JAZZ TREASURES: LEGEND & HERITAGE

Honoring Les McCann, Abbey Lincoln, Carolyn McClair, Jonathan Batiste Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture on Tuesday, May 11, 7 pm

Performances by Javon Jackson w/ Les McCann, Jonathan Batiste, Melba Joyce, Jann Parker & Others

New York, NY, April 29, 2010 - Celebrating 10 years of Jazz in the Valley, TRANSART & Cultural Services, Inc. will honor Les McCann, Carolyn McClair, Jonathan Batiste and celebrate the life of Abbey Lincoln, at its first annual Jazz Treasures: Legend & Heritage event to be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at 7:00 pm followed by tributes and a concert at 8:00 pm at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard at 135th Street in Harlem.

"We thought it only fitting to honor the artists and people who have given much to this art form we call jazz," says Greer Smith, President of TRANSART & Cultural Services Inc. and producer of Jazz in the Valley. "The people who create this music give much to the world. Musicians and this music tell the stories of this country and our people. Many artists never get the recognition they deserve. This is an opportunity for us to say thank you."

The evening will begin with a VIP cocktail reception at 7:00 pm, followed by tributes to some of the pioneers of Jazz at 8:00 pm. Les McCann, whose signature tune "Compared to What" became an anthem for the turbulent 60's, is one of the innovators of Jazz Soul. Carolyn McClair, who represents jazz festivals and other organizations, is the recipient of the Cultural Luminary Award given to one who is a worker in the field and continues to light the way for others in the art form. Rising star Jonathan Batiste receives the Jazz Heritage Award, for being one to watch as this art form moves into the future. In addition, the evening will feature an extraordinary tribute to Abbey Lincoln (Aminata Moseka, world-renowned vocalist, songwriter and actor.

The night will be a celebration of the music and history of jazz and will include performances by the Javon Jackson Band and Jonathan Batiste with a musical tribute to Abbey Lincoln featuring vocalists Melba Joyce, Jann Parker and many others. Jackson came into international prominence as a member of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and his current group incorporates jazz, funk, R&B. On this night, in a not-to-be-missed collaboration of the young along side the legend, Les McCann joins Jackson to perform his signature tunes.

JAZZ IN THE VALLEY began in 2000 when TRANSART received a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts to commission Ahmad Jamal to compose a piece in homage to the Hudson River Valley. The presentation of this composition, entitled "Perfect Picture," grew into an annual series showcasing music performed by world-class musicians fittingly complemented by breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Shawangunk Mountains as a backdrop. During its 10-year history, the jazz series has featured noted artists Roy Hargrove, Randy Weston, Stefon Harris, Jimmy Heath, the late Oscar Brown Jr. and more.

All proceeds of this event will help TRANSART with their mission to further the exposure of the history and popular culture of Africa and its Diaspora to the American people. Proceeds from the concerts assist with bringing the music and the people who create it into the public schools in the area. Many young people experience their first professional live performance through the educational program of Jazz in the Valley, Behind the Beat: Intro to Jazz. Musicians conduct assembly presentations, master classes and jazz clinics. There is also a traditional drumming workshop after school program.
Carolyn McClair Public Relations

P.O. Box 55, Radio City Station, New York, NY, 10101