Spyro Gyra to headline the 5th Annual HarborPark Jazz & Blues Festival

Mark your calendar

Kenosha’s Premiere Music and Art Event brought to you by the Mary Lou Mahone Foundation

KENOSHA – On Saturday, August 23, 2008 the 5th Annual HarborPark Jazz & Blues Festival, featuring the legendary Spyro Gyra, will be held on Kenosha, Wisconsin’s scenic lake front at Celebration Place. Spyro Grya has nine GRAMMY® nominations overall, and has fueled the sale of 11 million records – including one platinum and two gold records. In the midst of the achievements and accolades, Spyro Gyra keeps moving, having logged over 5,000 high-energy performances in their prestigious and prolific career.

Spryo Gyra passes another milestone on this long-distance run with the release of Good To Go-Go on Heads Up International. The album is the band’s twenty-sixth of their overall career and their fifth release on Heads Up, following on the heels of the GRAMMY® nominated 2006 release Wrapped in a Dream (Best Pop Instrumental Album). Good To Go-Go scored two GRAMMY® nominations of its own in December 2007 in the categories of Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Pop Instrumental Performance (the latter nomination for the track entitled “Simple Pleasures”).

A new face in the Spyro Gyra lineup belongs to drummer/percussionist Bonny B (short for Bonaparte). The Trinidad native had been touring with the band for several months before they went into the studio to record Good To Go-Go, and the energy he brought to the party served as the catalyst for some fine tuning in the group’s overall philosophy. Bonny B joins saxophonist and Spyro Gyra founder Jay Beckenstein, keyboardist Tom Schuman, guitarist Julio Fernandez and bassist Scott Ambush in the five-man lineup. “The fact that we had this new drummer with this great spirit about him prompted us to go in the direction of a more live-sounding, less produced record,” says Beckenstein. “The band was just sounding so killer on the road that I wanted to capture some of that energy and reproduce it on the record. When you bring somebody new on board who’s bringing some unexpected things with him, it shakes you up a little bit and puts you in new territory. It’s been a process of discovery for all of us, and it’s been a lot of fun.”

HarborPark Jazz & Blues Festival also welcomes back Lemon Street Gallery artists, who will add a visual arts feature to Kenosha’s premier outdoor jazz event. Throughout the afternoon, concertgoers will have the opportunity to browse fine art and craft booths on Artist’s Row. Some artists will practice their craft while the public looks on, offering a rare opportunity to see first hand how an art piece is developed. Lemon Street Gallery is a creatively driven nonprofit visual arts center located in Kenosha at 4601 Sheridan Road. They present the original work of over 50 regional artists in the gallery and venues throughout the area. Lemon Street is the arts partner to a variety on social service organizations, providing arts-focused solutions that address community concerns.

The HarborPark Jazz Fest grounds will open at 2:30 pm. with live entertainment, art and great food available throughout the day. Spryo Gyra will take the stage at approximately 6:00 pm. Bring a lawn chair, bring some wine and cheese, and get set for an unforgettable event!

Tickets available soon at these Kenosha outlets and online at mahonefund.org

Tenuta’s 3203-52nd St,

Andrea’s 2401-60th St

Lemon Street Gallery 4601 Sheridan Rd.

Texas Roadhouse VIP lounge: $60 each,
General Admission: $25 each, Corporate tables available.

The mission of the Mary Lou Mahone Foundation is to promote opportunities for economically or disadvantaged youth and support Breast and Cervical Cancer initiatives for economically disadvantaged women. All proceeds to benefit the Mary Lou Mahone Foundation managed by the Kenosha Community Foundation. For more information contact Tim Mahone (262) 748–7418 or Ellen Ganschaw (262) 654-2412 or visit the website mahonefund.org.