It would be difficult, if not nearly impossible, to find a more staunchly devoted jazz promoter of venues and artists than Charles Fishman, DC Jazz Festival executive producer. Excitement and energy propels every move he makes in preparation for the annual event taking place in more than 45 restaurants, theaters, hotels, galleries and clubs all over town starting June 1. “I was personal manager to Dizzy Gillespie and we traveled all over the world to just about every major festival on every continent,” he noted. “But, I’ve never seen any festival that has such an expensive [budget] here to promote jazz all over our city.”
Throughout the 13-day event, the major artist lineup includes Grammy-award winner Bobby McFerrin, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, Latin jazz great, Eddie Palmieri and pianist Cyrus Chestnut. They will perform at the Kennedy Center, Warner Theatre and — in all glory — on the National Mall.
