LA Philharmonic Presents 2011/12 Jazz Series At Walt Disney Concert Hall

The Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) has been presenting unparalleled jazz programming for over 30 years and continues that tradition in the 2011/12 season with four distinct events that come together for a comprehensive series catering to jazz purists and novices alike. Highlighting the versatility of the genre, Los Angeles Philharmonic Creative Chair for Jazz Herbie Hancock and the LA Phil have created a dynamic series that weaves together elements of traditional jazz, world influence and dance. Each concert hosts an eclectic bill of jazz artists including Dianne Reeves (former LA Phil Creative Chair for Jazz), Angélique Kidjo, Lizz Wright, Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Trey McIntyre Dance Project, Chucho Valdés & The Afro Cuban Messengers, Poncho Sánchez, Terence Blanchard, Billy Childs Quartet and Kronos Quartet, and Bill Frisell's Beautiful Dreamers featuring Eyvind Kang & Rudy Royston. The series runs from October 2011 to March 2012.

Herbie Hancock is the third person to take the helm as Creative Chair for Jazz for the LA Phil and his participation has given the series a new presence. In 2011 the Los Angeles Times wrote, "It's a blessing and a curse of living in Los Angeles that we're almost able to take a Herbie Hancock concert for granted. A regular and welcome presence around the city's music scene, particularly since being named the L.A. Philharmonic's Creative Chair for jazz last year..." The Creative Chair for Jazz works directly with the LA Phil programming department, crafting the jazz series and related education initiatives presented annually by the LA Phil. The position was first held by Dianne Reeves in 2002; she was succeeded by Christian McBride in 2006.

Adding to the thrill of Hancock's relationship with the LA Phil is the 2011/12 Opening Night concert to kick off the new season with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic featuring Herbie Hancock, for a celebration of quintessential American composer George Gershwin. "The jazz programming this season has a hip creativity with a fresh vibe that I'm excited to share with the Walt Disney Concert Hall audience. I am also thrilled to be working with Gustavo on the Gershwin program to open the season. I like working with artists who are inclusive and look for ways to expand as well as put a different spin on something that already exists," says Hancock.

The 2011/12 Jazz Series

Sat OCT 22 8pm
Sing The Truth! with Angélique Kidjo,
Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright

Sing the Truth! is a collaboration of three stellar vocalists - Angélique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright - performing songs and music of passion, heart and soul from recently passed legends Miriam Makeba, Abbey Lincoln and Odetta. The original Sing the Truth! was a JVC Jazz Festival concert at New York's Carnegie Hall in 2004 celebrating the music of Nina Simone and became a successful touring production. In 2011 the production was reconstructed to honor the music and spirit of great women of jazz, folk, r&b, gospel and the blues. The concert also includes songs by other great women of music, ranging from Billie Holiday to Aretha Franklin, along with their own original works. The ensemble also features drummer Terri Lynn Carrington, pianist Geri Allen, and guitarist Romero Lubambo.

Tue NOV 22 8pm
Preservation Hall Jazz Band &
Trey McIntyre Dance Project

Fresh from its 2010 Hollywood Bowl debut, the Trey McIntyre Project makes its Walt Disney Concert Hall debut with a brand new collaboration with Preservation Hall Jazz Band in November. As an encore to the Hollywood Bowl debut, McIntyre and Preservation Hall Jazz Band Creative Director Ben Jaffe partner once more to produce a new work that will personify the iconic culture of New Orleans. The creative duo has spent the past year selecting music and producing new arrangements that explore the countless musical influences of New Orleans, including the French West Indies, blues, and Creole music. The outcome is a hand-crafted soundtrack of signature jazz styles featuring the debut of newly-composed music by PHJB, as well as a re-mix of legendary hip-hop DJ King Britt's version of the classic, "St. James Infirmary."

Thu FEB 16 8pm
Chucho Valdés &
The Afro-Cuban Messengers
Cubano Be Cubano Bop: Poncho Sánchez
& His Latin Jazz Band with
Terence Blanchard special guest

Making his debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall, multi-Grammy winner and "dean of Latin Jazz" (The New York Times) Chucho Valdés is a titan of the keyboard whose style is breathtaking on ballads and Latin montunos alike. Hailed by Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune as "bringing colossal technique, expressive exuberance and ancient artistic tradition to a single performance," Chucho Valdés & the Afro-Cuban Messengers are a rare sight to see in the U.S. and have been touring internationally since 2009 and in 2011 released, "Chucho's Steps". Poncho Sánchez and Terence Blanchard open this concert with a fiery program that explores Afro-Cuban jazz in a tribute to Cuban conga maestro Chano Pozo and the late, great trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie.

Sun MAR 11 7:30pm
Billy Childs Quartet and Kronos Quartet
Bill Frisell's Beautiful Dreamers
featuring Eyvind Kang & Rudy Royston

Fearless San Francisco-based string quartet Kronos and L.A.'s own modern jazz pianist/composer Billy Childs each play their own sets and then collaborate on a piece written by Childs to stunning effect. "The most innovative and influential jazz guitarist of the past 25 years" (Wall Street Journal), Bill Frisell begins the evening with his spacious jazz and country-inflected drum/violin trio.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Gustavo Dudamel, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable locations anywhere to experience music - Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association's involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational concerts, children's programming and community concerts, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

Subscriptions and single tickets for the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 2011/12 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall are currently available. To purchase a subscription or single tickets, please visit LAPhil.com, the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000, or by calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. For more information, please call 323.850.2000.

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