31 Days Of Jazz In Atlanta
ATLANTA - The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) announces the 34th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival’s return to Piedmont Park with a stellar line-up of both legendary and emerging jazz artists. As a bonus, the 2011 celebration will culminate on Monday, May 30th at Chastain Park Amphitheater with Trombone Shorty opening for DMS featuring George Duke, Marcus Miller, and David Sanborn. One of the last free jazz festivals in the U.S., the Atlanta Jazz Festival is a family-oriented event designed to entertain, educate and expose a variety of audiences to jazz while cultivating its legacy.
The Atlanta Jazz Festival’s rich 34-year history comes to life with its 2011 line-up of seasoned musicians, new talent, and several premiere youth jazz orchestras. The addition of the Budweiser International Jazz Stage will bring Latin Jazz, Bossa Nova and other globally inspired jazz genres to Piedmont Park for all to enjoy. The Atlanta Jazz Festival not only attracts music lovers from around the world, it brings a significant impact to Atlanta’s travel and tourism industry. Last year approximately 100,000 Atlanta residents and tourists attend the Atlanta Jazz Festival each day. “I am truly excited to celebrate the 34th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “This annual tradition embodies the legacy of one of America’s greatest art forms, while serving as the premier outlet for a new generation to embrace the jazz culture.” “Atlanta has become a premier destination for jazz and entertainment,” said Camille Russell Love, Director of the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs. ”Our long-standing partnerships with Piedmont Park, Chastain Park Amphitheater, our sponsors and partners make it possible to present a world-class experience for residents and visitors. When you look at the festival’s unique commitment to jazz in its purest form, it is exciting for the Atlanta Jazz Festival to be a catalyst for introducing emerging talent. We work hard to stay ahead-of-the-curve and to create an experience that presents cutting edge talent.” 34th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival Schedule ALL CONCERTS IN PIEDMONT PARK ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC* The Chastain Park Amphitheatre event is ticketed** Saturday, May 28 – Starts @1 pm, Piedmont Park Sunday, May 29 – Starts @1 pm, Piedmont Park Monday, May 30, 7pm, Chastain Park An evening with DMS featuring George Duke, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn. Opening Act:Trombone Shorty. Meet the New AJF Ambassador Grammy award-winning saxophonist, Mike Phillips, has been named the first AJF Ambassador. In this role, he will work to expand awareness of the Festival’s mission. Classically trained, Mike Phillips is known for his avant-garde approach to jazz, which incorporates elements of funk, R&B and soul. “Jazz is a constantly evolving art form that transcends economic, geographic and racial boundaries,” Phillips said. “As both an artist and resident of Atlanta, I’m honored to help AJF create a platform for today’s jazz mash-up – an evolving mix of traditional and modern styles with a twist of the unexpected.” Mike Phillips will be the featured performer at the Late Night Jazz Jam on Saturday, May 28th at the Loews Atlanta Hotel, the official hotel for the 34th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival. 31 Days of Jazz Kickoff Now in its 10th year, 31 Days of Jazz was created in 2001 to engage residents throughout the month of May by highlighting unique jazz experiences around the city. The series includes live musical performances at various restaurants, bars and music hotspots such as Café 290, Churchill Grounds, the Fernbank Museum and The Sundial Restaurant. As part of 31 Days, the Passport Program incents patrons to enjoy live entertainment throughout the city, while competing for fun, exciting prizes. The Atlanta Jazz Festival is proud to announce the generous support of Anheuser Busch Companies, Travelocity, Xfinity, Georgia Power, MARTA, Jazziz, Publix Super Markets, The Loews Atlanta Hotel, The Starfire Group, and The VIP Room Design Studio. Produced by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, the Atlanta Jazz Festival strives to expose and entertain a diverse audience of jazz aficionados, young jazz enthusiasts and musical artists to the rich heritage the full scope of jazz as an authentic form of traditional music. The Atlanta Jazz Festival builds on the success and heritage of previous festivals by continuing its expansion with a 31-day schedule. For 34 years, the festival has brought to Atlanta world-renowned performers such as Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Etta James, Hiroshima, The Neville Brothers, Al Jarreau, Branford Marsalis & Winton Marsalis, Nina Simon and Dizzy Gillespie. The 2011 Atlanta Jazz Festival is a program of the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, a division of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
