Tour Information & Notice Board

NOTES: February 21, 2007

It is with great sadness that we would like to let you know that Brian Theobald, founder of BPR and partner of Ina Dittke, passed away on August 26, 2006.
He put up a brave fight against cancer and did not lose his British sense of humour until the day he died.
Brian was revered by musicians and business people alike for his no nonsense attitude and his binding word which was like a contract.
We will miss him forever but will carry on bringing great music to the world.

BPR has been chosen as the artistic directors of The Royal Jazz Festival and The Royal Charity Festival to honour His Majesty the King of Thailand's anniversary accession to the throne. The festival will take place in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket from the 9th to the 17th December, 2006.
The artist line up includes Kenny G, Nancy Wilson, The Dizzy Gillespie™ All Star Big Band under direction of Slide Hampton, James Moody, Chris Botti, McCoy Tyner, Ahmad Jamal, Regina Carter, Georgie Fame, Marta Topferova and The Oriental Jazz Quartet.

Marta Topferova's new album on World Village, 'Flor Nocturna', has been released in the US on September 12, 2006 and will be followed with appearances in Seattle, WA,Vancouver, BC, Portland, OR, Olympia, WA, Santa Cruz, CA, Altadena, CA and San Diego, CA.
A European tour and album release will follow in the Spring of 2007.

BPR is continuing to organize Miriam Makeba's Farewell to the World. Dates are being organized in 2007 in various parts of the globe for her to be able to say 'Good Bye' to her fans. As travelling is becoming more difficult, she wants to focus more on her governmental functions and on her charity for young women in Johannesburg.

2005 marked James Moody's 80th Birthday year, with concerts around the world including a special celebration at The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with The Dizzy Gillespie™ All Star Big Band, Bill Cosby, Nancy Wilson and many other guests.
His latest album on Savoy Records, 'HOMAGE TO MOODY', is still going strong and he is part of the NEA Jazz Masters on Tour program in the US, performing at clubs, colleges and festivals. (See the date sheet on his artist page for details of all dates.)

Mambo is a fusion of swing American Jazz and Cuban Son, and an infatuating dance. Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez and Machito took it to the US where it was eagerly embraced by Latino and North American audiences frequenting dance halls in New York City. It reportedly debuted at The Palladium in 1947. This musical era is recreated by The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra which is led by sons of the maestros and comprised of many of the musicians from the original bands. For bookings in the US, please contact IMG and for all other countries, please contact BPR.

The Dizzy Gillespie™ All-Star Big Band, toured Europe to great audiences and standing ovations in Summer 2005 and 2006. The 'best orchestra touring today' will be back in March and May 2007.

Upcoming world music artist, Marta Topferova visited Europe twices in 2006 to outstanding responses from audiences and promoters alike. Her London Jazz Festival performance prompted Clive Davis to write in the London Sunday Times that "she is one of the most powerful interpreters of Latin American folk music." She will be back in Europe to support her World Village release 'Flor Nocturna' in Spring 2007.

Joey DeFrancesco is yet again winner of the critics and readers Downbeat polls. He will be touring Europe in October/November 2006 and again in Spring 2007.

TOUR PLANS

******** MIRIAM MAKEBA'S FAREWELL TOUR *******
Ms. Makeba will celebrate her Farewell around the world in 2007 with 5 to 6 concerts in each region

WINTER 2006/SPRING 2007

THE DIZZY GILLESPIE™ ALL STAR BIG BAND
under the direction of Slide Hampton
March, May and Fall 2007

ZENZI LEE
Granddaughter of South Africa's most important musical export, Miriam Makeba, to contiue the family tradition

MARTA TOPFEROVA
Spring 2007 Europe
"The first time I heard her, I thought Marta Topferova would be a star. Her sultry bossa-nova flavoured vocals and beautiful arrangements bring a seductive new dimension to Latin song" - Joe Boyd

JOEY DeFRANCESCO TRIO
October/ November 2006 & Spring 2007
Downbeat Magazine Critics and Readers Poll Winner

MARACA'S "OTRA VISION"
First instrumental Cuban band to appear in the Billboard charts (2000)
November 2006 + February/March 2007

THE NIGHT OF THE COOKERS
featuring Blue Note recording artist
CHARLES TOLLIVER, BILLY HARPER and more

RICARDO LEMVO & MAKINA LOCA
Spring 2007

OLIVER MTUKUDZI
May/June 2007

SUMMER 2007

SLIDE PLAYS JOBIM
Slide Hampton performs the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim

THE BIG 3 PALLADIUM ORCHESTRA
Spring 2007
The music of Tito Puente, Machito & Tito Rodriguez

THE JAMES MOODY QUARTET
'Still Young at Heart'

MARTA TOPFEROVA
"The first time I heard her, I thought Marta Topferova would be a star. Her sultry bossa-nova flavoured vocals and beautiful arrangements bring a seductive new dimension to Latin song" - Joe Boyd

THE SPAM ALLSTARS
featuring PEE WEE ELLIS
The Miami based AllStars blend improvisational electronic elements with Latin, Funk and Hip Hop to create a sound that is truly unique

THE NIGHT OF THE COOKERS
featuring Blue Note Records recording artist
CHARLES TOLLIVER, BILLY HARPER and more
July 2007

ZENZI LEE
Granddaughter of South Africa's most important musical export, Miriam Makeba, to contiue the family tradition

TIEMPO LIBRE
Highly acclaimed Grammy nominated Timba band from Miami

JOEY DeFRANCESCO TRIO
Downbeat Magazine Critics and Readers Poll Winner
Introducing Saxophonist RON BLAKE

THE BIG 3 PALLADIUM ORCHESTRA
The music of Tito Puente, Machito & Tito Rodriguez

MARACA'S "OTRA VISION"
First instrumental Cuban band to appear in the Billboard charts (2000)