For Immediate Release s186

For Immediate Release

Press Contact: Stephanie Janes PR | 617-419-0445 | [email protected] Crested Butte Music Festival Presents a Week of Gypsy Jazz July 23-28

Download High Resolution Photos of the ensembles

Gypsy Jazz takes over the Mirror Palace at the Crested Butte Music Festival. Nowhere else can you hear a week’s worth of the best Gypsy Jazz artists working today. From Nicki Parrott’s Les Paul tribute to Gypsy Jazz All-Stars like Jason Anick and Vinny Raniolo, these performances feature some of the most virtuosic concerts you’ll see in Crested Butte all summer.

Performances from July 23-28:

Sound Hearth: Gatsby Lawn Games with Vinny Raniolo and Julien Labro Sunday, July 23, 2017 | 11:00 AM Private Residence | Crested Butte, CO General Admission Tickets: $160 (includes a $110 tax deduction) | Purchase online at crestedbuttemusicfestival.org or call 970.349.0619

Dress like it’s the roaring 20s and prove your dominance on the lawn! In a delightful morning event, drink champagne, play lawn games like croquet and badminton, and, most importantly, hear a wonderfully refreshing performance from Julien Labro and Vinny Raniolo.

Blazing Virtuosity: Gypsy Jazz Double Bill Tuesday, July 25, 2017 | 7:30 PM General Admission Tickets: $35 | Purchase online at crestedbuttemusicfestival.org or call 970.349.0619

Will their instruments catch fire? This gypsy jazz double bill features blistering technical facility of new and returning gypsy jazz musicians.

In the first set, brilliant jazz violinist Jason Anick and accordionist Julien Labro employ scintillating technique and creativity in an homage to all-time great violinist Stephane Grappelli. The second set is a gypsy jazz battle as two of the best guitarists on the planet, Olli Soikkeli and Vinny Raniolo, as they square off in a dazzling display of virtuosity.

Gypsy Jazz Tributes to Les Paul Thursday, July 27, 2017 | 7:30 PM General Admission Tickets: $35 | Purchase online at crestedbuttemusicfestival.org or call 970.349.0619

Globe-trotting Australian-native Nicki Parrott doubles as vocalist and bassist in her renowned trio. She returns to the Mt. Crested Butte Mirror Palace for a tribute performance to guitar legend (and former bandmate) Les Paul. Nicki started her musical training at age four with the piano, studied the flute, and settled on the double bass at the age of 15. She performed with Les for ten years in Manhattan, and, according to the man himself, “has that special gift you cannot buy in a music store.”

A singer for all seasons, her bright and vibrant style is graced with clarity in her breezy and fresh arrangements of notable favorites.

Born in Newcastle, Australia, Nicki Parrott started her musical training at age four with the piano, followed by the flute, soon after. Nicki switched to double bass at the age of 15. In June 2000, Nicki began performing on Monday nights at the Iridium Jazz Club with the legendary guitarist and inventor, Les Paul. As part of the Les Paul Trio, Nicki worked side-by-side with guitar greats from Paul McCartney, Slash, Steve Miller to fellow Aussie, Tommy Emmanuel. Nicki has also performed in several Broadway shows such as Avenue Q, Imaginary Friends, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Summer of ’42 and Jekyll and Hyde and has made several television and documentary appearances including The Gossip Girls, Chasing Sound and Thank You Les, which recently debuted on PBS.

Gypsy Jazz All Stars Friday, July 28, 2017 | 7:00 PM General Admission Tickets: $40 | Purchase online at crestedbuttemusicfestival.org or call 970.349.0619

This evening brings together stars of the Gypsy Jazz world, including guitarists Vinny Raniolo and Olli Soikkeli, double-bassist/vocalist Nicki Parrott, and violinist Jason Anick (violin). Enjoy a collection of hot club musicians in concert together as they perform with astounding technical dexterity and musical aptitude that make each of these artists living legends.

Kids Go Free

Enjoy the Crested Butte Music Festival with the whole family with Kids Go Free! CBMF is offering a number of free fun music and art events for children throughout the season for everyone to enjoy. Youths under 18 can also enjoy free entry to select Festival performances with the purchase of one regularly priced adult ticket. Enjoy classical music, opera, dance, jazz, and bluegrass with some of today’s most exciting performing artists. Kids Go Free is part of the Festival's commitment to developing the performers of tomorrow and inspiring future generations to appreciate the arts. (Kids Go Free excludes fundraising events).

More about the Mt. Crested Butte Mirror Palace:

One of only four such structures in the U.S., the Mt. Crested Butte Mirror Palace is a semi-permanent Spiegeltent that houses all of the CBMF mainstage concerts. Flemish for “mirror tents,” Spiegeltents were built around 1900 in Belgium for use as traveling dance halls and fairs. The Mt. Crested Butte Mirror Palace is nicknamed “Victoria” and was originally built in the 1930s by the Klessens family. The numerous spiegels, or mirrors, in the tent allowed for discreet eye contact between visitors and became a legendary symbol of the wild fin-de-siècle nightlife. This tent has traveled around the world and most recently spent ten years in South Africa. In addition to housing the Festival events, the Tent is available for special events and rentals.

About the Crested Butte Music Festival:

The 2017 season offers an array of performances over seven weeks from June to August in classical music, Gypsy jazz, dance, opera, and more. Through CBMF’s guest artists, residents and visitors of Gunnison County have access to performances and educational opportunities that would typically only be available in a major metropolitan area. CBMF offers educational programming and events for all ages, many of which are free or presented with a voluntary donation. Tickets are now on sale at crestedbuttemusicfestival.org.

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Crested Butte Music Festival | PO Box 2117 Crested Butte, CO 81224 970.349.0619 | crestedbuttemusicfestival.org