30th Annual Sacramento Jazz Jubilee For Immediate Release For Additional Information Contact: Roger Krum (916) 372-5277 ext.101 April 11, 2003 (SACRAMENTO) -- Jazz is our middle name - Music our game - Jubilee, our fame. For the 30th consecutive Memorial Day weekend, the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society proudly presents the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee - the place to be in 2-0-0-3 (May 23-26). XXX marks the spots all over town where you can swing to all jazz styles: traditional jazz, blues, swing, western swing, ragtime, salsa, zydeco, gospel, barbershop, and more. The world's largest traditional jazz festival will once again set Sacramento to swinging, with some 12 dozen of the greatest jazz bands from across the nation, across the ocean, and from all over California. Presiding over Jubilee XXX as Emperor will be Johnny Varro, Jazz Pianist extrordinaire, illustrious performer at past Jubilees, whose professional resume lists a stellar roster of jazz greats with whom he has played over more than half-a-century - Bobby Hackett, Eddie Condon, Charlie Shavers, Billy Butterfield - and so many more immortals. Headlining the gala entertainment: Lawrence Welk Show keyboard stylist Jo Ann Castle.  And Las Vegas sends hilarious "jazzy" comedian Pete Barbutti.  Both have delighted Jubilee goers in past years. Jubilee favorites the Jim Cullum Jazz Band from San Antonio, who broadcast from the famed Riverwalk every weekend over Public Radio, are back.  Also starring will be the Side Street Strutters, who made their Jubilee debut way back in '85, while they were students at Arizona State, who were such an enormous hit, they've been playing at Disneyland ever since.  Re-creating the gazebo-in-the-park era to thrill nostalgiacs with early jazz, are the distinctive Mr. Jack Daniel's Original Silver Cornet Band, the inimitable show that always packs 'em in at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, for an unforgettable musical stroll Down Memory Lane. The roster of stellar guest artists features clarinet star Bob Draga, trombonist John Allred, and sax virtuosi Tommy Newsom and George Probert.  Add to this three bands made up of all star musicians led respectively by guitarist Howard Alden, cornetist Tommy Saunders, and clarinetist Sam Most and you have a potpourri of premium jazz. Because this is the big 30th Anniversary, Jubilee is bringing back many veterans from past years.  Among these all-time favorites are the New Black Eagles (Boston), Buck Creek Jazz Band (Washington, D.C.), Kinda Dixie (Las Vegas), Igor's Jazz Cowboys (Tempe, AZ), Big Tiny Little and the Show Band (Reno), Paco Gatsby (Guatemala), Uptown Lowdown (Seattle), Zydeco Flames, Night Blooming Jazzmen (Los Angeles), Climax Jazz Band (Toronto), Queen City Jazz Band (Denver), and many more. Also, veterans of the past 30 years who haven't missed a single performance in the entire history of the Sacramento Jubilee - Sacramento's Fulton Street Jazz Band and the Oregon Jazz Band. The international band lineup includes newcomer Zenith Hot Stompers from Oxfordshire, England.  Popular favorites returning from outside the U.S. include the Big Band Trio and Jumpin' Jive Orchestra from Canada; Greentown from Slovenia; the Jazzin' Jacks from Sweden; and Scotland's Fat Sam's Band. Add 22 youth bands, 8 barbershop singing groups, gospel singers, Pianorama, Banjo Concert, Washboard Concert, the Sunday Morning Celebration of Faith, the rollicking Friday 11:45 a.m. parade in Old Sacramento that launches the Jubilee weekend, and finally, the Closing Ceremony late Monday afternoon --  and you have a weekend that will be long remembered. For a good many years, Jubilee has attracted throngs of more than 100,000 over Memorial Day weekend, at more than 40 venues: Old Sacramento, where it all began in 1974; Downtown Sacramento; the Radisson Hotel; the Red Lion Hotel; DoubleTree Hotel; and Cal Expo. On a serious note: In observance of Memorial Day, the veterans of all of America's wars are remembered and honored at Jubilee's Annual Salute to Veterans, Monday, 9 a.m., at the Sacramento Convention Center Exhibit Hall Concert Site.  The event is free to the public. Four Day all-events admissions are $87 through April 30 -- $92 thereafter.  Youths 17 and under, $46.  Daily all-day admissions for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are $38.  Monday admission for 10 a.m.-to-3:30 p.m. program is $17 - for youth and seniors 60 and over, the price is $8.  Facilities are available for persons with disabilities. For information about the Jubilee please call the Jubilee office at (916) 372-5277; write to 2787 Del Monte Street, West Sacramento, CA 95691; or check the web site: www.sacjazz.com for information and 24 hour ticketing. An eight-page promotional newspaper with detailed information about Jubilee XXX will be mailed free upon request. -0-0-

 

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