Tellururide Jazz Celebration '07 Artists • Tellururide Jazz Celebration '06 Artists • Tellururide Jazz Celebration '05 Artists

The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers; Art, Charles, Aaron, and Cyril continue to provoke, entertain and excite audiences around the globe. The differences between the four Neville Brothers are as dramatic as the similarities that unite them, namely passionate funk and a feeling for blues-soaked deep pocket grooves that is the basis of their greatness and exalted place in our cultural history.

Dr. John
Dr. John is universally celebrated as the living embodiment of the rich musical heritage exclusive to New Orleans. His very colorful musical career began in the 1950s and continues to dazzle and delight audiences across the globe with his unique blend of voodoo mysticism, funk, rhythm & blues, psychedelic rock and Creole roots.

Guest of Honor – McCoy Tyner
This four-time Grammy© winner is also a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts’ prestigious "Jazz Master" award in 2002. It is no overstatement to say that Tyner, whose blues-based piano style is one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music, has helped shape modern jazz over the past 50 years. He has released nearly 80 albums under his own name and continues to influence generations of jazz artists around the world. Christian Scott, trumpet; Gerald Cannon, bass; Eric Kamau Gravatt, drums.

Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker: his name is synonymous with Funky Music, his pedigree impeccable; his band: the tightest little funk orchestra on earth. Everyone knows by now that he's played with each and every leader of funk, his start with James Brown, which Maceo describes as " like being at University "; jumping aboard the Mothership with George Clinton and a tribute to Ray Charles. He’s the living, breathing pulse which connects the history of Funk in one golden thread. www.maceoparker.com

Joe Lovano
According to Ben Ratliff of The New York Times “It’s fair to say that [Joe Lovano is] one of the greatest musicians in jazz history.” One of the leading saxophonists on the international jazz scene, Lovano has a husky tone on the tenor and soars on the soprano. He has one foot firmly rooted in the mainstream jazz tradition yet he continues to open new paths in jazz with an approach to improvisation is modern and daring and steeped in the tradition of Ornette Coleman. Before embarking on an award-winning solo career, Lovano emerged on the scene in the early ‘80s working in guitarist John Scofield’s quartet and in a bass-less trio with drummer Paul Motian and guitarist Bill Frisell that is still active today. James Weidman, piano; Esperanza Spalding, bass; Otis Brown III, drums.

Dave Liebman Group
“David Liebman is a preeminent jazz saxophonist who has sustained a top-of-the-line reputation for four decades. He embodies a rare combination of discipline, knowledge, technique, and passion. Simply put, he is a true and dedicated master. With Liebman, guitarist Vic Juris, bassist Tony Marino, and Marcinko, the David Liebman Group gave a stunning, vibrant, and swinging performance.” -- All About Jazz

Bettye LaVette
“In a career spanning 40 years, she has maintained a level of almost unrivaled quality” -- Soul Historian
Bettye is on the cover of the current issue of Pollstar. Her new CD "The Scene of the Crime" has been Grammy nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album of 2007, is showing up on several "best of" end of the year lists and is up for three Blues Music Awards. Bettye also just taped “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross on NPR.

Simone
She’s her own woman, a singer, songwriter and performer whose ability to transcend genres echoes the tradition of her mother, musical icon and jazz vocal pioneer Nina Simone. Simone is blessed with a rich range, an innate skill for lyrical interpretation and a soul-deep understanding of music as a means of healing, empowerment and celebration, Her new CD is slated for release in February of 2008.

Grupo Fantasma
Based in Austin, Texas, Grupo is said to be the finest and funkiest Latin orchestra to come out of the United States in the last decade. This collective is still riding the momentum of their critically acclaimed performances with Prince in London before 20,000 people. They also had a stint at Prince’s Las Vegas nightclub 3121 and the Golden Globes. Fantasma opened for Prince in front of 8,000 fans in Miami, Florida and served as his backup band for the CBS Superbowl Bash in South Beach, the ALMA Awards airing on national television.

Chuscales
(Guitarist) is internationally recognized as one of the new breed of flamenco guitarists who combine fluid technique and close study of contemporary musical forms to move the flamenco guitar into new territory. “Chuscales” was born in Antequera, Spain (Malaga), and raised in Granada in a family of professional musicians and dancers. He has toured in Canada, Europe, South America, Japan and United States. “Chuscales” is featured on the CD: his solo album "Guitarra Flamenca".

Maelstrom Trio featuring Skerik
This New Orleans-based Trio including Skerik, Brian Coogan and drummer Simon Lott combines exciting elements of free jazz, funk, metal and textural music. Born Eric Walton, tenor and Baritone saxophonist, Skerik is a pioneer in a playing style that has been dubbed “saxophonics”. He is a founding member of Critters Buggin and Garage A Trois including Stanton Moore, Charlie Hunter and Mike Dillon and recently featuring Marco Benevento.

Crescent Super Band
Composed of students aged 13 to 18, ‘The Music School’ -- based in American Fork, Utah -- performed at the 34th Annual International Association for Jazz Education Conference. They were invited to open the event, playing with special guest, Doc Severinsen, the legendary Tonight Show bandleader. Under the direction Caleb Chapman, the band has performed at major European jazz festivals including North Sea in The Netherlands and Umbria Jazz in Italy.

Telluride Student All-Star Jazz Ensemble
This program is for the serious student and is directed by renowned jazz educator and performer Bob Montgomery. A national talent search is conducted for students age 13 and up via audition tapes. Students selected receive full scholarships to this special week-long program culminating with a main stage performance at the Telluride Jazz Celebration. For audition and scholoarship information, please click here.

(Line-up as of Jan. 15, subject to change)