LAFAYETTE HOTEL & SUITES LAUNCHES FREE CONCERT SERIES

San Diego Concert Jazz Band performs weekly for community

San Diego, CA, April 9, 2006 - Lafayette Hotel and Suites is pleased to announce that the San Diego Concert Jazz band is now holding regular rehearsal performances at the Lafayette Hotel and Suites on Wednesday evenings from 8:00 to 10:00 pm. Located at 2223 El Cajon Blvd. in North Park, the community is invited to attend free of charge.

The San Diego Jazz Band, now in its 30th year, is comprised of some of the nation's finest musicians. Co-led by Barry Farrar and Tim Hall, with Carl Janelli as musical director, the San Diego Jazz Band's repertoire of jazz arrangements includes the compositions of Sammy Nestico, Tom Kubis, Bob Florence, Rob McConnell, Don Schamber, Joe Principato, David Hoffman and many others. Some of these seasoned musicians are past members of the bands of Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Quincy Jones, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Henri Mancini and Les Brown. Others are veterans of Las Vegas and Broadway show orchestras and studios that have performed with Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Natalie Cole, Frankie Lane, Frankie Avalon and others. The band's past performances include the San Jose Jazz Festival with Chubby Jackson and Don Trenner, live concerts on KSDS (88.3 FM), and recordings on the latest album of the world-renowned Sammy Nestico. Truly a group of seasoned musicians, the San Diego Concert Jazz Band's talent will be delight for all who attend the free performances at the Lafayette.

Barry Farrar, Co-Leader and Baritone Saxophonist of the San Diego Concert Jazz Band says, "We are very pleased that Lafayette Hotel is hosting our rehearsal sessions, and offering a no-host bar for guests. We'd love to see the community come our for these concerts."

The San Diego Concert Jazz Band's rehearsal performances come as the Lafayette Hotel and Suites undergoes renovations, entering into a new era of sophistication, similar to the era it left behind. No stranger to the music of famous bands filling its ballrooms, the Lafayette Hotel & Suites was the San Diego playground for Hollywood celebrities and bands in the 1940's and 1950's. Hollywood's most glamorous stars including Bob Hope, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Harry James, Betty Grable, famed English Channel swimmer Florence Chadwick and many others could be seen in the hotel's fashionable Mississippi Ballroom drinking, dining and dancing to the music of Ted Fio Rito and other top-drawer big bands.

About Lafayette Hotel Since its grand opening on July 1, 1946, the newly renovated Lafayette has been the site of historical glamour. Among its famous guests were Bob Hope, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, and Betty Grable. Inside, the Mississippi Ballroom takes center stage where Hollywood's who's who came to dance the night away. Also, guests can take a dive into the Olympic sized pool designed by five-time Olympic gold medal winner, Johnny Weismuller. Today, Hampstead Partners is restoring the boutique hotel All rooms have undergone renovations including: new paint, new carpet, curtains, and new linens. Also, a new bar and restaurant, The Spotlight, is calling Lafayette Hotel its new home. In addition, the historic Red Fox, with its 16th century Tudor artifacts and piano bar, will continue to offer guests American cuisine in a unique atmosphere.

Lafayette Hotel is located on 2223 El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego, California 92104. For more information please visit www.lafayettehotelsd.com or call 619.296.2101