Jazz Fest: Sublime Entertainment
Atlanta, GA -Atlanta is the soulful center of the South, and never more so than during Atlanta Jazz Festival. The city swings to the music of jazz legends, up-and-coming jazz greats, and a host of simply wonderful jazz bands who converge on the Capitol of the New South during the last weekend in May.
The 25th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival features nine days of live jazz, in settings as diverse as Woodruff Park and Hartsfield Airport. The Festival starts May 19th, and runs through May 27th. The Atlanta Jazz Festival seeks to blanket the city with the music the South made internationally famous. You'll find venues from small, intimate restaurants to expansive, open parks hosting a wide variety of bands.
The Festival's highlight is the free Memorial Day weekend shows at Piedmont Park. The main stage is on the ball fields at Piedmont and 14th street entrance. Veterans of the Atlanta Jazz Fest will recognize that the main stage has moved this year... a result of renovations at the usual 10th street location.
It's this two-day outdoor event that contributes the dominant flavor to the Festival... and is captured in other, smaller shows at other area parks and outdoor venues. There's just something about Atlanta in the late-spring that compliments jazz music...
Jazz lovers are already talking about the incredible line-up of talent slated for this year's Festival. Roy Hayes, Joshua Redman and Jimmy Scott for a bit of traditional jazz, and D.J. Logic and the like for those wanting an edgier, more contemporary sound.
On the main stage during Memorial Day weekend, Takana Miyamoto, Jimmy Scott, Jack West & Curvature, Abbey Lincoln Quartet, Ben Allison's New Quartet, and Ronny Jordan will all play.
But it's not all big-name performers. An Emerging Artists Stage at 12th street and Piedmont will feature hot new acts, like New Power Trio, Carlos Washington & the Giant People Ensemble, D. D. Jackson, and Youth Jazz Band will bring their new styles, interpretations and energy to the Festival.
At the other extreme, the Dinner & Jazz Series will host live jazz acts at local restaurants, among them Apache Café, Gordon Biersch Brewery, Cavu, and Sambuca Jazz Café.
But, this being Atlanta, there's more the Jazz Festival than music... an incredible array of artists and artisans will present their work at an expanded arts & crafts market.
Stunningly original artwork will be side-by-side with henna tatooists, mixed media artists, and unique apparel dealers. Surprisingly enough, Atlanta Jazz Festival has been a great place to locate one-of-a-kind sculpture and stained glass over the years.
The Festival's reputation has grown so that it draws only the best vendors and artists. Which is also true of the food...
That's right, Atlanta Jazz Festival has some of the best food you'll ever find at a festival! Festival organizers have carefully selected the vendors to be allowed access to the Festival, meaning visitors will find great food at reasonable prices.
Publix Kid's Zone adds a kid-friendly element to the festivities. Giant purple dinosaurs, games, challenging art activities, puppets, clowns and rides all equal a day of intense, exhausting fun!
Atlanta Jazz Festival is an event like no
other in the city... it combines the best of everything the city has to
offer into nine days of sublime entertainment. 
