Press releases

JAZZ MASTERS
EARL KLUGH, BOB JAMES AND PATTI AUSTIN
PERFORM IN MUMBAI AND NEW DELHI

January 29, 2008

New Delhi - Three of America's most talented jazz artists - guitarist Earl Klugh, pianist Bob James and vocalist Patti Austin - and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz visited India January 24-29, 2008,  performing for jazz lovers in Mumbai and New Delhi.  The United States Department of State brought the jazz stars to India as part of an ongoing partnership with the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz and Vh1 JazzMasters.

The Jazz Masters performed at the Tata Theatre on Friday, January 25, and in New Delhi at the NCUI (National Cooperative Union of India) Auditorium on Sunday, January 27. In addition to the concerts, the musicians conducted master classes with young Indian musicians at the Blue Frog Club in Mumbai and the Ravi Shankar Institute of Music and Performing Arts in New Delhi.  They also engaged in outreach activities to promote education for all by playing for disadvantaged youth at Mumbai's Don Bosco Shelter for Street Children and the Deepalaya school in New Delhi.
 
This is the fourth consecutive year the U.S. Department of State's American Centers in India have supported public-private partnerships to bring American jazz greats to India.  Previous tours have included special performances in India by legends Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, renowned jazz singer Al Jarreau, and saxophonist Kenny Garrett.

Earl Klugh is a jazz fusion guitarist and composer whose blend of jazz, pop and rhythm and blues has topped the charts and won him 13 Grammy nominations.  Bob James is a pianist, composer, producer, and arranger who has created some of the most successful jazz/pop crossover music and performed with the biggest names in traditional jazz.  Singer Patti Austin crosses all musical genres and has achieved some of the highest honors in pop music, jazz, and musical theatre. She has appeared on dozens of albums in all styles of music and has performed with pop stars and symphony orchestras.  The three will be joined by critically acclaimed saxophonist Bobby Watson and musicians from the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz.

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, a nonprofit education organization, offers the world's most promising young musicians training by America's jazz masters and presents jazz education programs for young people worldwide to expand children's musical knowledge and encourage imaginative thinking, creativity, a positive self-image and respect for their own and others' cultural heritage.