Headliners for First Verizon Music Festival in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES - This fall, the Verizon Music Festival will feature Wynton Marsalis & the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Joshua Redman Quartet, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, McCoy Tyner, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Daniela Mercury, and David Clayton-Thomas and Blood, Sweat & Tears. The event will run Sept. 28- Oct. 2 in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is the second city to host the Verizon Music Festival series, which will premiere in New York City Aug. 7 and travel to Tampa on Oct. 24-27 after the Los Angeles dates. Like its East Coast counterpart, the Los Angeles festival will be a combination of premier concerts featuring headlining acts, several free outdoor shows, a series of intimate club presentations and performances by some of Los Angeles' best emerging talent.

In addition, the Verizon Music Festival in Los Angeles will include the 8^th Annual Hollywood Salsa & Latin Jazz Festival - an annual celebration of Latin music and culture. Other venues for the Los Angeles festival include the Wilshire Theatre, Central Park in Old Pasadena, California Plaza, World Stage, Jazz Bakery and Temple Bar.

''The line-up of star talent and newcomers in this first Verizon Music Festival is just what we wanted to reflect the history and importance that music has had on the spiritual fabric in California and the world,'' said Tim McCallion, Verizon pacific region president. ''The Verizon Music Festival is truly a reflection of the diversity of cultures and tastes that make up our customers and our communities throughout the Verizon footprint. We are honored to be able to share such rich and delightful music with so many people.''

The Verizon Music Festival in Los Angeles will kick off Sept. 28 with a performance by Wynton Marsalis & the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (LCJO) at the Wilshire Theatre. The show is part of the LCJO's ''United in Swing 2001-02 Tour'' in which the LCJO performs a different program every night, drawing from an extensive repertoire, including works by Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and Charles Mingus and original compositions by Wynton Marsalis and other LCJO members.

On Sept. 29, the Verizon Music Festival will feature the 8^th Annual Hollywood Salsa & Latin Jazz Festival starring the Fania All-Stars, featuring Johnny Pacheco, Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, Adalberto Santiago, Ismael Miranda, Roberto Roena, Papo Lucca, and Bobby Valentin with special guest Gilberto Santa Rosa.

Another festival highlight will be an all-star performance by Joshua Redman, Me'shell Ndegeocello, David Clayton-Thomas and Blood, Sweat & Tears, and John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers at the Central Park in Old Pasadena. This will be a free concert, open to the general public with two stages featuring continuous music from noon to 7 p.m. Performers such as Cecilia Noël & The Wild Clams, Texas Brown, the Tom Nolan Band, will headline the second stage.

Throughout the five-day Los Angeles run, the festival will include diverse performances such as Tom Wopat, star of Broadway's ''Annie Get Your Gun'' at the Conga Room (Sept. 30), and Daniela Mercury and Richard Bona at California Plaza (Oct. 2). As a rare treat, the festival also will play host to the world premiere of special dance performances by the Lula Washington Dance Theatre with McCoy Tyner at the Wilshire Theatre (Oct. 1). This collaboration will present at least three original dance pieces set to the music of the renowned pianist. Special guest at this concert will be singer Jane Monheit.

To complement the premiere performances, the Verizon Music Festival will offer five consecutive nights of club shows at spaces such as the Jazz Bakery, World Stage and Temple Bar. Moreover, the festival will provide a platform to showcase some of the best, undiscovered local performers, as part of the festival's ''Emerging Talent'' component. A committee comprised of members of the Los Angeles music community will select five performers for the festival who will then appear as opening acts for more established performers.

''We are extremely proud to bring the Verizon Music Festival to Los Angeles and become part of the city's rich music community,'' said George Wein, CEO of Festival Productions, Inc. ''Los Angeles has always been a diverse music city, so we specifically tailored the festival to emphasize jazz, blues, Latin and world music to reflect the city's myriad of tastes.''

Tickets for paid shows are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets throughout Southern California or by telephone at 213-480-3232, 714-740-2000 or 805-583-8700. More information about the Los Angeles concerts can also be obtained by calling 310-450-1173. In addition to the Los Angeles show, Festival Productions, Inc. is also producing the Verizon Music Festival in New York on Aug.7-12 and Tampa on Oct. 24-27. For updated festival information in all three cities, go to www.festivalproductions.net or www.verizon.com/musicfestival

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For more than 45 years, George Wein and Festival Productions Inc., have been the preeminent producers of music festivals and entertainment properties in the world, including the famed Newport Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the JVC Jazz Festivals Worldwide, among others. Throughout the years, FPI has built a storied reputation as the foremost experts in festival productions and Wein has personally worked with venerable jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 112 million access line equivalents and 27 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with approximately 260,000 employees and more than $65 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com

The Verizon Music Festival schedule for Los Angeles:

Friday, Sept. 28
''United in Swing 2001-2002 Tour''
Wynton Marsalis & The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
Wilshire Theatre 8 p.m.

co-presented with ''A Nederlander Event''
Official radio Station KLON 88.1 FM

Saturday, Sept. 29
''8^th Annual Hollywood Salsa & Latin Jazz Festival''
Fania All Stars featuring Johnny Pacheco, Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, Adalberto Santiago,
Ismael Miranda, Roberto Roena, Papo Lucca, Bobby Valentin
Also starring Gilberto Santa Rosa additional artists to be announced
Latin Sounds Student All Star Band
Mariachi Mujer 2000
Hollywood Bowl, 6:30 p.m.

Produced by HOB/Hewitt/Silva in association with Ralph Mercado
Officially sponsored by KMEX 34 Univision

Sunday, Sept. 30

Stage 1
Joshua Redman
David Clayton-Thomas and Blood, Sweat & Tears
Me'Shell Ndegeocello
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Central Park in Old Pasadena, 12- 7 p.m. -non-stop music on two stages
Free, open to the public

Tom Wopat
Conga Room, 8:00 p.m.

Stage 2
Cecilia Noël & The Wild Clams
Texas Brown
Tom Nolan Band

Monday, Oct. 1
World Premiere of McCoy Tyner and The Lula Washington Dance Theatre
In a Music and Dance Collaboration
Jane Monheit
Jeff Babko Group
Wilshire Theatre, 8 p.m.

Official Radio Station KJAZZ 1260 AM

Tuesday, Oct. 2
Daniela Mercury
Richard Bona
California Plaza, 5:30-10 p.m.
Free, Open to the Public
Presented as part of the Grand Performances at California Plaza

Verizon Music Festival In The Clubs

Friday, September 28

Temple Bar
Fischer P.
The Soul Of John Black
Burning Star
Natural Afrodisiac

World Stage
The Harold Land, George Bohanon, Oscar Brashear Sextet
Michael Session Ensemble

Saturday, September 29
Temple Bar
DJ Haul
Sonja Marie
Antibalas AfroBeat Orchestra

World Stage
The Young World Stage All Stars
Dwight Tribble and Kamau Daaood

Sunday, September 30
Temple Bar
Fischer P.
DJ Haul
Mason
Los Angelitos
The Rhythm Room All Stars

World Stage
Writers & Vocalists Workshop Showcase
Jazz Jam Session

Monday, October 1
Temple Bar
A Night of Soul
Kevin Sandbloom
Blaque Pearl
Old Sol
Damon Aaron
Chris Pierce

World Stage
Drum Workshop Showcase

Tuesday, October 2
Temple Bar
Baba
Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra

World Stage
Vocals Workshop Showcase

In addition, performances will take place at the Jazz Bakery from Friday, September 28 -- Tuesday, October 2^nd with artists to be announced shortly.