Yamaha Drums, Pianos and Artists Power 51st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival
BUENA PARK, Calif. Yamaha drum sets and pianos were omnipresent at the 51st annual Monterey Jazz Festival, the longest-running jazz festival in history. Held September 19 to 21 at the 20-acre Monterey Fairgrounds site, the festival featured performances by some of the biggest names in jazz, including several Yamaha Artists.
This year, for the first time at the festival, Yamaha helped sponsor an Instrument "Petting Zoo" at the festival's first Family Day. Children packed the tent to jam on several instruments, including two DTXPRESS IV Special electronic drum kits, two DD65 Compact Digital Drum Kits and two YPG-235 portable keyboards. Yamaha also held a drawing to give away a Kabuto Snare Drum.
"This was a wonderful addition to the festival," said David Murray, festival production coordinator. "If it's possible, we'd love to expand it next year."
Furnishing a total of 13 instruments for the event, Yamaha Pianos provided performers with a wide range of choices, including three CFIIIS Concert Grands, three C7s, one C6, one C5 as well as an assortment of C2s and U3s.
The instruments complemented numerous sites throughout the venue, including The Jimmy Lyons Stage, Dizzy's Den, The Nightclub, The Garden Stage and The Coffee House, as well as several rehearsal spaces.
Yamaha also provided a selection of drum sets, including an Absolute Maple Nouveau, Absolute Maple, Tour Custom, Absolute Birch Nouveau, Absolute Birch, Stage Custom Birch and an Oak Custom kit.
"Every year, the Yamaha folks help things go smoothly," said Murray. "They always go above and beyond the call of duty. The whole crew from Yamaha is fantastic."
Yamaha Artists who impressed the festival crowds included pianist Jamie Cullum, bassist Nathan East and drummers Keith Carlock, Greg Field, Mark McLean, Antonio Sanchez and Kendrick Scott. Sue Downs, a Yamaha Disklavier product specialist, the only artist at the festival with her own stage, performed on the instrument throughout the weekend. The Disklavier is an award-winning performance reproducing piano.
Beyond providing the Festival's pianos and drums, Yamaha donates instruments to Festival-affiliated jazz education programs throughout the year.
For more information, visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org, or call (831) 373-3366.
For more information about Yamaha products, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; call (714) 522-9011; or email infostation@yamaha.com.
 Pianist Jamie Cullum was one of numerous Yamaha artists to perform at the festival. |
"This was a wonderful addition to the festival," said David Murray, festival production coordinator. "If it's possible, we'd love to expand it next year."
Furnishing a total of 13 instruments for the event, Yamaha Pianos provided performers with a wide range of choices, including three CFIIIS Concert Grands, three C7s, one C6, one C5 as well as an assortment of C2s and U3s.
The instruments complemented numerous sites throughout the venue, including The Jimmy Lyons Stage, Dizzy's Den, The Nightclub, The Garden Stage and The Coffee House, as well as several rehearsal spaces.
Yamaha also provided a selection of drum sets, including an Absolute Maple Nouveau, Absolute Maple, Tour Custom, Absolute Birch Nouveau, Absolute Birch, Stage Custom Birch and an Oak Custom kit.
 Visitor knocks out a beat on a DTXPRESS IV electronic drum kit at the instrument "Petting Zoo." |
Yamaha Artists who impressed the festival crowds included pianist Jamie Cullum, bassist Nathan East and drummers Keith Carlock, Greg Field, Mark McLean, Antonio Sanchez and Kendrick Scott. Sue Downs, a Yamaha Disklavier product specialist, the only artist at the festival with her own stage, performed on the instrument throughout the weekend. The Disklavier is an award-winning performance reproducing piano.
Beyond providing the Festival's pianos and drums, Yamaha donates instruments to Festival-affiliated jazz education programs throughout the year.
For more information, visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org, or call (831) 373-3366.
For more information about Yamaha products, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; call (714) 522-9011; or email infostation@yamaha.com.