Qwest TV, a premium video streaming service focused on music-related content, is joining forces with the 43rd annual Atlanta Jazz Festival as its exclusive broadcast partner. The festival, free to all for nearly half a century, unites jazz icons and newcomers for a weekend of powerful performances in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. On Labor Day weekend, September 5 and 6, 2021, jazz lovers around the world can stream the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s Meadow Stage performances through Qwest TV’s exclusive livestream. Qwest TV will also offer fans one month of free access to its platform beginning August 4 with code “atlantajazz“ on qwest.tv/atlantajazz.
In addition to an inspiring lineup of emerging artists, the Atlanta Jazz Festival features multiple seasoned jazz greats. Thanks to a soaring, deeply expressive voice, Patti Austin (September 5) has effortlessly glided between the worlds of jazz and pop, collaborating with everyone from George Benson to Michael Jackson. Revered saxophone player and music scholar Archie Shepp (September 6) has innovated African-American musical lineages for decades, playing with greats like John Coltrane and Cecil Taylor, before further exploring new territory in his work with European jazz performers and spiritual master musicians from Morocco. Part of the Miles Davis Quintet, master double-bassist Ron Carter holds the world record as the most recorded bassist of all time and has won two GRAMMYs for his highly creative work.
“It truly makes my soul smile to announce that my beloved Qwest TV will be exclusive broadcast partner to the Atlanta Jazz Festival,a beacon of free culture in a city with incredibly deep and important music roots!” said Quincy Jones. “Catch true legends alongside today’s trailblazers from the festival’s AMAZING concert schedule only on Qwest TV, my HD and 4K streaming platform. It’s free to sign up and join a family of diverse music lovers.”
“The Atlanta Jazz Festival’s broadcast partnership with Qwest TV will give people around the world the opportunity to see why this is such an important event in our city,” said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “The concert’s popularity each year proves how culturally relevant jazz remains and exemplifies Atlanta’s ongoing commitment to the arts and culture.”
“The Atlanta Jazz Festival encapsulates everything we strive for as a streaming service dedicated to the world’s best, genre-defying music,” explained Reza Ackbaraly, co-founder and CEO of Qwest TV. “The Festival’s dedication to the community and the access provided for anyone hoping to hear high-caliber music both resonate with our mission, which is to give as many people as possible access to the best, most creative musical performances out there.”
To emphasize this spirit of arts accessibility, Qwest TV will offer Atlanta Jazz Festival fans one month of free access to its extensive, carefully curated collection of 1,300+ key concerts and performances from around the world. Beginning August 4, fans can sign up for the free trial using code “atlantajazz“ on qwest.tv/atlantajazz.
Qwest TV will broadcast from the Festival’s Meadow Stage on September 5 and 6 via its SVOD service and its live channel, Qwest TV Jazz and Beyond. Qwest TV will also share exciting interviews and other content focusing on the festival’s artists and their music lineages and visions. Artists featured on the broadcast will include:
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Monday, September 6, 2021
“Music, and jazz in particular, is a foundational part of Atlanta’s identity,” explains Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We’re excited to share our event and our community with music fans around the world, thanks to this partnership with Qwest TV.”
For a full festival lineup, see https://atlantafestivals.com/.
RSVP to the Facebook event here: Day 1 and Day 2.
After a year off, fans will delight in the sounds of legendary jazz musicians like Patti Austin and Archie Shepp – along with rising stars like Jazzmeia Horn and Ryan Kilgore – as well as jazz education workshops, the Kids Zone and more!
The 2021 Atlanta Jazz Festival (AJF), occurring Sunday, September 5 and Monday, September 6, was moved to Labor Day Weekend in Piedmont Park. Fans are welcome to come out to the park and enjoy live music, education food and fun in open spaces. For those who cannot attend, we will be live-streaming the Meadow Stage performances to jazz fans across the globe through our unique partnership with Quincy Jones’ Qwest TV. Festival fans can use discount code “atlantajazz“ on qwest.tv/atlantajazz for one month of free access!
The AJF features outstanding performances on two stages: the Meadow Stage and the Oak Hill Stage. The Meadow Stage line-up for Sunday will feature Karla Harris, Ryan Kilgore, Jazzmeia Horn, the Ron Carter Quartet and jazz, R+B, pop crossover sensation Patti Austin.
On Monday, the Meadow Stage musicians include Isaiah Sharkey, Laurin Talese, Theo Croker, Sean Jones and revered saxophonist and scholar, Archie Shepp.
On Sunday, September 5, the Oak Hill Stage will feature international jazz artists Pasquale Grasso Trio, Yuko Mabuchi, Alexey Marti and Miguel Zenon, while Monday’s performances feature Brenda Nicole Moorer, Logan Richardson, Irreversible Entanglements and Mike Phillips.
This year, the AJF will also feature an educational component with free Jazz 101 workshops that will be led by Grammy-nominated, Grammy-winning and esteemed jazz musicians, including vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, bassist Ron Carter, saxophonists Mike Phillips, Miguel Zenon and Archie Shepp, and trumpeter Sean Jones. The workshops will be held in the Greystone building at Piedmont Park. Registration is recommended due to limited seating and masks are required.
Local artist Michael Reese created this year’s official artwork, “Theories of the Lowest End,” which will be featured on a throw blanket and poster. The merchandise, along with caps, aprons and T-shirts, are available through shop.atlantafestivals.com, the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s first e-commerce store, where sale proceeds help to keep the event free of charge. This year also includes a special collaboration with Atlanta Influences Everything for a limited-edition T-shirt available through the e-commerce store as well as The Artist Market and merchant tents.
