Yamaha Hosts Day of Jazz

NEW YORK (August 03, 2006) — On September 10, four renowned jazz musicians will perform in a "Day of Jazz," sponsored by Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. and Yamaha Band & Orchestral Division. The day will feature Yamaha Artists Jeff Coffin (saxophone), Stefon Harris (vibraphone), Christian Howes (electric violin) and Jeremy Pelt (trumpet). Coffin and Harris will discuss their careers, music and instruments in individual clinic sessions during the afternoon. In the evening, they will be joined by Howes and Pelt in a free concert. The show will feature all artists individually and as an all-star ensemble.

Attendees will also get an inside look at Yamaha instruments. They will go on tours of the 11th floor Band & Orchestral Atelier and take part in hands-on instrument testing. Technicians Tomoji Hirakata and Wayne Tanabe will answer questions about the instruments and customization options. A full range of Professional and Custom brass, woodwind, percussion and string instruments can be purchased at special one-day-only pricing. Local dealers will be available to assist with customer purchases.

All events are free and open to the public, but seating is limited to the first 150 people. RSVP by sending an e-mail to bandandorchestra@yamaha.com.

About Jeff Coffin

Jeff Coffin

Jeff Coffin, well-traveled saxophonist, composer, and Grammy-winning member of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, rejects all labels and categories other than "music" and "musician." In the face of his epic 2005 release "BLOOM," even those once-broad tags fall short of defining the close coiling of sound, philosophy and humanity that is the core of his art.

Since 1997, Coffin has traveled the world with the Flecktones, performing with musicians of all walks. Those with whom Jeff has shared the stage and/or the recording studio include diverse artists such as Baaba Maal, McCoy Tyner, The Dave Matthews Band, Umphrey's McGee, Savion Glover, Branford Marsalis and many, many more.

Along the way, Coffin has absorbed an astounding range of influences. "Whether it be New Orleans Second Line, African music, Indian Ragas, folk songs, Alan Lomax field recordings, jazz or funk, the spirit and breath of the music is what I take away from listening and playing," he says. For more information about Coffin, visit www.jeffcoffin.com.

Coffin will present a clinic at 1 p.m. and perform in the concert, which starts at 7 p.m.

Stefon Harris' passionate artistry, energetic stage presence and astonishing virtuosity have propelled him into the forefront of the current jazz scene. Widely recognized and lauded by both his peers and jazz critics, the 30-year-old is committed to exploring the rich potential of jazz composition as well as blazing new trails on the vibraphone.

A graduate of The Manhattan School of Music, he received a B.A. in Classical Music and an M.A. in jazz performance. Harris is a recipient of the prestigious Martin E. Segal Award from Lincoln Center and earned back-to-back-to-back Grammy nominations. His noted albums include "The Grand Unification Theory" (2003), "Kindred" (2001) and "Black Action Figure" (1999). For more information about Harris, visit www.stefonharris.com.

Harris will present a clinic at 2:15 p.m. and perform in the concert, which starts at 7 p.m.

Jeremy Pelt arrived in New York in 1998 after graduating from Berklee College of Music. He quickly began to be noticed by top musicians in the city. He received his first professional jazz gig with the Mingus Big Band, which led to many long-lasting associations and a great opportunity for growth. Throughout this time, Pelt has played with many jazz luminaries, such as Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Ravi Coltrane, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Short, Bobby "Blue" Bland, The Skatalites, Cedar Walton and many, many more.

Pelt has also been featured in a variety of different bands, including the Roy Hargrove Big Band, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, and the Duke Ellington Big Band. Currently, he is member of the Lewis Nash Septet, Mingus Big Band and The Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band featuring Louis Hayes. For more information about Pelt, visit peltjazz.com.

Pelt will perform in the "Day of Jazz" concert, which begins at 7 p.m.

Christian Howes has already made an indelible mark and is poised to be a path-finding figure on the contemporary violin. He has won recognition and kudos from artists and critics alike. "There is nobody better than this guy," says guitar pioneer Les Paul, with whom Christian has made numerous appearances.

Howes has performed and/or recorded with prominent artists, include Greg Osby, Randy Brecker, James Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Akua Dixon's Quartette Indigo, Billy Hart, D.D. Jackson, David Murray, Steve Turre's Sextet with Strings, Jane Monheit, Dr. John, Frank Vignola and Lenny White, to name a few. For more information about Howes, visit www.christianhowes.com.

Howes will play in the "Day of Jazz" concert, which begins at 7 p.m.

About Yamaha Artist Services, Inc.
Since its establishment in April 1987 in New York City, Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. (YASI) has gained widespread recognition for its professional service and devotion to the global performing arts community. YASI is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of artists, managers, performing arts organizations and educational institutions worldwide.

Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. occupies two separate floors at 689 Fifth Avenue. The entire third floor is a dedicated piano salon, featuring a changing selection of performance-ready CFIIIS concert grand pianos and Disklavier reproducing grand pianos. The piano salon also features an artists' lounge, a green room (practice studio), a stage that can accommodate two concert grand pianos, business offices and a workshop for concert piano technicians. The piano salon offers artists a cutting-edge sound environment known as Yamaha Active Field Control (AFC), which shapes and corrects room acoustics to allow authentic simulation of other performing arts venues. The piano salon's main room has been used to showcase activities such as concerts and master classes.

Yamaha's Band and Orchestral Atelier is located on the eleventh floor. A display room showcases the latest in professional brass and woodwind instruments. Adjacent to the display room is a full-service, state-of-the-art custom shop. It not only provides orchestral and professional musicians with unique customizations, but it also offers quick repairs. Most importantly, the shop gives artists the opportunity to try prototypes of Yamaha's latest professional instruments. Yamaha utilizes artist feedback to refine these products before they go into production.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/band.