HONOR: BLUES, JAZZ, RHYTHM AND BLUES, SOUL AND BEYOND AT CARNEGIE HALL MARCH 4

Contact: Matt Carlson | Phone: 212-903-9751| E-mail: mcarlson@carnegiehall.org
Contact: Tonya Bell-Green | Phone: 212-903-9752 | E-mail: tbellgreen@carnegiehall.org

ARTIST UPDATE

ASHFORD & SIMPSON, DOUG E. FRESH, and MC LYTE
ADDED TO LINEUP OF HONOR! OPENING NIGHT CONCERT AT CARNEGIE HALL:
HONOR: BLUES, JAZZ, RHYTHM AND BLUES, SOUL AND BEYOND
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 AT 8:00 PM

www.carnegiehall.org/honor

(February 19, 2009, NEW YORK, NY)—Carnegie Hall announced today that legendary R&B songwriters and performers Ashford & Simpson and influential hip-hop and rap artists Doug E. Fresh and MC Lyte have been added to the lineup for the opening night performance of Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy—a citywide festival from March 4–23 presented by Carnegie Hall and dedicated to saluting the enduring vitality, influence, and creativity of African American culture.

The opening night concert—Honor: Blues, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Soul and Beyond—takes place on Wednesday, March 4 at 8:00 p.m. in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. The program features contemporary artists from the worlds of blues, jazz, R&B, rock & roll, and hip-hop in performances that pay tribute to trailblazing African American figures of the past, many of whom have performed at Carnegie Hall. In addition to performances, the concert will feature reminiscences examining the bountiful past performances by African American artists at Carnegie Hall and reflecting on African American contributions to each musical genre.

Joining Ashford & Simpson, MC Lyte, and Doug E. Fresh on the bill are pianist Geri Allen, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, bassist Ron Carter, and saxophonist James Carter from the world of jazz; blues vocalists/guitarists James “Blood” Ulmer and Toshi Reagon; rock guitarist Vernon Reid; and R&B and soul vocalists Anthony Hamilton, Freddie Jackson, Leela James, Kem, and Ryan Shaw. Ray Chew—musical director for NBC’s The Singing Bee, Showtime at the Apollo, and BET’s Sunday Best—is Music Director for the program.

Honor!, which runs from March 4 through March 23, has been curated by internationally renowned soprano Jessye Norman and includes a diverse array of more than 20 events that celebrate African American music and its influence worldwide as well as several events that pay tribute to pioneering artists who forged the path for succeeding generations. For more information, visit carnegiehall.org/honor.

Program Information
Wednesday, March 4 at 8:00 p.m.
Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage
HONOR: BLUES, JAZZ, RHYTHM AND BLUES, SOUL, AND BEYOND
Ray Chew, Musical Director
Geri Allen, Piano
Ashford & Simpson, Vocalists
Terence Blanchard, Trumpet
James Carter, Saxophone
Ron Carter, Bass
Doug E. Fresh, Vocalist
Anthony Hamilton, Vocalist
Freddie Jackson, Vocalist
Leela James, Vocalist
Kem, Vocalist
MC Lyte, Vocalist
Toshi Reagon, Voice and Guitar
Vernon Reid, Guitar
Ryan Shaw, Vocalist
James "Blood" Ulmer, Voice and Guitar

Paying tribute to the great African American popular music artists of the past, the brightest lights in blues, rhythm and blues, soul, and jazz, as well as today’s daring innovators, gather for a magical evening of music.

This performance is sponsored by Bank of America, Carnegie Hall's Proud Season Sponsor.

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For high resolution images of Honor! artists, please contact the Carnegie Hall Public Affairs office at 212-903-9750 or publicaffairs@carnegiehall.org.

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Major funding for Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy has been provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, The Alice Tully Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation’s New York City Cultural Innovation Fund, and the A. L. and Jennie L. Luiria Foundation.

Honor! is made possible, in part, by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.

Ticket Information
Tickets, priced at $28, $34, $44, $60, $78, and $86, for all events are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57th Street, or can be charged to major credit cards by calling CarnegieCharge at 212 247-7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website carnegiehall.org.

In addition, for all Carnegie Hall Corporation presentations taking place in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, a limited number of partial-view seats, priced at $10, will be available day-of-concert beginning at 11:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:00 noon on Sunday until one hour before the performance. The exceptions are Carnegie Hall Family Concerts and gala events. These $10 tickets are available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis at the Carnegie Hall Box Office only. There is a two-ticket limit per customer.

A limited number of student discount tickets and senior citizen rush tickets, priced at $10, may also be available at the Box Office for some Carnegie Hall events. Please call CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 or, for students, visit www.carnegiehall.org/students for availability. For information on Club 57th & 7th, Carnegie Hall’s discount ticket program for those 40 and under, please visit www.carnegiehall.org/club.