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CONTACT: “THE LADY AND THE LEGEND” PREMIERES MAY 4 AT CARNIVAL CENTER Miami, Florida, March 20, 2007– A 10–year musical love affair between legendary “king of the vibes” Lionel Hampton and Miami’s own international recording artist Sylvia Bennett has resulted in “The Lady and the Legend” show which premieres in Miami at 8 p.m., Friday, May 4 at Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, Studio Theater. This musical tribute to late jazz great Hampton includes a live performance by the silken voiced Bennett along with an audio visual historical journey showcasing Hampton at his best. Produced in the fashion of a one–act Broadway play along with the magic of technology, the show brings Hampton and Bennett together again on stage performing big band favorites, classic jazz and some innovative surprises. Inspired by the recent release of the tribute CD/DVD, “There Will Never Be Another You,” Bennett has been on a mission to keep the memory of Hampton alive for generations to come. The newly released recording was a once buried treasure that was unearthed, finished and released by Out of Sight Music, Inc. in 2006. Audio and video from the Miami recording session are featured in “The Lady and the Legend's” one–night Miami premiere. The show includes never before heard studio recordings and never released video footage and an intimate look at the unique relationship between Hampton and Bennett. Hampton is a John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts honoree, a recipient of the National Medal of the Arts and is a Jazz Master of the National Endowment for the Arts. The University of Idaho honored him by naming its music school, The Lionel Hampton School of Music. For nearly 20 years, Hampton and the school partnered to showcase America’s jazz music tradition and promote music education. Discovered by Benny Goodman, Hampton is credited with popularizing the vibraphone as a jazz instrument. He first played the vibraphone in a band that featured Louis Armstrong. He performed with the big band and jazz greats of multiple generations and also became known for his two–finger piano technique. Hampton died Aug. 31, 2002. Bennett became the first woman to record with Hampton in 30 years with the album, ‘Sentimental Journey,” nominated for a Grammy in 1987. The two became presidential favorites having performed at the inaugurations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr. Bennett has fond memories of her time with Hampton while on tour in Florida including Art Deco Weekend on Miami Beach and performances in Orlando, Vero Beach and St. Petersburg. Bennett says of Hampton, “He has had such a profound effect on our musical history. He touched so many lives with his performances and his humanity. He was my mentor and my friend. His spirit and his music should live on. He should not be forgotten.” C. Michael Bailey, senior writer from All About Jazz says, “Hampton found his vocal soul mate and the chemical reaction the two conjure up on ‘There Will Never Be Another You’ is as inventive as it is entertaining.” At a preview performance at the White Plains Center for the Performing Arts March 21, show attendee Joel Sachs said, “I have been to many Broadway shows, concerts and nightclubs and I think this is one of the most unique musical experiences I have ever seen. It was incredible how they technically meshed the songs, video and live performances together. Sylvia's presentation was absolutely phenomenal.” Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Carnival Center box office, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305–949–6722 or on the website www.carnivalcenter.org. To schedule an interview with Sylvia Bennett, please call Kim Allison at 305–282–0335 or 561–391–0567 or e–mail kimallison55@aol.com |
