Diet Coke Hits the Right Notes With the Inaugural Women in Jazz Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

Diet Coke Hits the Right Notes With the Inaugural Women in Jazz Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

NEW YORK, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Calling all jazz lovers! Diet Coke, the world's leading diet soft drink, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, the not-for- profit arts organization dedicated to enriching the artistic substance and perpetuating the democratic spirit of America's music, today announced the first-ever Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, a celebration of the great contributions women performers have made to jazz music.

In association with NYC & Company, New York City's tourism marketing organization, the festival will feature nightly performances by some of the most influential women in jazz today as well as up-and-coming jazz artists beginning September 6 through October 2, 2005. Held at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola located in the new home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Frederick P. Rose Hall, the festival will be part of the 2005-06 programming season, "Jazz from Coast to Coast."

"Jazz music is constantly evolving and women have long been instrumental in shaping the landscape of the jazz scene," said Derek E. Gordon, President and CEO of Jazz at Lincoln Center. "The Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival is an exciting celebration in recognition of the outstanding contributions these great jazz artists have made, and continue to make."

Coca-Cola is committed to the encouragement and development of female jazz artists of the future. Toward that aim, Coca-Cola will underwrite tickets for the IAJE's "Sisters in Jazz" Upstarts! night performance on September 26th for distribution to local area high school music students. "New York City is the jazz capital of the world, and Diet Coke is delighted to help bring this first-time festival to the Big Apple and support creative music and the arts," said Chuck Fruit, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of The Coca-Cola Company.

"From Harlem to Queens, New York City has always been at the center of the jazz music evolution," said Cristyne Nicholas, President & CEO of NYC & Company. "This festival will further establish New York City as the premier destination for experiencing live jazz music."

The artists scheduled to perform include: September 6 - 11 Angela Bofill September 12 UPSTARTS! - Tia Fuller Quintet / Stephanie Nakasian with Hod O'Brien Trio featuring 11 year old Veronica Swift O'Brien September 13 Marian McPartland - special solo piano concerts September 14, 15 Rita Coolidge September 16, 17 Toshiko Akiyoshi Trio with special guests September 18 Tessa Souter / Cynthia Scott September 19 UPSTARTS! - IAJE Sisters in Jazz September 20, 21 Claudia Acuna Quartet September 22 Basie, Blues & Beyond: Karrin Allyson, Nancy King & Friends September 23, 24 Sherrie Maricle and DIVA Jazz Orchestra with Ann Hampton Callaway and other special guests September 25 Lynne Arriale Trio with special guests September 26 UPSTARTS! - Terri Lyne Carrington with special student guests September 27 Helen Merrill Quartet September 28 Hiromi / Jane Ira Bloom September 29 Joanne Brackeen / Bertha Hope and Jazzberry Jam Band Sept 30, Oct 1 Barbara Carroll Trio with special guests October 2 Nnenna Freelon and Friends

Reservations and additional information about the Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola can be found at www.jalc.org or by calling (212) 258-9595. Artists and schedule subject to change.

Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola is accessible through the Jazz at Lincoln Center marquee entrance on the corner of Broadway at 60th Street. The club is located on the 5th floor. Doors open at 6:00pm for the 7:30pm set and guests may arrive at 8:45-9:00pm for the 9:30pm set. Sets begin at 7:30pm and 9:30pm, with an 11:30pm set on Friday and Saturday nights only. After Hours sets are at 11:00pm Tuesday through Thursday, and at 12:30am on Friday and Saturday. Tuesday through Sunday, there is a $30 cover charge for music. On Mondays for the student UPSTARTS! programming, there is a $15 music charge. After Hours set cover charge is $10. There is no additional music charge for patrons who stay after the last artist set. Student rates with valid ID: Sunday 9:30pm set $15, Monday 7:30pm and 9:30pm sets $10, Tuesday and Wednesday 9:30pm set $15, After Hours hang set $5. Standard food and beverage minimum of $10 applies at tables, $5 minimum is required at the bar. Food and beverage minimum applies to student rates.

Jazz at Lincoln Center opened Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in October 2004 to critical acclaim and popularity with musicians and music fans. The intimate club features artists from around the world seven nights a week in a spectacular setting with views of the Manhattan skyline. Dizzy's Club Coca- Cola also features a full menu by Jazz at Lincoln Center's exclusive facility caterer, Great Performances in collaboration with Harlem's Spoonbread Catering, reflecting the diversity of jazz.

Jazz at Lincoln Center received a leadership grant from The Coca-Cola Company towards the creation of the world's first performing arts center designed specifically for jazz, Frederick P. Rose Hall. In recognition of the company's commitment to this authentic art form, Jazz at Lincoln Center named the 140-seat jazz club performance venue in the new facility Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. The late Mrs. Lorraine Gillespie, Dizzy's wife, said, "I know that my husband would be proud and honored that many musicians will further their careers and the awareness of jazz as an art form in a place that bears his name."

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's best-known brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world's largest distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.coca-cola.com.

About Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, one of the three main performance venues located in Jazz at Lincoln Center's new home at Frederick P. Rose Hall, is an intimate 140-seat jazz club, set against a glittering backdrop with spectacular views of Central Park that provides a hip environment for performance, education and other special events. The club also includes fine dinner, dessert and late night menus by New York culinary creators Great Performances and Spoonbread Inc. Jazz at Lincoln Center is a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to jazz and advances a unique vision for the continued development of the art of jazz by producing a year-round schedule of performance, education, and

broadcast events for audiences of all ages. For more information, please visit www.jalc.org.

About NYC & Company

NYC & Company, the city's official tourism marketing organization, is a private, membership-based non-profit dedicated to building New York City's economy and positive image through tourism and convention development, major events and the marketing of the city on a worldwide basis. For more information, please visit www.nycvisit.com.

Source: The Coca-Cola Company

CONTACT: Nicole Pickens of Burson-Marsteller, +1-212-614-4990, or nicole_pickens@nyc.bm.com; or Lindsay Brust of Jazz at Lincoln Center, +1-212-258-9868, or lbrust@jalc.org; or Lisa Mortman of NYC & Company, +1-212-484-1287, or lmortman@nycvisit.com

Web site: http://www.jalc.org/ http://www.coca-cola.com/ http://www.nycvisit.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: High Resolution downloadable photos available at: http://www.jalc.org/04_05/2005_Galleries/womeninjazz

------- Profile: Ent