The Festival is hosting a special artist village featuring 10 local artists along with The Artist Market which delights fans with eclectic and handcrafted goods that line the park’s sidewalks, along with a variety of food and drinks available for purchase.
The Kids Zone is back in the Meadow from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday and Monday, September 5 – 6. A free interactive experience for children called “African Drums for Kids” will happen on Sunday and Monday in the Kid Zone and be led by two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter, composer and bandleader Russell Gunn. Participating children will receive a T- shirt and a percussion instrument as keepsakes from the 30-minute workshops. There will also be a Baby Rest Stop with changing tables and a designated area for nursing mothers – all free of charge.
This year’s event sponsors include Publix, PNC Bank, Georgia Power, Tito’s Vodka, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United FC, MARTA, Qwest TV, Moxy Atlanta Midtown and the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
For more details, visit the events pages at AtlantaFestivals.com or ATLJazzFest.com.
Know Before You Go – Park Rules & COVID-19 Precautions
The City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Jazz Festival are following the science and recommendations for safe events. We encourage those attending the festival to be courteous to their neighbors and follow these protocols:
– Masks are strongly encouraged for all attendees, regardless of vaccination status
– Following City of Atlanta guidelines, masks are required for indoor events like Jazz 101 workshops
– Attendees are encouraged to social distance at all times
In addition, there will be enhanced sanitization at the event, including regularly disinfecting surfaces and hand sanitizer stations available to all attendees.
For a complete list of park rules, click here.
Thank you for helping us make the Atlanta Jazz Festival a fun and safe event for all!
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About Atlanta Jazz Festival
The Atlanta Jazz Festival is regarded as one of the country’s largest free jazz festivals and invites music lovers from around the region to be immersed in jazz music culture. Mayor Maynard Jackson founded the festival to promote the art form that originated in the south. The Atlanta Jazz Festival is an annual musical showcase that celebrates jazz legends and features up-and-coming jazz performers with performances at Piedmont Park.
For more information, please visit www.atlantafestivals.com and follow Atlanta Jazz Festival on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Fans also can access information on the go by visiting the mobile channel, ATLJazzFest.com, from their smart device.
Based on an abundance of caution due to the coronavirus pandemic and keeping the public’s safety as a top priority, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs has decided to postpone the 43rd annual Atlanta Jazz Festival previously scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend, May 23 – 24. Organizers are currently exploring alternative dates to hold the festival in 2020.
“This was a very challenging decision as the Atlanta Jazz Festival is a time honored and treasured tradition,” said OCA Executive Director Camille Love. “And while Memorial Day weekend falls beyond the shelter-in-place timeframe, large gatherings are still being discouraged. With 150,000 attendees typically attending our event in Piedmont Park, we thought it best to find other dates later this year,” she added.
Other festival programming has also been affected by the postponement, including canceling the May 22 India.Arie concert and the May 23 Late Night Jazz Jam, featuring the Irreversible Entanglements.
On a brighter note, the OCA is creating a new program called “Atlanta Jazz Festival Sessions,” which will not only celebrate the 31 Days of Jazz in May, but also give a specially-curated list of Atlanta jazz artists the opportunity to perform virtually for thousands of viewers via the Atlanta Jazz Festival social media platforms. More details will be provided soon.
Check the our website frequently for future updates and announcements.
Photo by Tim Mossholder
The City of Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) seeks exceptional visual artworks to feature in our 2020 Art Village for the 43rd annual Atlanta Jazz Festival.
The festival will select the works of artists whose art highlights the legacy and influence of jazz, and its contribution to world culture.
Artists interested in this opportunity have until Monday, April 20, 2020, by 5 PM EST to submit their work.
To celebrate not only the music but also the visual components of jazz culture, we seek submissions for this year’s Artist Village that showcase jazz or music themes in a visually engaging way.
All visual art mediums are encouraged, including, but not limited to, drawings, paintings, mixed media pieces, photography, sculptures, digitally designed prints, and etc. Each selected artist will be assigned an artist booth to use during the jazz festival at no cost to the artist.
This booth space will include on-site power, a 10 ft. x 10 ft. tent, an 8 ft. long table, and two (2) folding chairs. Selected artists are responsible for providing additional furnishings or display materials for the space. Each booth will be placed in a location determined by the City.
To learn more about the call and eligibility requirements, download the full request for proposal (RFP) below.
The deadline to submit your work is Monday, April 20, 2020, by 5 PM EST. Submissions received after this deadline will not be considered.
If you have questions, contact Kevin Sipp via email to KSipp@AtlantaGA.gov.
The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is seeking an exceptional artist to create the official artwork for our 43rd annual Atlanta Jazz Festival, which will adorn the marketing collateral and festival merchandise for this year’s festival.
The selected artist will receive $1,000 for their work and a complimentary vending booth to use during the festival. The deadline to submit your proposed artwork is Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, by 5 pm.
Artists are encouraged to create an unique and visually expressive design that evokes the storied and beautiful legacy of jazz music. For full details, review the request for proposals (RFP) linked below.
For questions regarding the call, contact Kevin Sipp at KSipp@AtlantaGA.gov.
Click Here for the Atlanta Jazz Festival Artwork RFP
Submissions received after this deadline and those found to be incomplete will not be reviewed.
Proposals will be reviewed by our office, and the selected artist will be notified on February 14, 2020.
