Newport Jazz Festival® Adds Ms. Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton to 2015 Lineup

Celebrating music made in Chicago and one of the world's premier backup singers, George Wein has announced the addition Ms. Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton to the lineup of the 2015 Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management July 31 - August 2. "One of the joys of producing the Newport Jazz Festival since 1954 is the privilege of having been involved with just about every era and style of jazz.  

Lisa Fischer has made some stellar colleagues and friends over the years. While on tour with the Rolling Stones, Sting, Nine Inch Nails or Chris Botti, with whom she performed at the festival in 2010, her name is not on the marquee; but she says she "loves every minute" of watching her bandmates shine out front. At Newport on Saturday, August 1, she will make her festival debut as a leader, putting her own spin on some of the songs that she loves and has sung with her well-known employers. It's no wonder that she was selected to join many other leading session and backup singers, including Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Judith Hill and Táta Vega, in Morgan Neville's Oscar-winning 2013 documentary Twenty Feet from Stardom. Fischer also has toured and recorded with Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, Beyoncé, Dionne Warwick, Dolly Parton, Bobby McFerrin, Alicia Keyes, Lou Reed, Aretha Franklin, John Scofield, George Benson and Laurie Anderson as well as with her long-time employer and mentor, the late Luther Vandross. Although she had not led her own band before Grand Baton, Lisa is remembered and respected for her 1991 Grammy-winning song, How Can I Ease the Pain, from her album "So Intense." 

For more information on Lisa Fischer, visit www.lisafischermusic.com.

The 2015 edition of America's first annual jazz festival will feature Chris Botti, Cassandra Wilson, Jamie Cullum, Snarky Puppy, Maria Schneider, Arturo Sandoval, Kenny Garrett, Billy Childs, Arturo O'Farrill, Fred Hersch, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Jon Batiste, Kneebody, Hiromi, Michel Camilo, Jon Faddis, James Carter, Christian McBride, Bill Frisell, Mike Stern/Bill Evans Band, Ambrose Akinmusire, Tom Harrell, Pat Martino, Matana Roberts, John Hollenbeck and the much-anticipated return of Dr. John, who had to bow out last year due to illness.