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Home , Kenny Barron, Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Randy Brecker, Sambao, Wanton Spirit

September 14, 2012

Hi-res images available at AnnenbergCenter.org/press or by request.

Jazz pianist and native kicks off the Annenberg Center’s series

(Philadelphia, September 14, 2012)—Nine-time Grammy®-nominated hometown jazz legend Kenny Barron will kick off the 12/13 jazz series at the Annenberg Center. An inductee in the Jazz Hall of , Barron’s piano skills have led him to be called “one of the top jazz pianists in the world” by the Los Angeles Times. Barron will be joined by on bass and another Philadelphia native, Johnathan Blake, on drums. This performance will take place on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 8 PM. Tickets are $20-$55 (prices are subject to change). For tickets or for more information, please visit AnnenbergCenter.org or call 215.898.3900. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Annenberg Center Box Office.

“The most lyrical piano player of our time” (Jazz Weekly), Philadelphia native Kenny Barron has been on the jazz scene for over 50 wildly successful years. Barron’s recordings have earned him nine Grammy® nominations beginning in 1992 with People Time, an outstanding duet with , followed by the Brazilian influenced and most recently for Freefall in 2002. Other Grammy® nominations include , Night and the City (a duet recording with ) and , a trio recording with and Haden.

Barron consistently wins the jazz critics and readers polls in Downbeat, Jazz Times and Jazziz magazines. In 2005, he was inducted into the American Jazz Hall of Fame and won a MAC Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a six-time recipient of Best Pianist by the Jazz Journalists Association and was a finalist in the prestigious 2001 Jazz Par International Jazz Award.

Barron will be joined by Kiyoshi Kitagawa on bass and another Philadelphia native, Johnathan Blake, on drums.

Bassist and composer Kiyoshi Kitagawa has worked with many of the leading names in jazz including , the Quartet, the Andy Bey Quartet and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. As a leader, Kitagawa has released five albums in including Ancestry, Prayer, Live at Tsutenka and Live in Japan, all featuring Kenny Barron and . His latest release I’m Still Here features Danny Grissett and Brian Blade.

Grammy®-nominated drummer and composer, Johnathan Blake has been working steadily in the contemporary jazz scene for the past ten years. A Philadelphia native and George Washington High School graduate, Blake is the son of world- renowned jazz violinist, John Blake, Jr. He played with Settlement Music School under the direction of Robert Landham. Blake has been a first-call drummer for notable jazz musicians such as , David Sanchez, , Kenny Barron, Randy Brecker and Oliver Lake. He is currently a member of the Tom Harrell Quintet, Russell Malone Quartet and Kenny Barron Trio. He also performs regularly with Donny McCaslin, Jaleel Shaw, Avishai Cohen and Omer Avital.

INSIGHTS Event 7 PM Audience members are invited to enjoy a pre-show chat with Kenny Barron.

INSIGHTS—Performance Enhancement Events The Annenberg Center offers a range of exciting and informative pre- and post-performance events that are free for all ticket holders. Featuring discussions led by Penn faculty members, area experts and guest artists, these events are designed to illuminate the work on stage. For more information, visit AnnenbergCenter.org/INSIGHTS.

-more- Kenny Barron Trio / 2

The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts The University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts has been the region's leading multi-disciplinary performance venue for theatre, dance, jazz, world music, new music and children’s programming since its inception in 1971. The Annenberg Center’s curatorial vision emphasizes four primary values: artistic integrity, cultural diversity, curatorial balance and a willingness to take risks. By presenting world-renowned and cutting edge artists and companies that express adventuresome perspectives on contemporary issues, timeless ideas and diverse cultures, the Annenberg Center promotes critical thinking and dialogue among its audiences, creating a uniquely rewarding arts experience.

The Annenberg Center has achieved national recognition for its outstanding, 30-year Dance Celebration series (presented in partnership with Philadelphia's Dance Affiliates), touring theatre series, and for its superior offerings for children, including both its Student Discovery Series and the acclaimed 29-year Philadelphia International Children’s Festival, the oldest festival of its kind in the United States.

State arts funding support is received through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Generous support for the 12/13 Annenberg Center season is provided by The William Penn Foundation, The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Philadelphia Foundation, PNC, The Philadelphia Phillies and The University of Pennsylvania. The Sheraton Philadelphia is the exclusive hotel sponsor.

For additional press information or to set up interviews, please contact: Sarah Fergus, Marketing & Communications Manager phone: 215.573.8537; email: [email protected] # # #