'Lady Jazz in the Key of Grand' Will Be August 31

The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre and Instrumental Women, La Quetta M. Shamblee, Founder and Executive Director; Phyllis Battle, Artistic Director and Co-Music Director; and Carol Chaikin, Co-Musical Director, present The Ninth Annual Lady Jazz Concert, "LADY JAZZ IN THE KEY OF GRAND," on Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at the Ford Amphitheatre; 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East; Los Angeles, CA  90068.

This year's honoree, pianist Karen Hernandez, weaves Latin and Blues riffs throughout the evening's jazz repertoire.  A Hammond B-3 Organ provides the genre's rich, Gospel undertones delivered by vocalist and keyboardist, La Carol Miles.  Featured jazz harpist and pianist, Corky Hale, takes the stage for this all-female annual showcase of master jazz musicians, which will also include bassist, Nedra Wheeler, saxophonist Carol Chaikin, drummer Maria Martinez, percussionist Estaire Godinez, trumpeter Anne King, trombonist Alisha Marie Ard and Members of the Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra.  Co-Hosts for the event are Jane Monreal of ABC7 and James Janisse, Los Angeles's Gentleman of Jazz. Event Sponsors include:  ABC7, KPFK-FM, Mountain View-Observer, Carnivo Liqueur, Armory Center for the Arts, L.A. Watts Times, UCLA in LA and THE Magazine.

The Song List will include:  "Sister Sadie," "Oh Happy Day," "Life's Too Short," "Cherokee," "Green Tomatoes," "Riverside Drive," "Over The Rainbow" and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," among others. The event will be preceded by a limited Art Exhibit of select works created by Huichol Indian artists who live in the mountainous region of western, central Mexico.  The exhibit, on the Ford Plaza, will open at 4:00 p.m.

For tickets call:  323-GO-1-FORD (323-461-3673).  Buy online at www.fordtheatres.org.  Tickets are $35 and $25.  Children 12 and under are $12 each.  Groups of 8 – 15 save 10% on the regular ticket price; Groups of 16 or more save 20%.  For Group Sales please call 323-769-2147.  For further information about Instrumental Women, please visit www.instrumentalwomen.com .

This event is part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2008 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations.  For a complete season schedule, directions to the theater, parking information, and box dinner menus, log on to www.FordTheatres.org.