The “Magic Bass Sounds” Of Mimi Jones At The Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival

Featuring a sneak preview of the debut CD release “A New Day”

http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showevent&event=mjwil

(Washington, D.C., May 12, 2009) Mimi Jones brings her “magic sounds on the bass” to the Kennedy Center premiering her soon to be released debut CD, “A New Day” as part of the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival. Hosted by Dee Dee Bridgewater, the festival marks its 14th thrilling year with three evenings of star-studded performances featuring the world's top female jazz artists including: Esperanza Spalding, Anat Cohen and the Anzic Orchestra, Janis Siegel, Carmen Lundy, and the Maria Schneider Orchestra.

Mimi Jones, a.k.a. bassist and Kennedy Center favorite Miriam Sullivan, brings a top-drawer group with her as she returns to the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival following her star turn in the 2004 event. Her much anticipated CD sneak preview performance is slated for Thursday, May 14 at 6:00 PM on the Millennium Stage at 2700 F St., NW, Washington D.C., 20556. She is also the featured bassist in the band that will be accompanying the Fifth Annual Women in Jazz Competition the following day at the Terrace Theater. The event is free and for more information on Mimi Jones go to: http://www.MimiJonesMusic.com.

New York native Mimi Jones (aka Miriam Jones) is a multi talented bassist, vocalist and composer whose elegant sound is an eclectic mix of genres based on a strong jazz foundation. In September 2009 she will release her debut CD, “A New Day,” which is bursting with original compositions seamlessly melting from one song to another and caressed by the warmth of Mimi’s sultry voice.

As a “side man” Miriam Sullivan has shared the stage with such talents as the great Lionel Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Rachel Z, Sean Jones, Kenny Barron, and Joshua Redman. A graduate from the Manhattan School of Music she has also studied and mentored with Lisle Atkinson, Ron Carter, and Milton Hinton. She has toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States and participated in the Department of State and Jazz at Lincoln Center Rhythm Abroad Program. Although Mimi plays acoustic bass, baby bass, electric bass, and numerous styles of music (including jazz, funk, hip hop, Cuban, free, folk, and pop) she thrives on remaining open to learning unfamiliar sounds. "I hope that my music sends a message of unconditional love and encouragement in order to let people know that we all experience the same things but in different ways. If we find the joy within eventually it will be all around us."