The Arts Council of Moore County and Pinehurst Resort announce Harry Allen, Joe Locke and Nilson Matta's Brazilian Voyage will open the 25th anniversary of Heart 'n Soul of Jazz Friday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. in the Cardinal Ballroom at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst.

Opening this year's event with the sultry Brazilian sounds of jazz will not disappoint any Valentine, whether they are a jazz lover or not.

Led by international stars Harry Allen on tenor saxophone and Joe Locke on vibraphone, this group comes loaded with the lauded South American talents of Nilson Matta on bass, Helio Alves on piano, Duduka da Fonseca on drums and Maucha Adnet on vocals.

Think Tango, Latin spice and Buenos Aires - and you'll begin to feel the rhythm that will cast a spell on Friday's opening performance.

Harry Allen is no stranger to the Heart 'n Soul of Jazz stage, having performed here in 2001 with trumpeter Randy Sandke and in 2005 with guitarist Joe Cohn. He has performed at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide, and has performed with Rosemary Clooney, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Tony Bennett, James Taylor and Sheryl Crow, among others.

Allen was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Los Angeles, Calif., and Burrillville, R.I. He earned a degree from Rutgers University and currently resides in New York City.

As a young jazz vibraphonist, Joe Locke was precocious, having played with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Pepper Adams and Mongo Santamaria before he was even out of high school.

Since moving to New York City in 1981, he has performed with Grover Washington Jr., Dianne Reeves, Rod Stewart, Ron Carter and Randy Brecker, just to name a few. A self-taught improviser, Locke benefited from his early studies in classical percussion and composition at the Eastman School of Music with John Beck, Gordon Stout, Ted Moore and David Mancini.

Locke has since toured extensively throughout the world, both as leader and guest soloist. Some highlights include a 16-city tour of Russia, which culminated in a concert with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of world-renowned violist Yuri Bashmet; a 30-city tour of all major capitals of Europe, performing Charles Mingus' magnum opus, "Epitaph," as a featured soloist under the direction of distinguished conductor Gunther Schuller; a series of volcanic duet concerts in Italy with pianist Cecil Taylor, where Locke went head-to-head for three nights with the undisputed high priest of the avant-garde.

An added feature this year will be a special appearance by pianist and vocalist John Proulx, who will perform in the hotel lobby each night and serve as opening act on Friday night, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Proulx's piano playing is hot and swinging, and his voice recalls the smooth, mellow sounds of a young Chet Baker.

To round out this special Valentine's weekend, Heart 'n Soul of Jazz is bringing back the Grammy-nominated Tierney Sutton Band Saturday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling Pinehurst Resort at (910) 235-8415. The $65 ticket (or $110 for both nights) includes a concert ticket, the Meet the Artists Dessert Reception following the concert and a chance for a door prize.

Pinehurst Resort is offering a pre-concert dinner in the Carolina Dining Room each night for $40 (tax and gratuity included), and a Valentine's Weekend overnight package at $195 per person, per night (double occupancy), which includes a ticket to the concert, dinner, dessert reception, overnight accommodations (with champagne delivered to the room) and breakfast.

The major sponsors are Pinehurst Resort, Progress Energy and American Airlines. Sponsors of the Meet the Artists Dessert Reception are BB&T and Wachovia. Lyne's Furniture Gallery will provide a $1,000 shopping spree as Friday night's door prize for an audience member. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Arts Council of Moore County programs and services.

For additional information on Heart 'n Soul of Jazz and the Arts Council, visit www.mooreart.org.