Highlights include the The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, Richard Bona, Slim Gamble and Diana Ross’ daughter Rhonda Ross & Rodney Kendrick
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms revealed the artist lineup for the 42nd annual Atlanta Jazz Festival in a video announcement today. The lineup includes a variety of jazz sounds and stylings that will delight more than 150,000 attendees on three newly-named stages: The Meadow Stage, Oak Hill Stage and Park Drive Stage.
The country’s longest running free jazz festival will take place for two days over Memorial Day Weekend: Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, in Piedmont Park. Sunday will feature a special lineup of all Atlanta-grown artists on the Meadow Stage that will epitomize the city’s deep, rich history of local jazz talent.
The complete lineup for the 2019 festival includes:
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Park Drive Stage:
12:30 p.m. Avery Dixon, Saxophone Extraordinaire
2:30 p.m. Joel Ross ‘Good Vibes’
4:30 p.m. Christian Sands
6:30 p.m. Makaya McCraven
Oak Hill Stage:
1:30 p.m. Ofer Assaf Quartet
3:30 p.m. Delfeayo Marsalis
5:30 p.m. Takuya Kuroda
7:30 p.m. Richard Bona
Meadow Stage:
1 p.m. Alicia Olatuja
3 p.m. Stefon Harris + Blackout
5 p.m. Rhonda Ross & Rodney Kendrick
7 p.m. Marcus Strickland ‘Twi-Life’ feat. Pharoahe Monche
9 p.m. Lizz Wright
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Park Drive Stage:
12:30 p.m. Rialto Jazz for Kids
2:30 p.m. Nicole Banks Long
4:30 p.m. Slim Gambill
6:30 p.m. Michael Mayo
Oak Hill Stage:
1:30 p.m. The Kenny Banks, Jr. Trio
3:30 p.m. OKCello
5:30 p.m Freelance
7:30 p.m. Kandace Springs
Meadow Stage:
1 p.m. The Milkshake Quintet
3 p.m. Alex Lattimore
5 p.m. Gary Motley
7 p.m. Rhonda Thomas
9 p.m. The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra
In addition to the Festival on Memorial Day Weekend, the City of Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will again host 31 Days of Jazz events throughout metro Atlanta beginning on May 1. Most of the events are free and will occur in a variety of locations across metro Atlanta, including at various MARTA stations, neighborhood parks, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. More information can be found on AtlantaFestivals.com.
For companies interested in sponsoring the Atlanta Jazz Festival, please contact Jihan Ali with the City of Atlanta, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs at jali@AtlantaGa.gov.
About Atlanta Jazz Festival
The Atlanta Jazz Festival is regarded as one of the country’s largest free jazz festivals and invites music lovers from around the region to be immersed in jazz music culture. Mayor Maynard Jackson founded the Festival to promote the art form that originated in the south. The Atlanta Jazz Festival is an annual musical showcase that celebrates jazz legends and features up-and-coming jazz performers in venues throughout metropolitan Atlanta, culminating on Memorial Day weekend with performances at Piedmont Park. For more information, please visit www.atlantafestivals.com and follow Atlanta Jazz Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans also can access information on the go by visiting ATLJazzFest.com, from their smart device.
African Jazz #10 ©1990 Michael A. Cummings Artist Collection, 1990 72×108 cotton blends, cotton fabric
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is pleased to present the exhibition of “The African Jazz Quilts of Michael A. Cummings” at Gallery 72 to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. The exhibition opens to the public on Thursday, April 18 and runs until Thursday, June 6, 2019. An opening reception for the installation will be hosted at Gallery 72 on Thursday, April 18, starting at 6 p.m.
The exhibition coincides with 42nd Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival hosted in Piedmont Park, Memorial Day Weekend, May 25 and 26.
Michael A. Cummings, a native of Los Angeles, is a world-renowned quilt maker. Cummings uses reclaimed fabric to create new art and narratives that evoke engagement from its viewers. He has had solo exhibitions with Bates College in Maine, Hallmark Cards, New York City’s Cinque Gallery and Studio Museum in Harlem, among others.
Concerning the quilts of Mr. Cummings, Michael James, Professor of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln says “Michael Cummings has been working with the quilt form since the early 1980s. Cummings has successfully synthesized aesthetic qualities found in folk art, in African and African American art, in music (specifically, jazz), and in diverse textile and non-textile narrative traditions, to arrive at a unique and sincere expression… He’s committed to telling the stories of African-Americans across a broad historical, social, cultural, philosophical, and mythological spectrum”.
As observed and stated by author and curator Martha Sielman ‘the energy of Michael A. Cummings central applique images threatens to escape the boundaries set by his traditional pieced borders, combining elements from his African American heritage, Yoruba Mythology, and formal art training his narratives focus on subjects such as Jazz musicians, historical heroes, and the Yoruba water goddess. Cummings has produced a body of work filled with energy edginess and excitement.“
Please join the City of Atlanta in celebrating this unique and talented artist. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information, please contact the gallery curator, Kevin Sipp, for more information at 404-546-3220 or KSipp@AtlantaGa.Gov.
The Atlanta Jazz Festival Presents: The African Jazz Quilts of Michael A. Cummings
Thursday, April 18 – Thursday, June 6, 2019
Gallery 72, 72 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta GA.. 30303
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 18th 2019 at Gallery 72, from 6 pm to 9 pm.
About Gallery 72
Gallery 72 at 2 City Plaza, is a municipal gallery operated by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs dedicated to presenting stimulating and thought provoking contemporary art and programs that focus on advancing Atlanta’s arts offering. Gallery 72 is located at 72 Marietta Street NW Atlanta Ga. 30303 and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.
