The Fourth Annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival kicked off in Washington last night with a gala performance featuring the big names of the international and local jazz scene, including multiple Grammy Award-winning musician Paquito D’Rivera (pictured above middle).
Honorary chairman of the festival, Patton Boggs partner and former U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater (pictured far right), said his firm’s sponsorship was one part of its commitment to corporate responsibility. Patton Boggs makes a financial contribution as well as offering pro bono assistance on topics ranging from visas for foreign musicians to intellectual property law. “More importantly, we use our relationships with clients ... to get the resources to help put on an effort that for the most part is free to the public,” said Slater.
One of the driving forces behind the firm’s involvement is Stephanie Peters, a partner in the public policy and lobbying practice, whose husband, Charlie Fishman, is the festival’s founder and executive producer. Peters helped create the bipartisan congressional host committee, chaired in the House by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). After a busy week on the Hill, “we hope they can move on from bailout legislation, or at least get a reprieve, and come out and listen to some wonderful music,” Peters said.
The festival includes more than 100 performances in around 50 venues and runs until Oct. 7. For more information, go to www.dejazzfest.org.
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