Highmount, NY – Pat Metheny, “the most outstanding jazz guitarist of his generation,” with his Unity Band, closes out the Catskill Mountain Jazz Series at the Belleaye Music Festival in mesmerizing style on Saturday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m.

The final weekend of Belleayre’s jazz series gets underway with a freewheeling musical experience featuring vibraphonist extraordinare, Stefon Harris and Blackout playing “Jazz for the Here and Now” on Friday, Aug. 10 at 8 p.m in the Belleayre Jazz Club.

Nineteen-time Grammy winner and Downbeat Poll’s #1 Guitarist, Pat Metheny burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974. He quickly established his trademark playing style, which blended the loose and flexible articulation customarily reserved for horn players, with an advanced rhythmic and harmonic sensibility.

With his first album, “Bright Size Life,” he reinvented the traditional “jazz guitar” sound for a new generation of players. Pat has continued to redefine the genre by utilizing new technology and constantly working to evolve the improvisational and sonic potential of his instrument.

Pat’s versatility is almost nearly without peer on any instrument. He has performed with artists as diverse as Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock and David Bowie.

Complementing Pat’s unique guitar work will be complemented by the the top-notch Unity Band — saxophonist Chris Potter, drummer Antonio Sanchez and bassist Ben Williams.

Belleayre fans are in for a treat as Pat melds his talents with the Unity Band to create a sonic adventure not be forgotten. With the added dimension of his unique invention the Orchestrion, Pat and the band will create an amazing wall of sound unlike anything in Jazz.

Tickets for the Pat Metheny Unity Band show are Super Premium $99, $66, $56, $46, $36, $25 (lawn).

Vibraphone Genius
Vibraphonist-composer Stefon Harris is heralded as “one of he most important young artists in jazz” (The Los Angeles Times). He is a three-time Grammy nominee and has earned six Best Mallet Player selections by the Jazz Journalist Association.

With his band Blackout, Stefon has created a scintillating ensemble that’s as versed in modern jazz as it is in rhythms, melodies and soundscapes associated with R&B, pop, hip-hop and funk.

Blackout displays a deep group rapport, as well as a more expansive sonic palette as Marc Cary complements the acoustic piano with Fender Rhodes and alto saxophonist Casey Benjamin lends his captivating vocoder work to the proceeding. The group also features Terreon Gully on drums and Burniss Travis on bass.

This show will be held in the intimate setting of the Belleayre Jazz Club in the Overlook Lodge.

General Admission tickets to the Stefon Harris and Blackout show are $26.
The Catskill Mountain Jazz Series is sponsored by the A. Lindsay & Olive B. O’Connor Foundation.

Up next on August 18, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. is the Belleayre Car Show? (free admission to car show). This event precedes a concert by The Texas Tenors. August 18, “America’s Got Talent” Sensations The Texas Tenors. August 25, Carolines Presents Comedy in the Catskills starring “Curb Your Enthusiasm’s” Susie Essman. September 1, “America’s No. 1 Tribute Show” The Music of Led Zeppelin – A Rock Symphony.

All shows begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster. For additional information, please call 800 942-6904, ext. 1344, visit: belleayremusic.org or e-mail: belleayremusicfestival@gmail.com?For information on where to stay, dine, shop or to simply enjoy the great outdoors when you¹re in town for the Belleayre Music Festival, please visit: www.catskillhighpeaks.com, www.ulstertourism.info or www.greatwesterncatskills.com.?Belleayre Music Festival concerts are held on the grounds of Belleayre Mountain in Highmount.

Festival info
Tickets are available via Ticketmaster. For additional information, please call 800 942-6904, ext. 1344 or visit: www.belleayremusic.org or e-mail: belleayremusicfestival@gmail.com

For information on where to stay, dine, shop or to simply enjoy the great outdoors when you’re in town for the Belleayre Music Festival, please visit: www.catskillhighpeaks.com, www.ulstertourism.info or www.greatwesterncatskills.com.

Belleayre Music Festival concerts are held on the grounds of Belleayre Mountain in Highmount.

Belleayre Mountain is located in the heart of New York’s Catskill Mountain region. The area is located just off Route 28 and is 37 miles west of Thruway Exit 19 at Kingston; 55 miles southeast of Oneonta on Route 28; 40 miles from the Route 17 exit at Roscoe; and 95 miles southwest of Albany and just two hours north of NYC.