Contact: Sajda Musawwir Ladner 718-273-5610

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Back by Popular Demand! Universal Temple Arts Presents Staten IslandJAZZFestival 22

Staten Island, NY (September 3, 2009). Jazzlovers, aficionados, and enthusiasts of the next generation, will be treated to a full day of performances and workshops geared toward the whole family. UniversalTemple of the Arts (UTA) proudly presents, Staten Island JAZZFestival 22 on Saturday, October 17, 2009 from 2pm until 7pm at the Music Hall at SnugHarborCulturalCenter. Come enjoy the depth and breadth of Jazz music, dance, song and spoken word. Performances by legendary artists including Maxwell Lucas, Bluiett, Bob Cunningham, Ed Stoute, Kiane Zawadi, and Taru Alexander; Emme Kemp, Leopoldo Fleming Latin Jazz Ensemble, Danny Mixon Quartet, Lee Pearson Quartet, Francyna Conners, and from New Orleans the birthplace of Jazz, Betty Shirley. Staten Island talent will include Jeannine Otis, Betty Miller, Wafoo and Queen Tipsy. Additional artists are expected to be added to the lineup.

The day kicks off with workshops taught by esteemed artist-educators: Lee Pearson, a versatile drummer who has worked with many industry notables including, Roy Ayers and Snoop Dogg, will facilitate the Jazz Music Workshop; dancer-historian Mickey Davidson will instruct the Jazz Dance Workshop; and vocalist Betty Millerwill conduct a Jazz Vocal Workshop. A Romare Bearden (known as the Jazz Artist) Collage Workshop will be taught by Bearden’s niece, artist Deidre Harris-Kelley. Culminating the morning sessions will be a panel discussion titled The History and Future of Jazz, moderated by Greg Thomas. Mr. Thomas is aconsultant at theNationalJazzMuseum in Harlem; a writer for All About Jazz in NY; the host of Keep Swinging on WBAI radio, and Jazz It Up! an online Jazz series.

This year, UTA will acknowledge several elected officials for their support of the Staten Island Jazz Festival over its 22-year history. Award recipients will include Congressman Michael McMahon, State Senator Andrew Lanza, State Senator Diane Savino, Assemblyman Matthew Titone and Councilmembers Kenneth Mitchell and Domenic Recchia.

Performance tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children in advance; at the door, tickets are $30 and $15 respectively. Senior, student and group rates are available. All day-of-festival workshops cost $10 each; the panel discussion is FREE. For those who wish to discover more, please contact the UniversalTemple of the Arts at 718-273-5610 or visit for a full line-up of talent and festival schedule.

The event is partially funded by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Con Edison, State Senator Diane Savino, and Assemblyman Matthew Titone.

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More Information on UTA:

Founded in 1967 by artist/teacher/philosopher Maurice Phillips and a group of young artists, including the current Artistic-Executive Director Sajda Musawwir Ladner, UTA is a dynamic artistic, cultural and educational organization with a rich history of providing life enrichment programs to Staten Island residents. UTA has long embraced our nation’s tradition of Jazz – an American-born music genre – and founded the Staten Island Jazz Festival in 1988 with the intent of both preserving and promoting Jazzarts.For over 2 decades, UTA has presented this annual event, which has evolved into an all-day festival, to critical acclaim and loyal audiences. The Staten Island JAZZFestival is a direct extension of UTA’s mission of ‘quickening the creative spirit in the individual and community and fostering brotherly love’ and it provides a stage upon which UTA’s students, community members and world-renowned artists can showcase their talents in a welcoming environment. UTA has created sponsorship opportunities and is partnering with local businesses and community groups to present Jazz programming to new and broader audiences, including underserved children and families, and to spur economic growth and tourism in Staten Island.