NEARBY PARKING FOR GALLERY 72: 104 Marietta Street Parking Garage (176 feet NW), 79 Marietta Street Parking Garage (245 feet NE) Centennial Tower Parking Garage (332 feet NE), Paid street parking is available near the gallery.
NEARBY MARTA RAIL STATIONS: Take the Gold line to Five Points Station. Exit the station on the Forsyth street side and turn right, walk northeast on Forsyth Street, and turn left on Marietta Street. Walk one block to Fairlie Street. After crossing Fairlie Street the gallery will be on the left.
On the heels of a critically acclaimed American debut at South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival, the Atlanta Jazz Festival and Fulton County Arts and Culture will host a concert featuring Afro-cuban musician Cimafunk at the Southwest Arts Center on Saturday, April 13 at 8 pm.
Dubbed the “James Brown of Cuba”, Cimafunk is a multi-talented singer and producer who has taken over Cuba’s alternative music scene. The medical student turned musician rocketed to prominence following the release of his viral debut album, “Terapia” in late 2017. His infectious fusion of funk, dance-centric Afro-cuban music and fun authentic lyrics direct from the Cuban streets turned the country upside down in 2018.
Recently named by Billboard as one of “10 Latin Artists to Watch in 2019,” Cimafunk revitalized Havana’s music scene while infusing funk into Cuban rhythms. He draws inspiration from an eclectic panel of black musicians from James Brown, George Clinton, Prince and the soul music of Al Green and Bill Withers. He also pays homage to the Cuban music movement known as of Nueva Trova, popularized by singer Beny Moré as well as Cuba’s Songo music created by the band Los Van Van.
Winner of the Lucas Award for “Most Popular Video” and named “Artist of the Year” by Vistar Magazine, Cimafunk has created a movement in Havana and throughout Cuba with sold out concert halls.
Poised for international discovery, Cimafunk believes in nothing but the power of the Groove and the cathartic communion of dancing bodies. A renaissance man, conscious of his roots and musical ancestry, Cimafunk looks to firmly inject a new century of style into Cuban and black music.
The concert is presented in partnership with Cuba Educational Travel as a part of a cultural exchange program. The visit aims at building and strengthening networks and communities involved in US/Cuba cultural exchange. Tickets for the concert are on sale now and are available at Eventbrite.
For more information on Cimafunk, visit his website at cimafunk.com. To listen to Cimafunk’s newest single “Me Voy”, below.
Photo courtesy of Creative Loafing.
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is thrilled to announce that our annual Atlanta Jazz Festival was named a Reader’s Pick for Best Free Annual Event in Creative Loafing’s 2018 Best of Atlanta list.
“Receiving this recognition speaks to the passion this city has for music, especially jazz,” said OCA Executive Director Camille Russell Love. “The Atlanta Jazz Festival has brought the genre’s most beloved jazz performers to our wonderful city free-of-charge, and we’re excited to bring more superb talent for the upcoming festival.”
Creative Loafing’s annual Best of Atlanta list honors institutions, creatives, entrepreneurs, and businesses that are true to the Atlanta spirit, while showcasing the best the city has to offer. The full list of winners can be found here.
The Reader’s Pick award follows the announcement of the 2018 lineup for the Emerging Jazz Icons Series concerts featuring Camille Thurman and the Darrell Green Trio on Saturday, November 17, followed by Joel Ross on Saturday, January 12.
Both concerts lead into the 42nd annual Atlanta Jazz Festival, hosted in Piedmont Park on Memorial Day Weekend, May 25–26, 2019.
The OCA thanks everyone who voted to recognize the Atlanta Jazz Festival for this distinction. Look for more details regarding the upcoming 42nd annual Atlanta Jazz Festival as they emerge. For additional information about the Emerging Jazz Icons Series concerts, click here.
The 2018 Emerging Jazz Icons Series will feature Camille Thurman (left) and the Darrell Green Trio on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, and Joel Ross (Right) on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 (Note: January’s concert has been canceled).
UPDATE: Due to unforeseen complications, our Emerging Jazz Icon Series concert scheduled for January 12 with Joel Ross has been canceled. However, Joel Ross is currently in negotiations to perform for the 2019 Atlanta Jazz Festival.
More details about his upcoming performance will be shared as they come available.
The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) and the Atlanta Jazz Festival are proud to announce the return of the Emerging Jazz Icons Series.
Organized in partnership with Public Broadcasting Atlanta and The Woodruff Arts Center, the Emerging Jazz Icons Series promote new and up-and-coming jazz artists while introducing the art form to a new generation.
The 2018 season of the Emerging Jazz Icons Series will feature Camille Thurman and the Darrell Green Trio on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, and Joel Ross on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 (January’s concert has been canceled). All concerts will take place in The Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Auditorium and lead up to the 42nd Atlanta Jazz Festival, scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend (May 25– 26, 2019) in Piedmont Park.
Tickets for this season of concerts will be available at www.woodruffcenter.org and the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office.
Tickets for the Emerging Jazz Icons Series featuring Camille Thurman and the Darrell Green Trio are now on sale. Purchase your tickets here.
About Camille Thurman
Acclaimed singer Camille Thurman has amazed audiences throughout the world with her impeccable sound, remarkable vocal virtuosity, and captivating artistry. An accomplished performer and composer, Thurman has worked with notable Jazz and R&B icons such as Dianne Reeves, Pattie LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu, among others. Thurman has also performed and toured throughout China, Africa, South America, Europe, and Central America with her band. She has also received multiple accolades for her talent. Most notably, Thurman was the recipient of the Martin E. Segal –Lincoln Center Award for Outstanding Young Artists.
