Jazz on the Green series continues at Joslyn Art Museum

Susie Thorne performs Thursday

By Joslyn Art Museum

Omaha, Nebraska – For the 23rd consecutive year, Joslyn Art Museum presents Jazz on the Green, a free concert series bringing the best in jazz ? from mainstream and fusion to swing, big band, Latin, and, this year, New Orleans-style jazz and Cajun/Zydeco music ? to the Joslyn grounds. Recognized as one of the most popular free summer events in Omaha, drawing tens of thousands for eight exhilarating performances annually, Jazz on the Green presents concerts on consecutive Thursdays through August 23.

Jazz on the Green is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, ConAgra Foods, KETV, Midwest Airlines, Omaha Steaks International?, Oriental Trading Company, and U.S. Cellular.

The eight-week series will feature some of the best local, regional, and national jazz musicians in two-hour concerts held on Joslyn's east lawn and the grand staircase leading to the Museum's main entrance. This year, in celebration of the special exhibition Spared from the Storm: Masterworks from the New Orleans Museum of Art, two Zydeco bands, from Texas and New Orleans, are joining the line-up, July 12 and August 23, as well as other national bands from Chicago and California. All concerts begin at 7 pm (the lawn opens to concert-goers at 4 pm and closes at approx. 9:30 pm). Beverages and picnic food will be available for purchase outdoors.

Joslyn's Dodge Street entrance drive is closed due to construction for a sculpture garden through early July. The 24th Street entrance drive and north parking lot will be closed early July through September 7, also due to sculpture garden construction. Parking is available ($5 per car) in Joslyn's north parking lot through early July and then in the new Parking Garden northeast of the Museum ($5 per car; use new Dodge Street entrance drive) beginning early July. Free parking is available on the street and in surrounding lots.

Joslyn's permanent collection galleries will close at 4 pm, re-opening at 5 pm through intermission (approx. 8 pm) with free admission from 5-8 pm. The special exhibition Spared from the Storm: Masterworks from the New Orleans Museum of Art will be open from 4-8 pm on Jazz on the Green Thursdays with tickets discounted to just $3 for the general public and free for Joslyn members (read more about this exhibition at the end of this release).

The 2007 Jazz on the Green concert series presents:

August 9 ? Susie Thorne & Friends

Born in Hastings, Nebraska, the daughter of a classically trained vocalist mother and a professional trumpet player father, Susie Thorne "hails from Nebraska, but swings like a big city girl!" She began singing as a child, later studying classical voice, traveling the U.S. as lead vocalist in a rhythm and blues band, and touring Europe and Asia as a solo pianist/vocalist. Later, Thorne re-connected with her jazz roots while studying piano performance, and her jazz vocals are inspired by such legendary artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, and Carmen McRae. After a stint performing in Japan and Hong Kong, Thorne settled in Omaha, where she continues studies in vocal jazz techniques and jazz piano. Her second album, Blue Skies, Clear Day, featuring songs arranged by Thorne, was released in 2006.