Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association, Washington, DC, USA - Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association

It will come as no surprise to residents of the Meridian Hill Park neighborhood that much of the Duke Ellington Jazz Fest will take place on the U Street corridor - bordering the south of MHNA's boundaries and a few blocks east - June 5-15, 2009. For performance times and locations click here.

Ellis Marsalis Tribute will feature a Rare Performance with his sons, and Special Guests Harry Connick, Jr. and Dr. Billy Taylor.

With over 100 performances in nearly 50 venues, the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival (DEJF) is the largest music festival in Washington, DC. This year's 5th anniversary event celebrates New Orleans. DEJF Founder/Executive Producer Charles Fishman comments, “We’re very proud and excited to pay homage to New Orleans, the “birthplace of jazz,” in our nation’s capital. Highlights include two free all day concerts with on the National Mall showcasing the Crescent City’s unique, rich and diverse musical heritage; and, Celebrating a Jazz Master: Ellis Marsalis, honoring pianist/composer/educator and family patriarch Ellis Marsalis at the Kennedy Center.”

DEJF chairs are: Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr., Chairman of Patton Boggs LLP; Walter Isaacson, President/CEO of the Aspen Institute; Sheila Johnson, CEO of Salamander Hospitality; former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, President/CEO of the National Urban League, and James Carville and Mary Matalin, honorary chairs of DEJF’s New Orleans committee.

2009 DEJF Festival: Celebrating New Orleans - Highlights: (Subject to change)

June 5 Jazz in the Garden * National Gallery of Art * FREE

June 5-15 Jazz in the 'Hoods * Performances in 35 clubs, restaurants and hotels

June 6-7 Jazz 'n Families Fun Days at the Phillips Collection: FREE

June 8-15 New Orleans on the Potomac * Kennedy Center Millennium Stage * FREE

June 10 Gala Concert: Vivre la Nouvelle Orléans: Paquito D'Rivera, DEJF’s Artistic Adviser presents Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band * Embassy of France

New Orleans on the National Mall * FREE

June 13: 1pm – FREE * Sylvan Amphitheatre Terence Blanchard, Rebirth Brass Band, Little Freddie King, Nicholas Payton, Don Vappie & the Creole Serenaders

June 14: 1pm – FREE * Sylvan Amphitheatre Buckwheat Zydeco, Nicholas Payton, Trombone Shorty, Donald Harrison, and Irma Thomas

Celebrating a Jazz Master: Ellis Marsalis June 15: 7:30pm * John. F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Tribute concert featuring Ellis Marsalis–recipient of the 2009 DEJF Lifetime Achievement Award-- with sons Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason; Harry Connick, Jr; and Dr. Billy Taylor

For information and tickets: www.dejazzfest.org