Saint Peter's Prez Fest Celebrates Gil Evans, 3/13

Saint Peter's Church will host the 2011 Prez Fest, honoring composer, arranger and pianist Gil Evans, on Sunday, March 13. Prez Fest is one of The Jazz Ministry at Saint Peter's Church's annual events. This year's festival will include concerts and discussions of Evans' music.

Gil Evans was one of Canada's most prolific musicians. A frequent collaborator of Miles Davis, he played an instrumental role in the evolution of cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz and jazz fusion. His album Bud and Bird won a Grammy Award in 1989, and he was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1997.

Prez Fest 2011 activities are as follows:

3:30 PM Panel Discussion "Gil Evans: In and Out of the Cool" - Moderator Stephanie Crease with Howard Johnson, Helen Merrill, Maria Schneider and Ryan Truesdell - FREE

The Legend Wall: an historical exhibit of the life of Gil Evans - FREE

5:00 PM Jazz Vespers - with the music of Gil Evans - Freewill Offering
Guest Soloists: Helen Merrill, Steve Wilson and Frank Kimbrough

7:00 PM Concert - Phil Woods, Andy Bey and Frank Kimbrough with the Eastman School of Music Chamber Jazz Ensemble performing music arranged by Gil Evans and conducted by Artistic Director
Ryan Truesdell

Produced by the Jazz Committee/Midtown Arts Common/Saint Peter's Church.

Saint Peter's Church is located at 619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street in New York City. $25 donations are suggested at the door, or $10 for students with ID. Visit www.saintpeters.org/jazz for $20 advance tickets. Call (212) 935-2200 or visit www.saintpeters.org for more information.