PITTSFIELD, MAS. (Top40 Charts/ Pittsfield CityJazz Festival) - Tickets are now on sale for the third annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, which takes place throughout the city on Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 4-7. Tickets may be purchased online at www.PittsfieldCityJazz.org, as well as several local outlets. These include the Pittsfield Visitors Center, 109 South Street (Colonial Theatre Annex, 413-443-9186, ext. 321); and the Adams Visitors Center, 3 Hoosac Street, Adams, both of which accept cash, check, Master Card, Visa, Discover. The following Pittsfield venues will also be selling tickets during their normal operating hours (cash and check only):
* Berkshire Music School, 30 Wendell Ave.;
* Lichtenstein Center for the Performing Arts, 28 Renne Ave.;
* Wood Brothers, Allendale Shopping Center,
* Miller Supply, 205 West St.,
* Berkshire Fine Handcrafts, 431 North Street, and
* Taconic High School, 96 Valentine Rd.
The Pittsfield CityJazz Festival includes something for everybody: a night of music featuring groups headed by women; a Latin Jazz Dance Party; a special Jazz orchestra comprising Pittsfield high school students; documentary Jazz films; and the return of two remarkable performers from last year's event. Once again dozens of local restaurants will be featuring regionally-based artists in free performances before (and in some cases after) the concerts.
Percussion master Winard Harper, who appeared last year with Billy Taylor, will open the festival on Oct. 4 with his own sextet, at Masonic Hall. Harper will also be featured with the Williams College Jazz Ensemble, one of the premier collegiate bands in New England, performing material adapted for big band by Andy Jaffe, director of the Ensemble. Harper's appearance is presented in conjunction with the Women of Color Giving Circle. Adults $25 (students with I.D., $10 at the door).
Friday, Oct. 5 will feature a Latin Jazz Dance Party, with the big band of Alex Torres and his Latin Jazz Kings, at the Crowne Plaza hotel. Torres will also conduct a percussion clinic and master class at 5:30pm (no admission charge for the clinic). $10 general admission, a special price thanks to an anonymous underwriter.
On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 6, two documentary Jazz films will be screened at the Berkshire Museum's Little Cinema. The double feature will include the northeast debut of 'Electric Heart,' chronicling the short life but remarkable career of trumpeter Don Ellis, and 'Music Inn,' documenting the legendary Jazz resort in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. Tickets for this event at the Berkshire Museum only, 39 South Street, Pittsfield. Tickets are $7 ($5 for Berkshire Museum members).
The Women In Jazz evening on Oct. 6 will include perennial poll-winner Claire Daly and her quartet; Seattle emigre and current mid-Hudson stalwart pianist Peggy Stern and her quartet; and guest soloist alto saxophonist Grace Kelly, who made a surprise appearance at least year's Festival, jamming with NEA Jazz Master Phil Woods. 'Women In Jazz' is being presented in collaboration with the Breast Cancer Awareness initiative, with the underwriting support of the Legacy Banks Foundation. It will take place at St. Stephen's Church. Tickets are $25 (Students: $10 at the door).
On Sunday, Oct. 7, the festival wraps up with a specially commissioned work featuring pianist John Medeski and an all-star Jazz orchestra comprising students from Pittsfield high schools, under the direction of Bill Chapman. It will take place at Taconic High School. Tickets are $10 ($5 for students).
In addition, several restaurants and bars will be feature live Jazz before (and in some cases after) the headline performances. And, the Festival will again be bringing Jazz into the schools.
The event is an activity of Cultural Pittsfield, the mayor's office of cultural development, and is co-sponsored by the Berkshire Music School. Among the underwriters for this year's events are:
* The Legacy Banks Foundation;
* Nickelodeon, which is sponsoring the youth Jazz orchestra with special guest composer and piano soloist John Medeski;
* Time Warner Cable;
* The Red Lion Inn;
* Greylock Federal Credit Union and KB Toys (education sponsors), and
* Lenox Softworks.
Further ticket information is available at 413-443-9186, ext. 321.
