Jazz Great Teddy Charles to Play Free Concert for Winterfest 2008
 
Riverhead, NY (January 29, 2008)—Winterfest 2008 is proud to present a free concert by legendary jazz great Teddy Charles, at the Duck Walk North winery on Saturday, February 23, at 2:00 pm.

Captain Ted Charles, owner of the Skipjack Pilgrim, is considered to be one of the great jazz vibraphonists and composers of all time, playing with such jazz legends as Charlie Mingus, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. As a student at Julliard in the mid 1940s, he haunted New York’s jazz clubs, occasionally sitting in with the bands on vibes or piano. His break came unexpectedly one night when he was asked to sit in on piano with Coleman Hawkin’s band for the overdue Thelonious Monk. Soon after, Charles began to appear regularly with the top jazz groups of the day, like Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Buddy De Franco, playing alongside and writing for such jazz stars as Coltrane, Parker, Max Roach and Miles Davis. In the early 1950s he began leading his own groups, composing, producing and recording original works such as No More Nights, Blues Become Elektra and Word from Bird. Charles recently appeared with Max Roach, David Amram, and Lee Konitz. For more information on Teddy Charles’ jazz chops, please see www.teddy-charles.com.
 
“JAZZ ON THE VINE” will be the theme of the 2008 Long Island Winterfest, which will run from Feb. 8 to Mar. 9, 2008 across the East End. The program will feature local jazz musicians performing at winery tasting rooms every weekend afternoon over the five-week period. The musical calendar will be supplemented by special offers and promotions at tourism-related businesses and cultural venues throughout the region.  2008 Winterfest events are being organized by the Long Island Wine Council, the East End Arts Council, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Workforce Housing, the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau with support from American Express and WLIU. Winterfest was conceived in 2006 to generate increased business on the East End during the slowest part of the year by promoting a calendar of activities and offers. The program has grown to include many businesses, but this will be the first time that the promotion is adopting a musical theme.  For more information, see www.liwinterfest.com.