Aretha and "Kool" Headline Liberty Festival

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Liberty R&B and Jazz Festival

The 3rd annual Liberty R&B and Jazz Festival will once again be held in Liberty State Park’s Green Ring with the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as a backdrop.

Jersey City, NJ - While the Liberty R&B and Jazz Festival has been a success from its inception two years ago, there is no doubt this year’s event has gained respect.

That’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T as in the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, who will be headlining the two-day music festival along with Erykah Badu September 13-14, 2008 in Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ.

The 3rd annual Liberty R&B and Jazz Festival once again features a world-class lineup of more than a dozen performers in Liberty State Park’s Green Ring with the breathtaking Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as backdrops. Grammy award winners Erykah Badu and Kool & The Gang featuring Jersey City’s own Robert "Kool" Bell are among the stars who will be performing in one of the most beautiful concert settings in the world.

"What could be more fitting than having Aretha Franklin, the first lady of soul and pop music, playing in front of Lady Liberty," said Howard Freeman of Promo 1, who is producing the Festival along with Kent Coules of Everything Jersey Events. "As thousands of jazz and music lovers have found in each of our first two years, this is the place to be to enjoy an outdoor concert featuring some of the most talented artists in the world."

"We set out to create a Festival which would become a destination for people to attend every year and the music world realizes that we’ve succeeded," said Coules. "Our partnership with KISS-FM allows us to offer fans the best artists around and Liberty State Park offers us the most unique concert venue of its kind. There is no other place where you can get this experience."

Franklin, the acclaimed international recording star with 20 Grammy awards including two for Lifetime Achievement and the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, heads the list of artists scheduled to perform on Saturday, September 13th between 12:00 noon - 10:00 p.m. Joining her will be three-time Grammy and American Music Award winner Erykah Badu, adult contemporary singer-musician Kem, dynamic soul singer Leela James, acclaimed stylist-songwriter Bobby Caldwell, and saxophonist Euge Groove.

The ultimate urban contemporary group Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Kool & The Gang, instrumentalist Brian Culbertson, well-respected jazz R&B artist Roy Ayers, and Grammy nominated guitarist Gil Parris are among the artists scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 14 between 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m. Parris, a Westchester, NY resident, is the only performer to play in each of the Festival’s three years.

Festival attendees can bring their own blankets and chairs for lawn seating or can purchase Club Liberty reserved premium seating near the stage with access to a VIP tent with separate food service and restroom availability. Tickets can be purchased for single or two-day admission. VIP seating is on a first come basis. Special advance ticket buying options are also available at 1-888-556-JAZZ or online at www.987kissfm.com/rbjazzfest08.

In addition to the music, there will also be a variety of food and beverage vendors, crafts, and exhibits at the Festival, which is located off exits 14B/C of the New Jersey Turnpike. Parking is convenient with additional shuttle bus service availability.

A portion of the proceeds from the Liberty R&B and Jazz Festival will benefit the Friends of Liberty State Park, an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to protect, beautify and promote the 1,122 acre Park.

For additional information including tickets and directions please call 1-888-556-JAZZ or visit www.987kissfm.com/rbjazzfest08.

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