George Wein Announces Line-Up for 2012 Newport Jazz Festival Presented by NGAM

NEWPORT, R.I., March 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- George Wein, producer/founder of the Newport Jazz Festival and Chairman of Newport Festivals Foundation today announced the program for the 2012 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management set for Newport, RI August 3 - 5.

Wein also announced that Natixis Global Asset Management (NGAM), who launched their global musical initiative with the 2011 Newport Jazz Festival, will return as presenting sponsor for three additional years.

Veterans Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell and others share the festival billing with relative newcomers Miguel Zenon, Jason Moran, Ambrose Akinmusire, Darcy James Argue, Dafnis Prieto, John Hollenbeck and others. In addition, award-winning artists Dianne Reeves and Tedeschi Trucks Band will be a major part of the festival, along with Maria Schneider, Kurt Elling and Joe Lovano.

"We are pleased that NGAM will again join us as we build upon the legacy of our annual celebration of jazz," said Wein. "In keeping with our mission that jazz is an ever evolving art form, we have produced a festival that features many of the younger artists that represent what jazz is today and tomorrow along with hall of fame veterans that have made jazz the great music that it is."

"The multi-year partnership that NGAM has forged with the celebrated Newport Jazz Festival and impresario George Wein will provide an excellent platform to foster creativity, diversity and collaboration between artists, communities and businesses," said John T. Hailer, President & Chief Executive Officer, Natixis Global Asset Management - The Americas & Asia. "This is the second year we have partnered with the Newport Jazz Festival and we are pleased that the 2012 festival's focus on young musicians aligns well with our commitment to provide more opportunities for talented music students from countries all over the world."

The Newport Jazz Festival presented by NGAM features Pat Metheny Unity Band; Tedeschi Trucks Band; Dianne Reeves; Maria Schneider Orchestra; Jack DeJohnette's 70th Birthday Celebration; Jason Moran and the Bandwagon; Bill Frisell - John Lennon Songbook; Kurt Elling; Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas Quintet: Sound Prints; Miguel Zenon's Rayuela; The Bad Plus with Bill Frisell; Jenny Scheinman & Bill Frisell; James Carter Organ Trio; Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet; Dafnis Prieto Sextet; Rudresh Mahanthappa's Samdhi; 3 Clarinets: Ken Peplowski, Evan Christopher, Anat Cohen; Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke; Christian McBride's Inside Straight; John Hollenbeck's Claudia Quintet + 1; Darcy James Argue's Secret Society; 3 Cohens: Yuval, Anat and Avishai; John Ellis & Double-Wide; Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks; Lewis Nash Quintet; Ryan Truesdell's Gil Evans Centennial Project; Pedrito Martinez Group; Berklee Global Jazz Institute Sextet; and an artist to be announced for August 3 at Newport's Tennis Hall of Fame.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 15, at 10:00 am at www.newportjazzfest.net. For more information, call (401) 848-5055.

Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is one of the 15 largest asset managers in the world based on assets under management. Its affiliated asset management companies provide investment products that seek to enhance and protect the wealth and retirement assets of both institutional and individual investor clients. Its proprietary distribution network helps package and deliver its affiliates' products around the world. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. brings together the expertise of multiple specialized investment managers based in Europe, the United States and Asia to offer a wide spectrum of equity, fixed-income and alternative investment strategies. Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.'s assets under management totaled $706 billion (EUR544 billion) as of December 31, 2011. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is part of Natixis.

The Newport Festivals Foundation (www.newportfestivalsfoundation.org) was founded by George Wein in 2010 to continue the legacies of the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals. The Jazz Festival presents performers who respect and honor jazz music traditions, and at the same time reflect the changes in today's musical trends. The Foundation also presents programs to educate young people about jazz.

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SOURCE The Newport Festivals Foundation