 Photo Credit: John Abbot |
Wednesday, March 3 - 7 PM Jazz Impresario George Wein is considered to be as much a legend as his festivals. In addition to operating his company, Festival Productions, Inc. which staffs offices in six cities and produces hundreds of music events during the course of the year, Mr. Wein is the person responsible for the Newport Jazz Festival--an event that started the "festival era," according to jazz critic Leonard Feather. Even at 77, Wein has as much creative fuel as he did when he started that festival more than forty years ago and advanced the concept of live music. George Wein pioneered the concept of sponsor association with music events. Events such as the Schlitz Salute to Jazz and the Kool Jazz Festivals, preceded any other sponsor identity with entertainment events. Wein was the first to give the sponsor the title presentation that guaranteed mention of the sponsor's name in publicity and promotion. In addition to his work as a producer, Wein is an accomplished pianist whose group, the Newport All-Stars, has toured the United States, Europe and Japan. He has presented in his band some of the greatest musicians in the history of jazz music. In 1982, Wein received the Downbeat magazine Achievement Award for his longtime contributions to the continuation and further understanding of jazz. In May 1989, he was the recipient of the Twentieth Century Golden Scroll Award from The Jewish Advocate in Boston, and during that same year received the Duke Ellington/Shepherd of the Flock Award from the Saint Peter's Jazz Ministry in New York. In 1990, WBGO/Jazz 88 saluted Wein in a special concert at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Wein was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame for his contributions to the musical heritage of the State of Rhode Island. He is a member of the Collegium of Distinguished Alumni of Boston University, and is the recipient of honorary degrees from the Berklee College of Music and Rhode Island College of Music. He was awarded the Centennial Medallion Citation from the Hampton Institute. Mr. Wein is a member of the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theatre Foundation, and Jazz @ Lincoln Center. |