About Joel Ross
A Chicago native, Joel Ross has performed with historic and seasoned artist such as Herbie Hancock, Louis Hayes, Christian McBride, and Stefon Harris – as well as with cutting-edge contemporaries like Ambrose Akinmusire, Gerald Clayton, Jon Batiste and many more. Twice selected as a Thelonious Monk Institute National All-Star, Ross has performed at multiple festivals including the Brubeck, Monterey, Seattle, and Chicago Jazz Festivals. Ross has just recorded his debut album “Good Vibes” and formed his own ensemble under the same name.
Georgia State University Associate Professor Dr. Maurice J. Hobson pictured with panelists Phillip DePoy, Playwright of Nick’s Flamingo Grill, and Joe Alterman, Jazz Pianist and Director of The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival.
The “History of Jazz in Atlanta,” presented in collaboration with the Alliance Theatre and The Atlanta Jazz Festival, Inc. saw more than 120 people come together at the Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Auditorium to engage in an enlightening panel discussion and Q&A about jazz music’s influence on the city’s culture. The event included exclusive excerpts from the Alliance Theatre’s new musical “Nick’s Flamingo Grill,” which tells the story of two G.I.s turned jazz musicians who attempt to transport their racially mixed performance from abroad to 1950s Atlanta.
The evening opened with remarks from the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ (OCA) Executive Director, Camille Russell Love. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Maurice J. Hobson, Associate Professor of African American Studies at Georgia State University, with insights from panelists Phillip DePoy, Playwright of Nick’s Flamingo Grill, and Joe Alterman, Jazz Pianist and Director of The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival.
The speakers shared their thoughts regarding the importance of Jazz as an art form and the cultural significance of the city’s first integrated jazz club, which inspired the play. Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in the discussion.
Performances of Nick’s Flamingo Grill start September 29 and run until October 28 in the Alliance Theatre’s Hertz Stage. For more information, visit alliancetheatre.org.
Also, look for information regarding the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s Emerging Jazz Icons Series returning this fall.
The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), which manages the city’s multiple cultural and arts-based endeavors, recently released its 2017 Annual Report. The report highlights OCA’s efforts to spur stronger and more inclusive growth and explains the surprising economic impact the arts provide.
The report also demonstrates the collective impact of the OCA, whose subunits include Gallery 72, Chastain Arts Center, the city’s Public Art Services, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival, just to name a few, which generates surprising fiscal value for metro Atlanta in the form of approximately $15 million in economic impact to the city through its annual Atlanta Jazz Festival and ELEVATE temporary public art festival. Furthermore, the report reveals the direct and indirect benefits the OCA provides Atlantans through its various programs, such as the more than 30,000 Atlanta Public Schools students it engages annually via its Cultural Experience Project (CEP).
To view the OCA’s 2017 Annual Report, please use the following link. Follow the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest announcements.
Of course you’re coming out to the Atlanta Jazz Festival on Memorial Day Weekend in Piedmont Park…but come out to any of our 31 Days of Jazz events and enjoy all that the City has to offer! Check out our event calendar here!
Don’t forget to bookmark our mobile channel at http://www.atljazzfest.com/ for up-to-date festival and park information!
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The Atlanta Jazz Festival will host a free viewing party of The 2018 All-Star Global Concert on Monday, April 30 at The Plaza Theatre beginning at 4 p.m. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m.
The All-Star Global Concert will feature a stellar lineup of international artists representing jazz, and many other genres of music, for a performance that spans styles, cultures and languages taking place at St. Petersburg’s famed Mariinsky Theatre, home to the internationally acclaimed Mariinsky Ballet and one of the crown jewels of a city renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The 2018 All-Star Global Concert will feature nearly three dozen acclaimed artists representing 14 countries, including many Atlanta Jazz Festival past performers. Herbie Hancock (USA) and Igor Butman (Russia) will serve as co-artistic directors, and John Beasley (USA) will serve as musical director.
Additional confirmed artists include: Cyrille Aimée (France), Oleg Akkuratov (Russia), Till Brönner (Germany), Oleg Butman (Russia), Terri Lyne Carrington (USA), Joey DeFrancesco (USA), Fatoumata Diawara (Mali), Vadim Eilenkrig (Russia), Kurt Elling (USA), Antonio Faraò (Italy), James Genus (USA), Robert Glasper (USA), David Goloschyokin (Russia), Hassan Hakmoun (Morocco), Gilad Hekselman (Israel), Horacio Hernandez (Cuba), Taku Hirano (Japan), Anatoly Kroll (Russia), Gaoyang Li (China), Rudresh Mahanthappa (USA), The Manhattan Transfer (USA), Branford Marsalis (USA), James Morrison (Australia), Moscow Jazz Orchestra (Russia), Makoto Ozone (Japan), Danilo Pérez (Panama), Dianne Reeves (USA), Lee Ritenour (USA), Luciana Souza (Brazil) and Ben Williams (USA), among others.
In the spirit of International Jazz Day, each year’s All-Star Global Concert takes place in a landmark venue with rich historical significance to the Global Host City and to the hosting nation. Long considered Russia’s cultural capital, St. Petersburg has played an important role in the popularization and development of jazz in Russia. The country’s jazz scene was born in 1927 in St. Petersburg with the appearance of the “First Concert Jazz Band” at the St. Petersburg State Capella, followed by the creation of the first jazz collective in 1929. Moreover, St. Petersburg is the only city in the country to have a Jazz Philharmonic Hall, founded in 1989.
