Host and Bassist Christian McBride Joins Special Guests Kenny Burrell, Jon Faddis, Roberta Gambarini, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Lovano and Nancy Wilson

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008, at 8 PM

Concert generously sponsored by Fidelity Investments

Media sponsor: KJAZZ 88.1

Two beloved jazz masters, Gerald Wilson and Hank Jones, celebrate their 90th years with an all-star concert featuring the Gerald Wilson Orchestra and the Hank Jones Trio. To celebrate both Gerald Wilson and Hank Jones’ illustrious careers, an array of jazz greats and special guests join the festivities including host and bassist Christian McBride, guitarist Kenny Burrell, trumpeter Jon Faddis, singer Roberta Gambarini, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, saxophonist Joe Lovano and the legendary entertainer, Nancy Wilson. This unforgettable evening also includes a world premiere suite entitled “Virgo” by Anthony Wilson in honor of his father. Gerald and Hank: 90 + 90 takes place on Wednesday, July 30, at 8 p.m., at the Hollywood Bowl.

For more than 50 years, Gerald Wilson has been recognized as one of the premiere composers, arrangers and bandleaders in modern jazz. Originally starting in music as a trumpeter and arranger for Jimmie Lunceford, Wilson quickly made a name for himself and worked with artists such as Benny Carter, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. The perennially humble Wilson has garnered significant accolades throughout his career, including six Grammy nominations, top big band, composer and arranger honors in the Downbeat International Critics Poll, the Paul Robeson Award, the National Endowment for the Arts American Jazz Masters Fellowship, and two 1997 American Jazz Awards for Best Arranger and Best Big Band. In 1996, Wilson received the rare honor of having his life’s work archived by the Library of Congress.

Hank Jones is one of the most sought-after and recorded jazz pianists in history. His playing style embodies the essence of mainstream jazz. Throughout his career, Jones has played, recorded and performed with a veritable who’s who of jazz history. His impressive list of accolades includes recognition as a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master, the JazzFest 2002 Jazz Master, the Congressional Achievement Award, a Living Legend Jazz Wall of Fame (ASCAP) honoree, several Grammy nominations, and the 2008 Jazz Journalist Association Award for Pianist of the Year. He has also participated in such historical events as accompanying Marilyn Monroe when she sang, “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy.

The Jazz at the Bowl series, under the guidance of Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Creative Chair for Jazz Christian McBride, offers an eight-concert series featuring major artists from the world of jazz. The 2008 season highlights include: Etta James & the Roots Band with Solomon Burke and Paolo Nutini on August 13; Jamie Cullum with the Count Basie Orchestra and A Christian McBride Situation on August 20; George Benson and Thunder featuring bassists Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten on August 27; and Bossa Nova at 50 with orchestra, Oscar Castro-Neves and special guests Ivan Lins, Maria Rita and others on September 3.

From the late 1940s through the '50s, GERALD WILSON was one of the most active arrangers and orchestrators in jazz and popular music. In addition to providing musical settings for Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Julie London, Bobby Darin, Carmen McRae, and many others, he developed a close working relationship with Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. One of the most generous human beings, Wilson has continually sought ways to share his knowledge and passion, from hosting a daily jazz program on L.A.'s KBCA in the early 1970s to teaching jazz history for 13 years at California State University Northridge, six years at Cal State L.A., and for the past six years at UCLA. He is currently completing a book on jazz harmony. Celebrating his 90th birthday in 2008, the elegant and gracious master continues not only to create brilliant, sophisticated music, but to reap ever greater honors for his timeless contributions to American culture.

HANK JONES is the eldest surviving member of a prolific jazz musician family, which included the late drummer Elvin Jones and trumpeter/composer Thad Jones. Hank Jones started playing in local bands in Michigan, Ohio and Buffalo before moving to New York City in 1943. From 1947 to 1951 he toured the world with Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) accompanying Ella Fitzgerald. In 1956, he joined Benny Goodman and joined the CBS studios as staff pianist in 1959, a position that would last for 17 years. Although the thought of retirement had crossed his mind, Jones stays busy playing concerts worldwide, recording and performing at jazz master classes in universities such as Harvard and NYU. He was featured on the cover of the June 2005 issue of Downbeat magazine. Always the consummate professional, Jones has lived his life and career honoring the musical genre and is recognized around the world as one of the true great jazz masters.

Guitarist KENNY BURRELL made his recording debut with Dizzy Gillespie’s sextet in 1951, while still in college. In 1956, Burrell moved to New York and began performing and recording with many famous players, establishing his reputation as an outstanding guitarist. He made between 30 and 40 recordings as a leader, has played as a sideman on nearly 200 albums, and recorded with such artists as John Coltrane, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, Milt Jackson, Quincy Jones, Herbie Mann, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Smith, and Stanley Turrentine. In addition to performing and recording, Burrell is active in jazz education as the chair of the jazz program at UCLA, including teaching a popular class on the music of Duke Ellington.

JON FADDIS' career as trumpeter and bandleader includes associations with Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and Charles Mingus, and recordings with Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra, and Clark Terry. Born in Oakland, California, in 1953, Faddis began playing trumpet at age eight, inspired by an appearance of Louis Armstrong on The Ed Sullivan Show. In his mid-teens, Faddis met Dizzy Gillespie sitting in with Gillespie's combo at the famed Jazz Workshop in San Francisco. His career took off when he was selected by Gillespie as one of several young musicians "on the verge of exceptional careers" invited to perform at the White House in 1982.

