Caramoor Jazz Festival August 6, 2011

Juan Carlos Formell’s Johnny’s Dream Club, James Farm, Lucky Peterson, Christian McBride Big Band

Since its birth nearly two decades ago, the Caramoor International Jazz Festival has become one of the country’s premiere destinations for this music—jazz artists and fans alike. 2011 is no exception. Jazz Producer Jim Luce has crafted a three-day festival packed with jazz legends and innovative voices on the international scene demonstrating the breadth and diversity of the state of jazz.

Virtuoso bassist Christian McBride brings his Big Band to heat up the Venetian Theater as Saturday’s headliner and to show us why this propulsive large ensemble is one of the hottest groups on the scene. Guitarist Juan Carlos Formell and his quartet Johnny’s Dream Club begin the afternoon by conjuring the sounds of late-‘40s Havana—rhapsodic yet sizzling. Joshua Redman’s latest project—James Farm—brings together pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Eric Harland for a truly collaborative approach resulting in rhythmically complex, harmonically rich, and melodically beautiful music-making. With incredible technical dexterity at the service of unassailable imagination, bluesman Lucky Peterson closes the afternoon with a joyous, foot-tapping set of authentic blues.

Lineup: 3pm: Juan Carlos Formell’s Johnny’s Dream Club-Sonidos Latinos*; 4:15pm: James Farm featuring featuring Joshua Redman (saxophone), Aaron Parks (piano), Matt Penman (bass), Eric Harland (drums); 5:30 pm: Lucky Peterson; dinner break; 8pm: Christian McBride Big Band.

Program to be announced from the stage.

Official Website: http://www.caramoor.org/festival/jazz