Norton to Honor Jazz Legend Billy Taylor and Kick-off D. Ellington Jazz Festival- September 21, 2006
September 22, 2006
Norton to Honor Jazz Legend Billy Taylor and Kick-off Duke Ellington Jazz Festival Friday
September 21, 2006
Washington, DC—The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that she and members of the Congressional Black Caucus will honor Dr. Billy Taylor, the Grammy Award winning pianist and renowned Kennedy Center jazz legend and music educator, at an awards ceremony and news conference tomorrow, Friday, September 22, at 1 PM in Room 2203 Rayburn House Office Building, to help kick-off the 2nd Annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival (DEJF), taking place here from October 4-8, 2006. Norton, who Festival organizers have chosen for a second year as Co-chair of the Honorary Congressional Host Committee, along with Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), will present Dr. Taylor with the Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday and recognize him with remarks in the Congressional Record. Coincidentally, Dr. Taylor grew up in D.C., giving the award presentation special meaning for the Congresswoman, who represents this city. Norton also will be joined by Charles Fishman, DEJF Executive Producer, and Kevin Struthers, Jazz Program Manager at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Arts Task, is expected to attend the news conference to recognize the influence of Latin jazz and Hispanic Heritage Month. The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival premiered last fall as a huge success, with more than 30,000 attending the 5-day event, the highlight of which was a full day of free performances on the National Mall. Norton said, “With many free concerts and artists like Dr. John, Roy Haynes, Randy Weston, Paquito D'Rivera, Roy Hargrove, Poncho Sanchez, none will want to miss this year’s jazz offerings.” She hopes the DEJF will become one of the biggest jazz events in the country and will continue to draw tens of thousand of residents and tourists. The Congresswoman said that honoring Billy Taylor is sure to help elevate the Festival’s stature. In addition, because he grew up in the District of Columbia, Dr. Taylor is particularly admired in the nation’s capital, especially for his work as an educator and retired Artistic Advisor at the Kennedy Center. Taylor and his achievements are known worldwide, having performed with fellow jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis, among others. He is a National Endowment for the Arts/NEA Jazz Master and recipient of the National Medal of Arts awarded by President George H.W. Bush, two Peabody Awards, an Emmy and a Grammy. “I know the residents of this city join me in congratulating Dr. Taylor on this award in recognition of his virtuoso talent as a pianist and composer, and of his lifelong work to educate young people about America’s first indigenous form of music,” Norton said. Information about the performances, including many that are free, will be available at Friday’s press conference and is available at www.dejazzfest.org.
What: Awards Ceremony and Kick-off News Conference for the 2nd Annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival
Who: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Dr. Billy Taylor, CBC Members, Representatives of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival and the Kennedy Center
When: Friday, September 22, 2006, 1 PM
Where: Room 2203 Rayburn House Office Building, Independence Avenue & South Capitol Street, SWFestival
Contacts: Stacey Williams, 202-232-3611 or swilliams@dejazzfest.org,
Jana La Sorte, 973-762-558 or jana@janalynpr.com
September 21, 2006
Washington, DC—The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that she and members of the Congressional Black Caucus will honor Dr. Billy Taylor, the Grammy Award winning pianist and renowned Kennedy Center jazz legend and music educator, at an awards ceremony and news conference tomorrow, Friday, September 22, at 1 PM in Room 2203 Rayburn House Office Building, to help kick-off the 2nd Annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival (DEJF), taking place here from October 4-8, 2006. Norton, who Festival organizers have chosen for a second year as Co-chair of the Honorary Congressional Host Committee, along with Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), will present Dr. Taylor with the Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday and recognize him with remarks in the Congressional Record. Coincidentally, Dr. Taylor grew up in D.C., giving the award presentation special meaning for the Congresswoman, who represents this city. Norton also will be joined by Charles Fishman, DEJF Executive Producer, and Kevin Struthers, Jazz Program Manager at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Arts Task, is expected to attend the news conference to recognize the influence of Latin jazz and Hispanic Heritage Month. The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival premiered last fall as a huge success, with more than 30,000 attending the 5-day event, the highlight of which was a full day of free performances on the National Mall. Norton said, “With many free concerts and artists like Dr. John, Roy Haynes, Randy Weston, Paquito D'Rivera, Roy Hargrove, Poncho Sanchez, none will want to miss this year’s jazz offerings.” She hopes the DEJF will become one of the biggest jazz events in the country and will continue to draw tens of thousand of residents and tourists. The Congresswoman said that honoring Billy Taylor is sure to help elevate the Festival’s stature. In addition, because he grew up in the District of Columbia, Dr. Taylor is particularly admired in the nation’s capital, especially for his work as an educator and retired Artistic Advisor at the Kennedy Center. Taylor and his achievements are known worldwide, having performed with fellow jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis, among others. He is a National Endowment for the Arts/NEA Jazz Master and recipient of the National Medal of Arts awarded by President George H.W. Bush, two Peabody Awards, an Emmy and a Grammy. “I know the residents of this city join me in congratulating Dr. Taylor on this award in recognition of his virtuoso talent as a pianist and composer, and of his lifelong work to educate young people about America’s first indigenous form of music,” Norton said. Information about the performances, including many that are free, will be available at Friday’s press conference and is available at www.dejazzfest.org.
What: Awards Ceremony and Kick-off News Conference for the 2nd Annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival
Who: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Dr. Billy Taylor, CBC Members, Representatives of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival and the Kennedy Center
When: Friday, September 22, 2006, 1 PM
Where: Room 2203 Rayburn House Office Building, Independence Avenue & South Capitol Street, SWFestival
Contacts: Stacey Williams, 202-232-3611 or swilliams@dejazzfest.org,
Jana La Sorte, 973-762-558 or jana@janalynpr.com