RIK EMMETT TO PERFORM AT ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

Guitar virtuoso Rik Emmett will join an extraordinary lineup of more than 60 artists including Tony Bennett, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Dave Brubeck, and Spyro Gyra at the Rochester International Jazz Festival's second edition, June 5 - 14.

ROCHESTER, NY (PRWEB) April 5, 2003 - Guitar virtuoso Rik Emmett will join an extraordinary lineup of more than 60 artists including Tony Bennett, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Dave Brubeck, and Spyro Gyra at the Rochester International Jazz Festival's second edition, June 5 - 14.

One of the most versatile guitarists around, Emmett has been inducted into the Canadian Rock Hall of Fame for his gold and platinum work with the power rock band Triumph. He is counted amongst the worlds finest guitarists, and has performed alongside legendary performers such as George Benson, Randy Bachman, and Steve Vai. He continues to surprise critics and fans with his vast musical expression, which runs the gamut from rock to jazz to classical to folk. Riks most recent offering is an instrumental smooth-jazz album entitled HANDIWORK which went top ten on the charts, and was selected the #1 Canadian Smooth Jazz album of the year (finishing behind only the Norah Jones release).

Rik Emmett will perform Saturday, June 7 at 9:00 PM at Water Street Music Hall. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, on sale beginning Friday, April 4 at 10 AM.

The full schedule, artist profiles and MP3 samples are available at www.rochesterjazz.com.

Concert venues include Eastman Theatre, High Falls, Montage Grill, Milestones, Max of Eastman Place, Kilbourn Hall, Memorial Art Gallery, Strong Museum, Water Street Music Hall, and The Crowne Plaza Hotel Big Tent and State Street Bar & Grill.

Complete Artist Lineup:
Al Jarreau, Alex Skolnick, Avishai Cohen/Jason Lindner/Marc Gouliani, Bill Carrothers Trio plus One, Bob Sneider Trio, California Guitar Trio, Chris Potter Quartet, Claudia Acuna Band, Curtis Stigers Band, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Dave Rivello Ensemble, David Leonhardt Trio, David Liebman Group, Dawn Thomson Quartet, East Hill Classic Jazz Quartet, Eastman Jazz, Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns, Gap Mangione Trio, George Benson, Greater Rochester Jazz Orchestra, Greece Jazz Band, Gypsy Jazz w/The Stephane Wrembel Trio, Joe Romano, Jon Ballantyne Quartet, Kenny Werner Trio, Kevin Dean's B3 Band, Kevin Mahogany Trio, Kurt Rosenwinkel Band, Lalo, Leni Stern Trio, Lizz Wright Band, Mambo Kings, Maria Schneider with ESM Alumni & ESM Jazz Ensemble, Mark Whitfield Trio, Matt Wilson's "Carl Sandburg Project", Medeski Martin & Wood, Mynta - Music From India, Nancy Kelly & Friends, Prime Time Funk, Ray Barretto & New World Spirit, Rich Perry with The Eastman Jazz Quartet, Rik Emmett, Roberta Piket & Alternating Current, Ryan Kisor Quartet, Sonny Fortune/Rashied Ali Duo, Spyro Gyra, Streetnix, The Fins, Tony Bennett, Two Siberians, U Street All Stars -- from Finland, Victoria Corrigan Quartet, and Yggdrasil featuring Eivør Pálsdóttir - from Iceland.

Festival Sponsors:
The festival is sponsored by New York State Senator Jim Alesi, Monroe County, Wegmans, Democrat & Chronicle, Time Warner Cable, Eastman School of Music, Heluva Good Quality Foods, Simcona Electronics, Harris Interactive, Kipling Light Beer, Constellation Brands, JetBlue Airways, HSBC, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, T Mobile, Greater Rochester Visitors Association, Max of Eastman Place, Hartke Amps, House of Guitars, Swingn Jazz, The Commission Project, City of Rochester,
Ballantyne RV & Marine, Little Theatre, cdstreet.com, jazztimes.com.

To arrange an interview with Rik Emmett, please contact Kathy Wagner, Panzyler Entertainment Group
at 609-634-5998 or kwagner@panzyler.com