A quarter century after the first day-long festival, the roster of artists who rocked, be-bopped, and scatted their way across the concert stage reads like a genre who�s who. Many of those artists � from Chuck Mangione, Herbie Hancock, Billy Eckstine, and the Count Basie Orchestra to Nancy Wilson, Joe Wilson, Theloneous Monk, and Dave Koz � were already well-established stars whose records and CDs flew off the shelves.

Others, though, whose names today easily flip from the lips of jazz faithful, were on the cusp of stardom. Playing at venues like Sedona Jazz on the Rocks � for many thousand of dollars less than they command now � helped fuel their rise to the top of the charts.

Among them: Diana Krall, Dianne Reeves, Jon Faddis and Billy Mitchell, who makes his return to Sedona for the 25th anniversary festival, Sept. 21-24.

Nell Bright, one of the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks pioneers, was in a group of four that traveled on an artist search to Los Angeles in the very early years of the festival.

�We met Billy Mitchell and Diane Schurr, who were just getting started in their careers. We brought them over for our festival,� Bright recalled. �Another time, we saw Diana Krall at the Paradise Valley Jazz Party and we had her here the next year. Seeing them rise to stardom, and knowing we may have played a role, is certainly gratifying.�

Billy Mitchell

�There�s no telling who will be next on that list,� said Debra Bodnar, SJOR executive director, �but we may be looking into a crystal ball to the future when Matt Butterman takes the stage.�

Butterman, a remarkably talented young guitarist from Prescott, won several SJOR scholarships, including a full ride to the renowned Berklee College of Music. Now studying in New York, he�s also heavily involved in youth jazz programming at Lincoln Center.

�That�s what we are about: educating students about music, particularly jazz, and ensuring that the arts remain a vital component of the learning process, despite the unfortunate trend that is dropping arts options from school curricula,� Bodnar said.

Butterman also is organizing the expanded Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Youth Jazz Band component of this year�s festival which, in addition to Mitchell, features Grammy-winner Earl Klugh, celebrated musician Paquito D�Rivera, blues guitarist Doug MacLeod, the Benny Green Trio and vocalists Rene Marie, Melissa Walker and Barbara Morrison.

Saturday night, after the full-day festival, Mitchell hosts a jam session in Radisson Poco Diablo Resort ballroom, at 7:30 p.m. Separate tickets are required and can be purchased for $25 at the door.

Single ticket prices are: $100 for the Thursday Night Party at a private Sedona home featuring Billy Mitchell, cocktails and hors d�oeuvres; $50 for Friday night performances by the Benny Green Trio at 7 and 9 p.m., at the Sedona Creative Life Center; $65 for lawn tickets to the all-day Saturday Festival, $85 for chair tickets, and $225 for the patron tent which includes special seating, food and drinks; and $80 for the Sunday brunch and concert featuring Melissa Walker at the Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa. Weekend ticket packages are available.

Tickets are available on-line (sedonajazz.com) or at the door the day of the festival. Tickets purchased the day of the event are an additional $10.

For more information, call (928) 282-1985.

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