WHASINGTON, DC (Verizon
Music Festivals) - Festival Features
Diverse Lineup of Established and Emerging Artists Starting Oct. 20
Three days of dynamic R&B, Latin and jazz performances are on tap for the Verizon Music Festival in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 20 and Nov. 14-15. Featured artists will include Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri y La Perfecta II, Teddy Pendergrass, Roy Ayers, Huey Dunbar and the Ray Vega Latin Jazz Sextet. In addition, the festival will also showcase new talent, vocalist Kevin Ceballo. Concerts are scheduled at Freedom Plaza, Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University, and Cramton Auditorium at Howard University.
"Last year, thousands of music fans enjoyed great entertainers and fantastic concerts during the first Verizon Music Festival," said Bruce Gordon, president, Verizon Retail Markets. "This year, we added Washington, D.C. to the schedule, and we hope that music fans in the nation's capital will sample many of the wonderful performances that Verizon is presenting, including some free concerts."
The first stop for festival was in New York City earlier this month. Los Angeles and Tampa also will host the event this fall.
George Wein, CEO of Festival Productions, Inc. and producer of the Verizon Music Festival, said, "It's rare that a producer has the challenge and opportunity to present one festival in four cities. While concerts are tailored to suit each city's own diverse culture and interests, the Verizon Music Festival is one big national celebration of music."
The Washington edition of the Verizon Music Festival begins at 1 p.m. Oct. 20 with a free concert at Freedom Plaza starring the undisputed "Queen of Salsa," Celia Cruz, emerging artist Kevin Ceballo and trumpeter/percussionist Ray Vega and his Latin Jazz Sextet.
Celia Cruz was already a star in 1960 when she left her home in Cuba to live in the United States. She has 70 albums, including numerous gold and platinum records and 17 Grammy nominations. Cruz recently won the 2002 Latin Grammy for "Best Salsa Album" bringing her total to three, including her first Grammy in 1989, and her second in 2001. She has spent more than five decades entertaining fans around the world.
Kevin Ceballo was discovered by pianist/producer Isidro Infante and was soon signed to RMM Records, which released his smash CD, Mi Primer Amor. Within weeks, the CD began rocketing up the charts, receiving great critical and audience acclaim. Named Latin music's "New Artist of the Year" just six months after his first release, he was tapped to lend his vocal style to releases by India, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri. Ceballo is one of the Verizon emerging artists featured at this year's festival around the country.
A native of the South Bronx, Ray Vega is a veteran of salsa and Latin jazz. The multi-talented trumpeter, percussionist and composer is in demand as a band leader. He has performed with the Mario Bauza's Afro Cuban Jazz Band, Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto, Tito Puente, Joe Henderson and other Latin and jazz greats.
The Verizon Music Festival will continue at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Lisner Auditorium, The George Washington University, with a concert by Eddie Palmieri y La Perfecta II and Huey Dunbar.
Deeply rooted in the Afro-Latin tradition, Palmieri says he is a frustrated percussionist who takes it out on the piano. Palmieri's playing is intense, infectious and circumvents musical boundaries. During the Verizon Music Festival, Palmieri will pay homage to one of his most popular bands, La Perfecta. Playing with his current band, La Perfecta II, Palmieri will perform with special guests vocalists Ismael Quintana (a member of the original La Perfecta) and Herman Olivera.
While still in high school, Huey Dunbar drew the attention of producer Sergio George at a talent audition and soon found himself singing back-up for India and others. A two-time Grammy nominee, Dunbar mixes his soaring salsa vocals with a rap and reggae groove. He received rave reviews as a member of the popular group Dark Latin Groove that released an album of the same name.
The festival wraps up at Cramton Auditorium at Howard University at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15 with the master of love songs, Teddy Pendergrass, and jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers.
Pendergrass' mother discovered his vocal abilities when he began singing in church before he was three years old. Ten years later, he taught himself to play the drums. He landed a job with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in the 60s and began his solo singing career after leaving the group in 1975. A 1982 auto accident left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair; but he returned to the music scene three years later to continue to entertain his fans around the world.
Roy Ayers, popular jazz vibraphonist and vocalist, took the music world by storm in the 70s by incorporating funk and R&B styles into jazz. His hits "Running Away," "Searchin'" and others are just as fresh today as when he first performed them, and he is frequently imitated by musicians of all genres.
