Yamaha and Monterey Jazz Festival Celebrate 40-year Partnership of Innovative Jazz, Education Outreach
Monterey, Calif (PRWEB) September 14, 2016 -- For the past 40 years, Yamaha Corporation of America has partnered with the Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) to provide world-class instruments for the festival’s eight stages and rehearsal areas scattered throughout the 20 acres of the Monterey County Fairgrounds. At the same time, the world’s largest musical instrument company has held a steadfast commitment to the festival’s educational programs to create, nurture and develop young jazz musicians.
As the official supplier of drum sets and pianos during the three-day festival, Yamaha helps artists create consistent and exceptional sound quality both for the musicians and concertgoers alike.
“I’ve been playing Yamaha Drums for 32 years because they are a superlative company that cares about the quality of their product, about education and the artists they support,” said Yamaha artist Terri Lyne Carrington. “As Artist-in-Residence for the Monterey Jazz Festival this year, and having been a clinician and performer previous years, I have seen how Yamaha has lent their support to Monterey Jazz.”
Carrington will be joined for a main stage performance by the renowned Next Generation Jazz Orchestra on September 18. The orchestra, brought together each year by the Monterey Jazz Festival, is comprised of 21 of the most talented high school jazz musicians from across the country to form an all-star big band.
“One of the most important aspects of producing a quality festival is what the MJF calls ‘setting the table’, which is to essentially provide our artists the tools and the environment to allow them to create and perform to their fullest potential,” said Tim Jackson, artistic director for MJF. “For 40 years, Yamaha has played a key role in allowing us to do that. This partnership supports our overall mission of enriching life through jazz and providing educational opportunities for young artists.”
At the beginning of their partnership, Yamaha provided a small number of instruments but that number has grown today to fill all eight stages with Yamaha drums and pianos. More than 500 artists encompassing almost 100 groups will be performing during the event that will showcase the best jazz has to offer on everything from the Yamaha CFX concert grand piano to the AvantGrand N3, a new breed of hybrid piano.
Yamaha drummer and singer Jamison Ross will be playing on the opening day of the concert series. He is the 2012 winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition for drums. Jamison is one of many Yamaha artists that launched their careers at the MJF.
“The partnership between Yamaha and the Monterey Jazz Festival has been an enduring one that has had an immense impact on music education and the jazz genre for decades,” said Dave Jewell, marketing communications manager, Yamaha Corporation of America. “Our relationship has grown over the years and has added to our company’s footprint as the premier source of world-class instruments.”
The MJF is nation’s oldest continuous running jazz series, and during its 59-year history has brought artists from across the globe to create musical magic amid the beauty of the Monterey peninsula. It runs from September 16-18. This year Monterey honors trailblazing artist, performer, bandleader, composer and Yamaha Artist Quincy Jones.
For more information on the Monterey Jazz Festival, please visit http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/ For more information about Yamaha, please visit http://usa.yamaha.com/
Peter Giles, Giles Communications, +1 914-798-7120, [email protected]
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