The viewing party will be shown at The Plaza Theatre, a venue of cultural significance on the verge of celebrating its 80th anniversary. The theatre, located at 1049 Ponce De Leon Avenue, NE, was designed by architect George Harwell Bond and opened on December 23, 1939 as an art deco cinema and live theater space. In early 2013, the Plaza Theatre was sold to theatre enthusiast Michael Furlinger and has undergone extensive alterations to its original appearance, including the addition of a full-service bar with signature cocktails.
The event is free; however, registration is encouraged. Click here to register to attend the event.
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Jazz Appreciation Month (fondly known as “JAM”) was created at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 2001 to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz for the entire month of April.
JAM is intended to stimulate and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz – to study the music, attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings, read books about jazz, and more.
This year, JAM celebrates the relationship between jazz and justice by looking beyond the music to the dynamic ways jazz has played a transformative role in social justice, musician’s rights, and equality since its birth in America. For the first time JAM will not feature a musician but instead hightlight “one of the most influential nonmusicians in jazz history,” producer Norman Granz, and his work as an innovative producer, tireless promoter for his musicians, and uncompromising advocate for civil rights.
Looking for ideas and other ways to celebrate jazz during April and year-round? Find the category that best suits you or your organization and read through some of our favorite ways to celebrate and participate with jazz:
Individuals:
Teachers | Students | Parents | Band Directors | Fans | Musicians | Historians | Collectors | Philanthropists
Organizations:
Libraries | Churches | Jazz Societies | Museums & Historical Societies | Performing Arts Organizations | Foundations | Public Radio Stations
The 2018 Jazz Appreciation Month Poster is the second in a special three-year series featuring the center section of LeRoy Neiman’s Big Band, a large-scale painting that hangs on the first floor of the National Museum of American History. The JAM Posters from 2017 and 2019 feature the left and right side of the painting respectively, so that when all three are hung next to each other, the iconic painting can be recreated! Big Band is a gift of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation.Part Two of the Big Band JAM Poster Series (2017-2019)
This year, JAM invites all jazz fans and appreciators to look beyond the music to the dynamic ways jazz has played a transformative role in social justice, musicians’ rights, and equality. Our featured JAM artist this year, producer Norman Granz, devoted his life to civil rights and equality – within the music industry and beyond. Through numerous record labels and his iconic touring show, Jazz at the Philharmonic, he helped propel many jazz musicians to greatness. Fittingly, all the musicians featured in this section of the JAM poster had careers that overlapped or were influenced by Norman Granz:
– Charles Mingus (bass) – performed with Jazz at the Philharmonic in 1945.
– Benny Goodman (clarinet) – Performed in a Norman Granz-organized tour in 1953 with Louis Armstrong. Some of Benny’s musicians on the tour was pianist Teddy Wilson, drummer Gene Krupa and trumpeter Ziggle Elman. Their April 17 concerts at Carnegie Hall were sold-out and according to John Hammond, surpassed the gross ticket sales of any jazz concerts in the hall up to that time.
– Gerry Mulligan (saxophone) – had multiple albums produced under Norman’s lable, Verve Records, including Blues in Time, Jazz Giants ’58, Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster, and more.
– Lester Young (saxophone) – performed with Jazz at the Philharmonic for 12 years and recorded a couple albums produced by Norman Granz.
– Charlie Parker (saxophone) – performed with Jazz at the Philharmonic and recoreded Charlie Parker with Strings produced by Norman Granz under Verve Records in 1949-50, fulfilling a long-held desire to perform with a string section.
– John Coltrane (saxophone) – toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic during its later years and released several albums under one of Norman Granz’s earlier labels, Pablo Records, including Afro Blue Impressions.
This poster helps form the larger whole of Big Band and, with the 2017 poster, illustrates the diverse performers and styles that defined jazz as an inclusive space. This inclusivity extended beyond the musicians to the people behind the scenes, including our featured artist, producer Norman Granz. Check our featured artist page here to learn more about his work and legacy.
LeRoy Neiman (1921 – 2012) was an American artist known for his brilliantly colored, expressionist paintings and screen prints of athletes, musicians and sporting events. Neiman had a great love for jazz and spent more than 50 years sketching and painting musicians in an attempt to portray how it felt to watch jazz performances as well as how the sounds and colors evoked emotions and movement. Completed in 2005, Neiman’s painting, Big Band depicts performers he saw in concert from the 1950-80s. Learn more about the painting and its musicians here and here.
Happy Jazz Appreciation Month!
To celebrate this annual recognition of America’s first, authentic, art form, Smithsonian Jazz at the National Museum of American History is giving away ONE free Jazz Appreciation Month poster per person, while supplies last!
Click the link below to get your free poster!
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4167580/JAM-2018-Poster
Join us Saturday, April 7th at 8:00 PM at The Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Theatre for an evening with jazz pianist Christian Sands as the third and final installment in this season’s Emerging Jazz Icons Series. To purchase tickets, click here.
With his Mack Avenue records debut CD, due for a Spring 2017 release, this young Steinway Artist and three-time Grammy Nominee takes his place as a leader and an emerging jazz force. He brings a fresh look at the entire language of jazz. A deeply rich and soulful feeling can be heard in Christian’s music, characterized by his infectious energy and spirit. That same spirit is what caught the attention of Grammy award winning bassist, Christian McBride, with whom he has toured throughout the world’s finest venues for more than six years! An exciting and creative talent, touring with the new music he has composed for his Mack Avenue debut will truly be an event to see and hear…! “When I first met Christian in 2009, it marked a seminal moment in my career as a bandleader. He was the FIRST young musician I’d met who had the drive, passion and skill of my peers like Roy Hargrove, Eric Reed, Greg Hutchinson and Antonio Hart. He’s only worried about being the best musician he can possibly be. He’s the ultimate professional” — Christian McBride
To purchase tickets, click here.
