2008 GROOVE-FM JAZZ WINNIPEG FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINE-UP Ravi Coltrane Quartet, Pink Martini and John Scofield Trio Among Artists To Perform April 18, 2008 -- Featuring an exceptional slate of artists, the 2008 Groove-FM Jazz Winnipeg Festival will bring the best local, national and international performers to Winnipeg for 10 days of outstanding live music. The 99.1 Groove-FM Performance Series boasts world-class acts including the Ravi Coltrane Quartet, the John Scofield Trio and the Brad Mehldau Trio. Pink Martini, one of the biggest hits of the 2007 festival, is back to perform this year. Other fantastic acts include singer Molly Johnson as well as popular indie rock bands Stars and The New Pornographers. Earlier this year, Jazz Winnipeg announced two major shows for the 2008 festival. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with jazz giant Wynton Marsalis perform at the Centennial Concert Hall on June 22nd. And The Neville Brothers will bring their distinct New Orleans sound to Pantages Playhouse Theatre on June 21st. Montreal duo Thunderheist kicks off the Fresh Beats Series at the Pyramid Cabaret. The series features some of today’s hottest artists and includes the amazing UK soul singer Alice Russell, R & B singer Divine Brown, the Grande Mothers, The National Parcs, Devlin & Darko, The Coup, and Shout Out Out Out Out. The Roots & Blues Series adds a new venue for 2008. The Times Changed High & Lonesome Club will feature roots bands including Juno Award-winning band Nathan, Elliott Brood and Chic Gamine. The Windsor Hotel will once again host fantastic blues artists including Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Sue Foley and Watermelon Slim. The Late Nite Series has a brand new format with nightly concerts at the Exchange Events Centre and the Fairmont Hotel. Shows at the Exchange Events Centre will feature multiple artists each night and late night jam sessions. Performers include jazz vocalist Andy Bey, Montreal pianist François Bourassa, singer Jennifer Hanson, trumpet player Ingrid Jensen, singer Kellylee Evans, pianist David Virelles, singer Melissa Stylianou, singer / pianist Elizabeth Shepherd and a full slate of extraordinary local talent. The lunch crowd will enjoy free concerts at the Starbucks Jazz for Lunch Series. This year, the series takes place in two locations. New to the festival is the Canwest Stage in front of Canwest Place at Portage and Main. There will also be a full week of noon hour concerts on the Old Market Square Stage. Performers for the series include Chris Tarry, Taste of New Orleans, the Lindsey White Band, the Owen Clark Jass Band, Starlight Jazz, David Virelles, Le Duo, Neil Watson, Big Jay Harrison and the Jive Flyers and Nuphunk Orchestra. At the Forks Market, there will be two free afternoon concerts with jazz vocalist Melissa Stylianou on June 20th and Toronto singer / pianist Elizabeth Shepherd playing on June 21st. The TD Canada Trust Jazz Labs, presented by Xerox, are a series of free workshops led by festival artists covering a wide range of musical perspectives. Starting with a session led by blues guitarist Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, the series will also include workshops by trumpet player Ingrid Jensen and piano player David Virelles. Chris Tarry will present a workshop on the electric bass and Watermelon Slim will cover the slide guitar. The festival culminates with the hugely popular Wrap-up Weekend on the TD Canada Trust Stage in Old Market Square. Thousands of music fans are expected to converge on The Exchange District June 27-29 for three days of FREE music. Performers for the weekend include Ivana Santilli, Mother Mother, Mr. Something Something, Papa Mambo, Big Dave McLean, Moses Mayes and many more. JAZZWINNIPEG.COM The official website is the hub for festival information, featuring bios, video, streaming audio, a complete schedule and up-to-the minute news. New this year is the UPTOWN Artist of the Week, with features on festival artists and a free weekly download. TICKETS Tickets for the 2008 Groove-FM Jazz Winnipeg Festival go on sale Friday, April 25th. Performance Series tickets will be available at www.ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 780-3333 and at all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and for The Neville Brothers are on sale now at Ticketmaster. Tickets for Fresh Beats, Roots & Blues and Late Nite Series concerts will be available at www.jazzwinnipeg.com, by phone at 989-4656 and in person at the Jazz Winnipeg office, 007-100 Arthur Street. Buy a Club Card for $80 for access to all club shows all week long. TICKET PACKAGES For any purchase of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra tickets, customers will receive a voucher for $5.00 off any Performance Series show between June 24 and 26. Customers can buy tickets to 2 shows at the Manitoba Theatre Centre for $65 or 3 shows for $90. The “Indie Package” includes a ticket for Stars and The New Pornographers for only $49.50. ABOUT JAZZ WINNIPEG Jazz Winnipeg is a non-profit organization promoting the art of jazz through concert presentations and community outreach. As producers of the annual jazz festival, as well as concerts and workshops throughout the year, Jazz Winnipeg is a vibrant and essential organization, dedicated to the enrichment of  Winnipeg’s cultural community. Jazz Winnipeg gratefully acknowledges the support of our title sponsor 99.1 Groove-FM; TD Canada Trust; Xerox; Canwest; Great-West Life; The Winnipeg Free Press; The Fairmont Winnipeg; Shaw Cablesystems; St. John’s Music; Epic Information Solutions; Heineken; Mars Hill Group; Starbucks Coffee; Maxim Truck and Trailer; Casinos of Winnipeg; Uptown Magazine; The Prolific Group; McNally Robinson Booksellers; the Exchange District BIZ; Piston Ring Service; Pattison Outdoor Advertising; Ibex Payroll Services; the City of Winnipeg; the Winnipeg Arts Council; Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism and the Department of Canadian Heritage. Hi resolution photos of festival artists are available in the media section at jazzwinnipeg.com. For more information, please contact: Lynne Stefanchuk Communications & Sponsor Relations Manager Jazz Winnipeg Inc. ph: (204) 989-4650 / e-mail: Lynne@jazzwinnipeg.com