Chrysler named 2012 Detroit Jazz Festival Presenting Sponsor

DETROIT, July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Detroit Jazz Festival announced that the Chrysler brand will be the official presenting sponsor for the 2012 festival. The sponsorship is an extension of its successful "Imported from Detroit" campaign, celebrating the spirit and determination of Detroit and its residents.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120712/DE39339LOGO )

"The automotive industry and jazz music both have rich histories in the city of Detroit. The partnership between Chrysler and the Detroit Jazz Festival bridges these great histories and brings key elements of our city together," said Gretchen Valade, chair of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation board of directors. "Welcoming Chrysler as a presenting sponsor, and hosting its vehicles for a ride and drive, further proves this year will be the best festival we've seen yet."

The Chrysler brand is also the exclusive ride and drive sponsor participating with a unique activation at the festival, offering attendees the chance to test-drive some of the top vehicles on the road. On-site, Chrysler will offer attendees the chance to drive the 2012 product lineup that includes the Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300 and the Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

"The Detroit Jazz Festival is just one of the many jewels of this city, it draws international acclaim and lets Detroit shine," said Saad Chehab, President and CEO - Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.  "The Chrysler brand is proud to be a part of this celebration of music and people, which imports a little bit of Detroit to the rest of the world."

The 33rd annual Detroit Jazz Festival will feature a one-of-a-kind lineup of today's greatest jazz performers. The artists at this year's festival have been nominated for more than 200 and won more than 100 Grammy Awards, composed film scores and traveled the world to perform. The 2012 headliners include:

• Sonny Rollins
• Wynton Marsalis
• Chick Corea and Gary Burton, with strings
• Wayne Shorter
• Pat Metheny
• And, 2012 Artist in Residence, Terence Blanchard

About the Detroit Jazz Festival

The Detroit Jazz Festival is an independent, non-profit organization that presents jazz and educational workshops throughout the year. Recently voted number two in North America in a JazzTimes reader's poll, the Detroit Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival in the world and a major tourist attraction for the City of Detroit, with 23 percent of its audience coming from out of state.

The festival receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Erb Family Foundation, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Kresge Foundation. Major corporate partners include JPMorgan Chase & Co., Carhartt and Mack Avenue Records. Additional partners include Absopure Water Company, Amtech International, Great Lakes Beverage, Charity Motors, Cliff Bells, Comcast, Compuware, Detroit Marriott, Dickinson Wright, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, Fathead, Meridian Health Plan, Motor City Casino Hotel, Pepsi Beverages Company, Plante Moran, PNC Foundation, Quicken Loans, St. John Providence Health System, DownBeat, JazzTimes, MetroTimes and Fox 2. The festival's Greening Program, now entering Phase IV, is supported by a generous grant from the DTE Energy Foundation. For more information visit www.detroitjazzfest.com.

About Chrysler Brand

The spirit of hard work and the belief that luxury shouldn't be a luxury. Earning your place without forgetting where you're from. Luxury and quality conceived and developed domestically. That's what the Chrysler brand and its vehicles are all about. Integrating the first eight-speed automatic transmission in a domestic luxury sedan, the 2012 Chrysler 300 sedans offer world-class innovation and quality while delivering stylistic distinction and premium features with legendary value. The 2012 Chrysler 200 sedan delivers exceptional value without compromise with sophisticated design, high-quality craftsmanship, and technology. The Chrysler 200 Convertible — with a power soft or hardtop — offers an open-air experience featuring elegant craftsmanship. The 2012 Chrysler Town & Country minivan is beautifully crafted with high-quality, soft-touch materials and tech-savvy entertainment features and smart storage. Standard leather Stow 'n Go® seating, overhead DVD, and more than 40 safety and security features are some of the Town & Country's innovative offerings.

SOURCE Detroit Jazz Festival