The greatest living guitarist to play on the Stradun

The stage is set for the 2014 Dubrovnik Wine & Jazz Festival. The dates for the Festival are September 25, 26, 27 & 28, when Dubrovnik will be filled with the sounds of world-class music. The 2014 Festival will feature the internationally acclaimed music legend, guitarist and singer JoséFeliciano.With a career that has earned 8 GRAMMY® Awards and has achieved worldwide acclaim that has spanned three generations, José Feliciano has been acclaimed by critics throughout the world as “The greatest living guitarist.”“Of course, we are delighted to bring Joséto perform in the 2014 Festival” says Michael Kissinger, Artistic Director. “We have worked with José at our Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival, and he is one of our favorite musicians because he is not only a brilliant musician and a genuine entertainer—he is also a kind and humble person. Joséis looking forward to coming to Dubrovnik to perform. Most of our musician friends have heard about the great culture and, history and gastronomy of Dubrovnik and its environs, as well as the friendliness of the Croatian people. And of course, they want to travel here to experience these things. I know José is looking forward to experiencing the charm of Dubrovnik, and I am sure people will be thrilled to see and hear this music legend.” The Dubrovnik Sun Gardens will be a major sponsor of the Festival, and it will also host 2 of the concerts during the Festival—including an exclusive VIP Dubrovnik Sun Gardens “JAZZ IT UP!”Event on Friday, 26 September featuring Croatian wines, Dubrovnik painters and a private concert by José Feliciano. “We wanted to feature Mr. Feliciano in a unique VIP location and the Dubrovnik Sun Gardens Resort and Spa is a world-class location for a world-class performer” says Michael Kissinger. The JAZZ IT UP! concert is an exclusive VIP event, but there are also concerts in the Old City for local citizens and visiting tourists.José Felicianowill join Conductor Michael Kissinger and the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra for a concert on Saturday, 27 September on the Stradun in the Old City. This concert is sure tobe a sold out event, with a limit of 1,000 tickets. Blending Croatian musicians and the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra with American jazz and pop musicians is one of the Festival’s artistic goals says Music Director Maria Manzo. “The Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra is a first-rate orchestra, and it is remarkable for a city the size of Dubrovnik to employ such a fine orchestra. Most cities in the United States would be quite envious to have this artistic treasure. This is one reason we find Dubrovnik so remarkable, because it values the arts, culture and history above all else. And, we believe we create great music and entertainment when we blend and mix the orchestra with American jazz and pop musicians.” Conductors Kissinger and Manzo have been working with the DSO since 2006. In 2008, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra traveled to the United States and performed concerts in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Olympia, Edmonds and Seattle Washington with the conductors and the Bravo! Vancouver Chorale. Since that time, maestro Kissinger has brought to Dubrovnik The Brubeck Brothers Jazz Quartet, GRAMMY® winning jazz singer Diane Schuur, the Duke Ellington School Jazz Orchestra from Washington DC and the NATO Jazz Bandfrom Brussels, Belgium to perform with the DSO.“We have brought some excellent jazz musicians to Dubrovnik but with José Feliciano, we are really featuring not just a great musician—we are presenting a musical icon recognized the world over” says Michael Kissinger.Referred to as “The Picasso of his Realm,” José Feliciano's accolades are repeatedly celebrated. Guitar Player Magazine awarded him “Best Pop Guitarist,” placing him in their “Gallery of the Greats,” and he's been voted both Best Jazz and Best Rock Guitarist in the Playboy Magazine reader's poll. Mr. Feliciano has been awarded over forty-five Gold and Platinum records; has won sixteen GRAMMY® nominations, earning him eight GRAMMY® Awards. He is recipient of countless prestigious awards the world over.The recent years have seen José continuing to travel to all corners of the globe: from India to Brazil and from Australia to Germany. Having visited over eighty countries for more than two generations, his current itinerary proves that he has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. José’s gifts of time, treasure and talent have earned him, over the years, the reputation of great humanitarian and “Ambassador of Good Will” throughout the world. Even though José has recorded nearly 70 albums in his impressive career he is still humble with all the successes he has had and, remarkably, feels that he has just started to share his talents with the world.