Atlanta’s Piedmont Park will be buzzing with sound of music this Memorial Day weekend, as The City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs celebrates its 36th Annual Atlanta Jazz festival.
The historic festival was created in 1977 by Mayor Maynard Jackson with the intentions of making Atlanta the “Jazz Capital of the South.” Since then it has become the backdrop for such musical legends as Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and Nina Simone, and is now regarded as one of the country’s largest free musical events.
“The Atlanta Jazz Festival draws anywhere from 50,000 to 75,000 people a day and attracts a mixture of young, old, white, black, brown – it appeals to all,” said Camille Russell Love, Director of the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.
Atlanta’s Jazz festival wraps up “31 Days of Jazz” throughout the month of May, which featured live jazz in clubs, restaurants, parks, museums and performance venues around Atlanta. The festival will launch Friday May 24 at 7:30 p.m. with a paid concert at Chastain Park Amphitheatre starring BWB (Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown) with guest Chrisette Michele. Winners of the 10th Annual Youth Jazz Band Competition, held at Georgia State University’s Kopleff Recital Hall, will perform as the opening act each day. A Late Night Jazz Concert will be held Sunday, May 26 at the Loews Atlanta Hotel at 10 pm and will feature Dionne Farris with the Russell Gunn Quartet.
This year’s festival will honor “Generation Next.” Love is excited about the outstanding line-up this year, which includes a diverse group of exciting and groundbreaking artists such as Cécile McLorin Salvant, José James, Gretchen Parlato, Aruán Ortiz, Meshell Ndegeocello, Abmbrose Akinmusire, Dominick Farinacci and Tia Fuller. Daytime performances will take place on two stages, the Main Stage and Georgia Lottery International Stage.
There will also be an assortment of family oriented activities including an interactive kids play area, jazz education workshops, and food and retail vendors.
Festivities begin May 25 and end on May 27 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Piedmont Park. Atlanta Jazz Festival is free and open to the public.
For additional information, please visit the Atlanta Music Festival website or download the Atlanta Festival App on Itunes.
For tickets to the paid music events available now check out Ticketmaster and Ticketalternative.
