JVC Announces New York Festival Lineup

More than 300 jazz, blues, ragtime, swing, Latin, Brazilian, R&B, dance and comedy acts will convene in New York City for the 2006 JVC Jazz Festival from June 12 through 24. This year’s festival features over 100 concerts and events at more than 20 venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.

For the 2006 festival, JVC promises some legendary performances. Smokey Robinson will perform at Carnegie Hall for the first time in 31 years and Etta James will do the same for the first time in 21 years. Dave Brubeck (pictured) will perform with his big band, Ralph Towner will perform solo in New York for the first time in 20 years and Stanley Clark and George Duke will reunited after a 16-year hiatus. There will also be all-star tributes to Cachao, Herbie Hancock, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bucky Pizzarelli, the Village Vanguard and Coby Narita.

JVC will bring jazz festivals to other cities across the United States, and in Europe, as well. The JVC Jazz Festival will reach Miami Beach, Fla., from May 17-21; Chicago, Ill., from July 13-15; Newport, R.I., from August 11-13; Concord, Calif., on August 19; and Los Angeles, Calif., on August 20. The festival will reach the Netherlands, France and Poland in the fall.

For more information, visit the festival’s website.