Bring in the change of season with a night of modern jazz with legends and local jazz favorites. Entertaining and exciting, Sun Valley's own Paul Tillotson will bring The Love Trio to the pavilion stage with special guest Lew Soloff. Tillotson and friends will be in very good company as well-known jazz musicians Sergio Mendes will headline the festival with jazz guitar star Gene Bertoncini.
Mendes is considered a Brazilian music legend, having made popular the genre of samba-based bossa nova. Along with composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, guitarist Joao Gilberto and lyricist Vinicius de Moraes, the musicians created a unique style of music, which continues in popularity today.
Mendes is most known for his cover of Burt Bacharach's "The Look of Love," which became a bossa nova hit in 1967. The song has received a new life by Black Eye Pea's will.i.am with a new interpretation, which includes a sexy rap by The Black Eyed Peas' Fergie.
Bertoncini was nominated in 2008 as "Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year" by the New York Jazz Press. He played in Johnny Carson's Tonight Show Band and has performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
Perhaps the most well known jazz musician in Sun Valley today is Paul Tillotson. Tillotson performs throughout the year in the Duchin Room and the Boiler Room and in Jazz in the Park during summer. He surrounds himself with some of the most talented rising jazz stars. The Paul Tillotson Love Trio is a must-see act, which blends long and mesmerizing jazz rifts with a dash of humor and lots of style. When joined with Lew Soloff on trumpet, the trio transforms into a full-blown, one-of-a-kind jazz experience that is always fresh and engaging.
Sun Valley will hold its first modern jazz music festival at the Sun Valley Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 5 to 10 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. and tickets are $25, $40 and $67. For tickets and details, call 622-2135 or visit seats.sunvalley.com.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
The Paul Tillotson Love Trio, from left, Paul Tillotson, Mike Merritt and James Wormworth. The trio will perform with special guest Lew Soloff at the Sun Valley Pavilion. Photo by