Prepaid parking is available for the Woodruff Arts Center Parking Garage and can be added on to Internet orders. Please take note of both the date and time. Parking passes are only good for entry on or after the stated time.
**CALL FOR VISUAL ARTISTS**
The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is seeking exceptional visual artwork to feature as the official art for the 2018 Atlanta Jazz Festival. The festival will select one local artist’s art to feature as the official artwork on marketing collateral and merchandise, such as the official festival posters and t-shirts.
Click here for details. Submit your entry and be a part of Atlanta history!
Check out the latest review of Jazzmeia Horn’s performance for the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s most recent concert in the Emerging Jazz Icons Series: https://notesonjazz.blogspot.com/2018/01/grammy-nominated-jazzmeia-horn-lights.html
Don’t miss the Atlanta Jazz Festival: Emerging Jazz Icons Series featuring Grammy Nominated Jazzmeia Horn, this Saturday at the The Woodruff Arts Center! Tickets are on sale at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office.
Atlanta Jazz Festival: Emerging Jazz Icons Series-Jazzmeia Horn from ATL26 on Vimeo.
The 38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival Promises To Be A Tasty Musical Gumbo!
Atlanta, GA — “Producing the Atlanta Jazz Festival is like making a fabulous gumbo,” says Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “We find the best ingredients, add some amazing seasonings, and put in a dash of love. Then we invite our friends, families and neighbors to enjoy it with us. For the 38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival that’s exactly what we are doing. We are presenting the sumptuous music of legendary artists Pharoah Sanders and Diane Schuur, the fresh sounds of The Rad Trads, and spicy stylings of some of Atlanta’s hottest local musicians. We’ll present music every day in May, and culminate with a huge festival weekend in Piedmont Park from May 22-24. Please join us for what promises to be a delicious experience!”
Here’s an overview of the 38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival concerts and events:
Bank of America Youth Jazz Band Competition
The Bank of America Youth Jazz Band Competition will take place on Saturday, March 21 from 9 am to 4 pm and is being hosted by the Georgia State University School of Music in their Kopleff Recital Hall. Ten Atlanta area high school jazz bands will compete for scholarships and an opportunity to perform at the festival in Piedmont Park. The competition is open to the public, but seating is on a first come, first served basis.
31 Days of Jazz
There will be Jazz events every day in May. Here is just a sampling of what you can experience.
MARTA Mondays are back! Last year’s partnership was a huge success and patrons were surprised and delighted with live jazz concerts in stations during their commutes. Here’s this year’s schedule: April 27 at H.E. Holmes Station, May 4 at College Park Station, May 11 at Lindbergh Station and May 18 at Midtown Station. Music will be presented from 3-5 pm.
Friday, May 1 will be the festival kickoff party at the Westside Cultural Arts Center.
Saturday, May 2 the much anticipated Jazz Under The Stars Concert returns to Clark Atlanta University.
Friday, May 8 jazz will be featured at Martinis & IMAX at Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
Sunday, May 10 Jamal Ahmad will host his popular show, the S.O.U.L. of Jazz, live at The Music Room.
Friday, May 15 the Friday Jazz series will celebrate the Atlanta Jazz Festival at the High Museum of Art.
Thursday, May 21 there will be a new “Jazz Crawl” at various venues on Edgewood Avenue downtown.
Atlanta Jazz Festival in Piedmont Park
The festival returns to historic Piedmont Park with three days of music over Memorial Day Weekend from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.
Featured Artists in Piedmont Park
Grammy Award winning musician Pharoah Sanders possesses one of the most distinctive tenor saxophone sounds in jazz. Harmonically rich and heavy with overtones, Sanders’ sound can also be raw and passionate. He made his name with expressionistic, nearly anarchic free jazz in John Coltrane’s ensembles of the mid-’60s, but Sanders’ later music is guided by more graceful concerns. Sanders made his first record as a leader in 1964. After John Coltrane’s death in 1967, Sanders worked briefly with his widow, Alice Coltrane. From the late ’60s, he worked primarily as a leader of his own ensembles.
Long regarded as one of Contemporary Jazz’s leading vocalists, Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. Born in Tacoma, Washington in 1953, Schuur was blind from birth; but she was gifted with perfect pitch and initially taught herself piano by ear. With a distinguished career that includes two Grammy awards (Timeless and Diane Schuur and The Count Basie Orchestra on GRP Records), Schuur’s music has explored almost every corner of the 20th Century musical landscape. Her musical collaborations include those with Barry Manilow, B.B. King, Ray Charles, and Jose Feliciano.
Based in New York City, The Rad Trads are quickly gaining an international following. Their influences range from early jazz to New Orleans brass band, R&B, Chicago and delta blues, and rock & roll. Featuring four powerful horns, a driving rhythm section, and three captivating lead vocalists, The Rad Trads consistently win over audiences with their relentless energy and enthusiasm. The band performs regularly in NYC at The Blue Note and BB King’s when they’re not touring the USA and Europe.
Social Media
Find out about all the latest festival news, enter contests, and join the conversation! We’re on
Facebook: AtlantaJazzFestival; Twitter: AtlantaJazzFest and Instagram: Atlanta Jazz Festival.
Sponsorship
If you are interested in being a sponsor and promoting your product or service at the festival, contact Jenevieve Purcell at jpurcell@atlantaga.gov.
