New Haven, CT (May 29, 2014): The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) joins the International Festival of Arts & Ideas lineup this summer for an exciting free concert with jazz empress Dianne Reeves.

Under the baton of Maestro William Boughton, the NHSO, which was recently cited by The New York Times as “sophisticated and versatile,” will back Dianne Reeves in a program featuring jazzy renditions of American songbook standards. From George Gershwin’s “Embraceable You” and “Fascinating Rhythm,” to selections from Duke Ellington’s The River Suite, Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” and the George Shearing’s “Lullaby of Birdland,” this relaxed summer evening concert will be packed with crowd favorites!

Dianne Reeves will wow audiences with her breathtaking virtuosity, improvisational prowess, and unique jazz and R&B style. A multiple Grammy-winner, Reeves has recorded and performed extensively with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis, who said of Reeves, “She has one of the most powerful, purposeful and accurate voices of this or any time.”

At 5:00pm the NHSO will host an Instrument Discovery Zone for kids of all ages to try playing instruments of the orchestra. At 6:00pm, Music Haven and the NHSO host a city-wide play-in on the Green. Visit the International Festival of Arts & Ideas website, www.artidea.org for more details. Grab the family and a picnic basket and join us downtown for an unforgettable summer evening! For updates and more information visit www.NewHavenSymphony.org.