Fred Taylor To Receive George Wein Impresario Award From Berklee College Of Music On March 11, 2015

New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Berklee will present famed jazz promoter Fred Taylor with the college's first ever George Wein Impresario Award on Wednesday, March 11, at Scullers Jazz Club. Named after Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein, the award recognizes individuals who bring music to life through their dedication to discovering, mentoring, presenting, and promoting creative musicians and their music.

The concert, titled Berklee Salutes Scullers, is produced by composer, guitarist and Berklee professor Bill Banfield, and includes performances from fellow faculty members Tia Fuller, George Russell Jr., John Lockwood, Yoron Israel, Maggie Scott, Gabrielle Goodman, Donna McElroy, and other special guests. Grammy-winning jazz critic Bob Blumenthal will tell Taylor's story as part of the evening's performance. The concert will be hosted by Berklee provost Larry Simpson.

"I've known Freddy Taylor for 65 years," said Wein. "I had my Storyville club in Boston from 1950 to 1960, and when Storyville closed, Freddy, who was an avid lover of jazz, decided to open his own club called Paul's Mall and take over the Jazz Workshop. In doing so he kept jazz alive in Boston, from then up until this day. I'm happy to present him with the George Wein Impresario Award, which he so merits."

A native of Newton, Massachusetts, Taylor's career as one of Boston's premier jazz promoters dates back to 1963 when he ran Paul's Mall and the Boston Jazz Workshop. He later began producing concerts at Symphony Hall and the Boston Garden, working with Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, and others. In 1991, he started working at Scullers, and from 2001 to 2007, he served as artistic director of the Tanglewood Jazz Festival.

Berklee Salutes Scullers takes place Wednesday, March 11, 8 p.m., at Scullers Jazz Club, located at DoubleTree Suites by Hilton, 400 Soldiers Field Road, in Allston, MA. Tickets are $25 (show), $65 (dinner and show) and available at scullersjazz.com.