EXODUS TO JAZZ presents "ANTOINETTE MONTAGUE with the BILL EASLEY QUARTET"

    /24-7PressRelease/ - ROCHESTER, NY, May 02, 2007 - With an energetic and engaging style, Antoinette is a rising star whose debut CD has further elevated her worldwide stature. The renowned Bill Easley leads the quartet that accompanies Antoinette in her first Rochester engagement.

Antoinette Montague electrifies audiences wherever she performs; her infectious style melds jazz and blues into memorable performances. The phrase "Pretty Blues" is simply another way of describing Antoinette's "bluesy-jazz/jazzy- blues". Antoinette's strength is combining the heartfelt passion of the blues with the sophistication of jazz.

Whether delivering down-to-earth blues tunes or sensitive jazz ballads, she reaches into the hearts of listeners with a style that can be powerful one moment and soft-and-delicate the next.

Says Antoinette: "Where blues is the solid foundation for so much other music, jazz goes its own way. Jazz is infinite in possibilities. The greatest jazz comes out when the musicians exchange ideas. Jazz combines lofty thought with spontaneous improvisation. That's why I love the idea of combining the best of jazz and blues whenever possible. They compliment and balance each other."

For "Pretty Blues", Antoinette assembled a top band of musicians (several credits noted) who are very selective of the singers with whom they perform: pianist Mulgrew Miller (Woody Shaw, Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Branford Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves), Bill Easley (listed below), Kenny Washington (Lee Konitz, Betty Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Joshua Redman, Phil Woods), and Peter Washington (Art Blakey, Benny Green, Lionel Hampton, Marlena Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Michal Urbaniak).

Bill Easley, master reed player and bandleader, has enjoyed a diversified career spanning more than forty years. His superb musicianship spans an entire arsenal of woodwind instruments including tenor, alto and soprano saxophones; clarinet and bass clarinet; flute, alto flute and piccolo.

Bill has performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Benny Carter, Ruth Brown, George Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Louie Bellson, Roland Hanna, Ron Carter, Frank Foster and Grady Tate among many others.

The Bill Easley Quartet, which includes Grammy Award winning guitarist Eric Johnson, organist Kyle Koler and drummer Rudy Petchauer, represents talent that promises a swinging good time.

The elegant two-story VENU Resto-Lounge & Nightclub is located at 151 St. Paul Street, Rochester. [url] http://www.venurochester.com/[/url]

Tickets purchased in advance are $ 17.00, available through TicketWeb http://www.TicketWeb.com (search for "Antoinette Montague" or "Exodus To Jazz").
Tickets purchased at the door (or by calling 585-325-9162) are $ 20.00.

For more information visit http://www.ExodusToJazz.com.

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