The 38th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is presented by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The mission of the Atlanta Jazz Festival is to educate and entertain a diverse audience of jazz fans and to nurture the next generation of jazz musicians. The festival is partially supported by Atlanta Jazz Festival Inc, a 501(c)(3) cultural, non-profit. Visit the official web site at www.atlantafestivals.com for performance schedules and information.
Media Contact:
Karen Hatchett
770-433-1137
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The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is looking for a Grants Development Officer to join our team.
For more information, please visit our job posting: Grants Development Officer
Applicants must apply through the city’s website by visiting www.atlantaga.gov and then selecting ‘Careers’ at the top of the page.
Application deadline is 2/25/15
“We had an amazing turnout of extraordinarily talented young musicians at this year’s Bank of America Youth Jazz Band Competition,” states Camille Russell Love, Director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “Area high school jazz bands competed at Georgia State University’s School of Music on March 22 to win a coveted spot at this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival. The top three bands won a slot on to perform and a scholarship from Bank of America. Our yearly competition helps nurture budding musicians and the next generation of jazz enthusiasts. We know you’ll be surprised at their skills when you hear them in Piedmont Park this Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-25.”
Here are the winners, the dates and times that they will perform at the Atlanta Jazz Festival and their scholarship amounts:
1st Place: North Atlanta Center for the Arts Jazz Band – Friday, May 23 at 5 pm
They will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
2nd Place: Tri-Cities High School Jazz Band – Saturday, May 24 at 1 pm
They will receive a $750 scholarship.
3rd Place: Milton High School Jazz Ensemble – Sunday, May 25 at 1 pm
They will receive a $500 scholarship.
North Atlanta Center for the Arts Band Director Adam Brooks knew by the time he was in high school that he wanted to be an educator. So he’s in tune with the fact that he is helping his students decide on careers and make life choices. Having played French horn and percussion in school, Brooks enjoyed performing, but loved teaching others. He is a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, with a degree in Jazz Education. He’s been a Music Educator for ten years and the Band Director at North Atlanta for eight years.
“The arts are vital,” says Brooks. “Students who are involved in band, chorus, drama, visual arts and dance are better students academically. The discipline they learn sharpens life skills faster than anything else. And the arts bolster creativity. I believe moving forward that businesses will look for a workforce with creativity and imagination to help push them to the forefront of innovation.”
“Winning the Youth Jazz Band Competition is the culmination of the student’s hard work for the year,” continues Brooks. “We set our goal to win and put it on our board. It’s wonderful to see it come to fruition. We love playing in Piedmont Park and being part of the Atlanta Jazz Festival is truly an honor.”
Tarik Rowland has been the Director of Bands at Tri-Cities High School for nine years and a music educator for fifteen. His undergraduate work was completed at Georgia Southern and he did his graduate work at Shenandoah Conservatory. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Music Education at the University of Georgia. Under Rowland’s leadership, the Tri-Cities Band Program has grown from 45 members to 145.
“I became a Music Educator because I love music and I grew up around it,” explains Rowland. “I play trumpet, and my dad was a Band Director for 43 years! It’s an area where I feel that I can make a meaningful contribution.”
“Music is an important part of our curriculum,” Rowland adds. “It allows students to explore their creative sides, and it’s a very constructive way to process things.”
“We are excited about playing at this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival,” continues Rowland. “It is great for the students to see an audience that loves jazz and celebrates this art form.”
Rowland is ably assisted by Aaron L. Johnson, Associate Director of Bands at Tri-Cities High School. Johnson began playing trumpet at the age of nine and attended Tri-Cities High School where he played in both the symphonic and jazz bands. He attended Tennessee State University where he further honed his skills and studied Orchestral Conducting. He started teaching Math at Tri-Cities six years ago and working part time with the Band Department. This past year he was named Associate Director of Bands.
“My hope is that through music my students will enter a world of endless possibilities,” says Johnson. “Music helps teach focus and discipline which transfers to math and science. It also teaches teamwork and cultural respect, which are important real-world skills.”
Milton High School Jazz Band Director Brandon Kunka graduated with a Masters from the University of Miami, and began teaching music in high schools in Miami before moving to Atlanta. Then he thought he would pursue a career as a musician. But after teaching private music lessons at Milton High School, he realized that he had a passion for teaching, and he was right where he was meant to be. This is his second year as Jazz Band Director at Milton.
“Being able to see my students achieve something great and make a soulful performance is what keeps me in the game,” says Kunka. “I know that the attributes they gain by playing music, like discipline and perseverance, will help them grow as a person and take them further when they go into the professional world.”
“It’s fantastic that we will be performing this year at the Atlanta Jazz Festival,” enthuses Kunka. “The kids are super hyped. It’s the first award that Milton High School has received for their Jazz Program so it’s a huge milestone.”
Sponsorship
Sponsors for this year’s festival include Bank of America, Publix Charities, Coca-Cola, W Atlanta – Midtown, MARTA, XFINITY, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Georgia Lottery. If you are interested in being a sponsor and promoting your product or service at the festival, contact Alex Davis at ADDavis@AtlantaGa.Gov.
The 37th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is presented by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The mission of the Atlanta Jazz Festival is to educate and entertain a diverse audience of jazz fans and to nurture the next generation of jazz musicians. The festival is partially supported by Atlanta Jazz Festival Inc, a 501©(3) cultural, non-profit. Like us on Facebook at AtlantaJazzFestival and visit the official web site at www.atlantafestivals.com for performance schedules, news and information.
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MEDIA:For hi-res photos, to set interviews, or for more info please contact Karen Hatchett at karen.hatchett@charter.net or 770-433-1137.}
