30pm – Chuchito Valdes Big Band: The Music of Bebo Valdes
Dinner Break: Great Performances® will grill chicken, ribs, burgers and hot dogs on the picnic lawns.
6:00pm – Chick Corea’s Freedom Band: Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride, Roy Haynes