Family night to debut at third annual Sonoma Jazz Plus

One of the 3rd Annual Sonoma Jazz + Festival’s primary goals is supporting music education and outreach, and folks at the festival have come up with a new angle: Family Night. Buy an adult ticket at any level to LeAnn Rimes and Robert Cray’s Thursday night (May 24th, 2007) show at the Field of Dreams tent, and be able to purchase a children’s ticket at the same level at a heavily-discounted $25 (valid for those under the age of 18). It’s a fantastic opportunity to share the worlds of country, pop, blues and soul music with your kids – all in one night. Family night tickets will be available at Sonoma Valley Music and at the door on the night of the show; all other tickets remain available (see information below).
These are two very special artists. By the time she was 18, LeAnn Rimes had won two Grammys, three Country Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, written a book, starred on a television show and in a blockbuster movie, sold more than 20 million records, and performed for the Pope. Now a venerable 23, she’s maintained that sort of pace. Raised in Texas, she recorded her first album, Blue, at 13; it sold eight million copies and established her as a major star. Albums like You Light Up My Life and This Woman followed, along with songwriting for as well as acting in the film “Coyote Ugly.” She is the reigning diva of country music, and also has vocal chops and talent that enable her to present music from other genres, with power to rival Janis Joplin and subtlety that suggests Patsy Cline.
The Robert Cray Band got its start in 1974 in Eugene, Oregon, playing frat parties (Robert played the bass player for Otis Day and the Knights in Animal House, art semi-imitating life) and bars up and down the West Coast. Albums like Who’s Been Talkin’, Bad Influence, Showdown! (one Grammy and five Handy awards) and especially 1986’s Strong Persuader and its single “Smoking Gun” brought them to the forefront of American roots music and took them on a succession of tours across the U.S., Europe, and Japan. The succeeding years have seen several more Grammys and further proof: Robert Cray is the keeper of the blues flame.
Also not to be missed, although this is for adults – the Festival’s Wine and Song program will present a wide variety of small group performances across varying styles from swing to gypsy to soul to blues paired with wines poured from the finest local vineyards in restaurants, bars, and courtyards around Sonoma Plaza on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Some things just go together…
General admission and reserved tickets are available by calling 866 527 8499, or by visiting www.sonomajazz.org . Family night tickets will be available at Sonoma Valley Music and at the door on the night of the show.
Sonoma Jazz + is a (501c3) Not for Profit organization, supported substantially through both generous patrons, led by its locally based Board of Directors, and major corporate sponsors. Returning as Founding Sponsors in 2007 are Hearthstone, The Marin Independent Journal, Union Bank of California, Sherman-Clay Pianos and The Sonoma Mission Inn and Kendall-Jackson Wines. Media sponsors include NBC-11 and Comcast.
The Founding Benefactors of the festival are James & Stephanie Pugash.