Exceptional line up announced for the forth Avoriaz Jazz Up Festival 2011

The Avoriaz Jazz Up Festival has announced its line up for 2011, featuring world-renowned artists as well as showcasing emerging talent during its programme of dinner shows, events and spectacular concerts.

The festival, which runs between 18th to 25th March 2011, includes 40 dinner concerts, a variety of jazz events and kicks off with four concerts in the Avoriaz festival hall.

Opening the week-long jazz celebration on Friday March 18th will be Jazz Up Emergence, a concert in partnership with C.N.V. and the SPEDIDAM, who operate four jazz music training centres in France. The concert is the chance to discover new stars, and having completed residencies at the Pont Royal site, Jazz Up will be the first concert for these rising groups:

*For the APEJS in Chambery: Aquarium Orchestra

*For the IMFP in Salon-de-Provence: Kempachy

*For the Jazz a Tours in Tours: Ras

*For Music Halle in Toulouse Alfie Ryner

The opening night will climax with a fiery face off of two well-known jazz figures – pianist Mario Canonge and double bassist Michel Zenino.

Saturday, March 19th will see award winning solo pianist Tigran Hamasyan take to the stage after the release of his first solo album in February 2011. Tigran, a keyboard virtuoso, won 1st Prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival and subtly combines the legacy of the great pianists Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett with nostalgic accents of his own Armenian heritage.

On Sunday, March 20th The Nicolas Folmer Quartet will be joined by Italian saxophonist Rosario Giuliani for the SPEDIDAM Concert, paying homage to history’s great jazz quintets. Nicolas Folmer, considered the best trumpeter of his generation, is founder of the group No Jazz, arranger for Nougaro and Henri Salvador and also producer of an album taking a fresh approach to the music of Michel Legrand.

A fitting close for the festival hall concerts on Monday, March 21st is ‘the most French of American singers’ Liz McComb with Gospel night. Awarded the Mahalia Jackson Prize, Liz communicates the New Orleans spirit through her music and unique voice. As a gifted pianist and singer she excels in gospel as much as in blues and jazz.

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