ROBERTA GAMBARINI, while still in her teens, began performing in jazz clubs in Northern Italy, moving to Milan at 18 to pursue a career as a jazz singer. In 1998 she received a scholarship to study at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Two weeks later, Gambarini placed third in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition. She has performed with Michael Brecker, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Hank Jones, Christian McBride, and Toots Thielemans. Her recent release, Easy to Love, was nominated for a Grammy, and, fittingly, contains a sublime version of her mentor Benny Carter's "Only Trust Your Heart." The Jazz Journalists Association named Gambarini Female Jazz Singer of the Year 2007.

BOBBY HUTCHERSON is easily one of jazz's greatest vibraphonists. Along with Gary Burton, the other seminal vibraphone talent of the '60s, Hutcherson helped modernize his instrument by redefining what could be done with it – sonically, technically, melodically, and emotionally. Early on in his career, word about his inventive four-mallet playing quickly spread and Hutcherson was invited to jam with some of the best up-and-coming musicians in New York: hard boppers like Grant Green, Hank Mobley, and Herbie Hancock, but most importantly, forward-thinking experimentalists like Jackie McLean, Grachan Moncur III, Archie Shepp, Andrew Hill, and Eric Dolphy. Through those contacts, Hutcherson became an in-demand sideman at recording sessions. Hutcherson's first shot as a leader came with 1965's Dialogue, with a sextet featuring some of the hottest young talent on the scene. Adding the marimba to his repertoire, Hutcherson has remained active throughout his career as both a sideman and leader.

JOSEPH SALVATORE LOVANO began playing the alto saxophone at age 5, switching to the tenor a few years later. By the time he got his driver's license at 16, Lovano was a member of the Musicians Union, Local 4, and earned enough money playing gigs to put himself through college. After high school, Lovano attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston and became part of a vibrant scene. He financed his education by working club dates and other assorted gigs, including an organ trio engagement he shared with future Nonet member George Garzone. His Berklee instructors including Herb Pomeroy, Joe Viola, Andy McGee, John LaPorta and Gary Burton, played a key role in his development. Lovano was in Burton's number one ensemble during the vibist's first semester on the faculty. Twenty years later, Lovano was the recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater and an honorary doctorate in 1998. Berklee also awarded Lovano its first endowed chair, The Gary Burton Chair for Jazz Performance in 2001.

NANCY WILSON has been performing on stages worldwide for more than 50 years. She has appeared on television, in movies, and on radio as host of NPR's Jazz Profiles, and now, at the age of 70 she counts some 70 albums to her name. In 1963, "Tell Me The Truth" became her first truly major hit, leading up to her performance at the Cocoanut Grove in 1964 - the turning pointing of her career garnering critical acclaim from coast to coast. Time magazine wrote, "She is, all at once, both cool and sweet, both singer and storyteller." In 1964 she won her first Grammy for “How Glad I Am.” Forty years later she won again, for R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal), and again for her latest release Turned To Blue, both produced by MCG Jazz. Other honors Nancy has received include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, streets and days dedicated in her name, two NAACP Image Awards, honorary doctorate degrees, a UNCF Trumpet Award celebrating African-American achievement, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP in Chicago, and Oprah Winfrey's Legends Award.

For almost two decades, CHRISTIAN McBRIDE has been widely recognized as one of the most original American musicians to emerge from the jazz scene. A Grammy-winning virtuoso of the acoustic and electric bass, he is recognized as an accomplished composer and arranger whose collaborations as a bassist read like a “who’s who” of quintessential artists of our time. Over the past 17 years, McBride has been featured on more than 200 recordings and composed nearly 40 musical works along with dozens of arrangements. His passion for musical diversity has led him to work with everyone from Chick Corea to Pat Metheny, from Kathleen Battle to D'Angelo, from Diana Krall to Bruce Hornsby, from Quincy Jones to Sting. McBride holds Artistic Director posts at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass summer program and is the co-director of The Jazz Museum in Harlem. He was chosen as the Artist-in-Residence for the Monterey Jazz Festival, and can now add the Detroit International Jazz Festival to his impressive list of directorships. McBride is the second Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, and works year-round building on the Philharmonic's presence in the musical community as a leading presenter of jazz.

One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the HOLLYWOOD BOWL has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922, and in 1991 gave its name to the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, a resident ensemble that has filled a special niche in the musical life of Southern California. The 2004 season introduced audiences to a revitalized Hollywood Bowl, featuring a newly-constructed shell and stage and the addition of four stadium screens enhancing stage views in the venue. To this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's concerts. While the Bowl is best known for its sizzling summer nights, during the day California's youngest patrons enjoy "SummerSounds: Music for Kids at the Hollywood Bowl," the Southland's most popular summer arts festival for children, now in its 40th season. Attendance figures over the past several decades have soared: in 1980 the Bowl first topped the half-million mark and close to one million admissions have been recorded. In February 2008, the Hollywood Bowl was named Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue for the fourth year in a row at the 19th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards. The Bowl's summer music festival has become as much a part of a Southern California summer as beaches and barbecues, the Dodgers, and Disneyland.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008, at 8 PM

HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood



Jazz at the Bowl



GERALD AND HANK: 90 + 90



Gerald Wilson Orchestra

Hank Jones Trio

Christian McBride, host and bass



Kenny Burrell, guitar

Jon Faddis, trumpet

Roberta Gambarini, vocals

Bobby Hutcherson, vibraphone

Joe Lovano, saxophones

Nancy Wilson, vocals



Concert is a Fidelity Investments FutureStage Concert

Media sponsor: KJAZZ 88.1

Tickets ($1-$95) are on sale now at HollywoodBowl.com, at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office (Tuesday–Sunday, noon–6 p.m.), by phone 323.850.2000 or by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850.2050 for further details.

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