2005 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACTS: David Perry/Barbara Webb - David Perry & Associates
(415) 693-0583

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival Announces
Jazz Orchestra 101 - A Narrated Family Concert
The Marcus Shelby Orchestra

Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission & Third Streets, San Francisco
ADMISSION FREE!
Saturday, July 16, 2005, 1pm

SAN FRANCISCO, CA. June 20, 2005. The 2005 Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents Jazz Orchestra 101, the third in a series of narrated family concerts in Yerba Buena Gardens from 1 to 2 pm on Saturday, July 16, 2005.
The 15-piece Marcus Shelby Orchestra explores the unique range and dynamics of a jazz orchestra through compositions by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Count Basie and Marcus Shelby. From powerful big band swing to the elegant ballad, Jazz Orchestra 101 will include a musical exploration of the instruments of the jazz orchestra and offer the audience the opportunity to compare the structure to that of a classical orchestra. Composer/Bassist Marcus Shelby has studied under James Newton and Charlie Haden and has performed with legendary jazz artists Billy Higgins, Eddie Harris, Joe Henderson, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Childs and Sir Roland Hannah among others.

Shelby's work as a bandleader began in Los Angeles in 1990 with Black/Note. The group recorded 4 records for the GRP! Impulse and Columbia labels and toured worldwide with Wynton Marsalis. In 1996 Shelby moved to San Francisco and formed the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra.

The MSJO works extensively on collaborative theater, film and dance projects. Their first CD "The Lights Suite" reached #10 on national jazz charts in early 2002. In addition to composing and performing, Shelby is on the faculty at San Francisco State University and U.C. Berkeley University in the Young Musicians Program.

Upcoming programs in the Music in the Gardens 101 Series are Melody of China performing classical, contemporary and folk music of China (AUGUST 20); Dr. Loco's Rockin' Jalapeño Band's take on the history of Chicano Music (SEPTEMBER 17); and the 50-member Gamelan Sekar Jaya performing the wondrous rhythms of Bali (OCTOBER 1).

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, which takes place from May through October, features over 150 events, including classical and jazz concerts, opera, performance art, international music concerts, dance performances, children's programs, theater, visual arts, puppet shows, cultural festivals, and special events.

All performances and events are free and open to the public, drawing an audience of San Francisco and Bay Area residents, tourists, and convention attendees that numbers more than 100,000 each year.

Free Artistic and Cultural Programming in Yerba Buena Gardens is made possible through the generosity of The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency; The Creative Work Fund, The Bernard Osher Foundation; The James Irvine Foundation; The JPMorganChase Foundation; MJM Management Group; The National Endowment for the Arts; The San Francisco Arts Commission; The San Francisco Foundation; The WA Gerbode Foundation, The Walter & Elise Haas Fund; The Zellerbach Family Foundation; and individual contributions. We gratefully acknowledge in-kind contributions from Steefel, Levitt, and Weiss; LaserCom Design; The San Francisco Marriott; Sony-Metreon; San Francisco Chronicle; San Francisco Downtown Magazine; San Francisco Bay Guardian; and JC Decaux.

Yerba Buena Arts & Events, producer of The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is located at 760 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Phone (415) 543-1718; Fax (415) 543-1755; website: http://www.ybgf.org
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Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

produced by Yerba Buena Arts & Events

Mailing Address:
760 Howard Street
San Francisco CA 94103
Phone: 415 543 1718
Fax: 415 543 1755
info@ybgf.org
www.myspace.com/ybgfestival