Atlanta Jazz Festival…2006

It had been twenty-nine years of festival history that brought amazing talent to Atlanta for the 2006 jazz festival. On May 27 – 29, Piedmont Park was filled with those minions of jazz greedily clamoring for the perfect spot to lay a blank, pitch a tent or set up a lawn chair. Excitement filled the air as they anticipated the next generation opening up each day who were the winners of the Youth Jazz Band Competition.

The programming brought such luminaries as Al Green featuring Francine Reed. Barry Harris Trio with special guest Charles McPherson, Benny Golson Quartet, Carmen Lundy & the New Songbook Artists, Clarke/Duke Project featuring Marcus Miller, Donald Byrd, Geri Allen Trio featuring Jimmy Cobb & Kenny Harris, Grady Tate Quintet, Kendrick Oliver & the New Life Jazz Orchestra, McCoy Tyner, Moncef Genoud, Pyeng Threadgill, René Marie, Robert Glasper Trio, United Trombone Summit: Delfeayo Marsalis, Robin Eubanks, Steve Turre & Curtis Fuller and the YellowJackets.

Vocalist Tammy Allen had put together a Future of Jazz competition that was held at Churchill Grounds to discover who amongst Atlanta’s finest, up and comers and those emerging artists that were selected by a panel of jurors to perform during the festival.

The Future of Jazz competition winner was Jaspects, the festival felt it prudent to give some of the other artists  and was accompanied by Ede Wright, International Groove Conspiracy, Jeff Simpson, Organized Time, Ramon Pooser, Solid State, Squat, Will Scruggs Jazz Fellowship and the organizer herself Tammy Allen.

Sponsors for the weekend were Delta Airlines Budweiser Select, The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Steinway Piano Galleries, MARTA, Atlanta lIvery Company, BET Jazz The 24 Hour Jazz Channel, Peter Conlon, Publix Supermarkets, Atlanta Tribune The Magazine, Creative Loafing, JazzTimes, Rolling Out, Smooth Jazz 105.7 WJZZ, Jazz 91.9FM WCLK, 790 The Zone, WSB-TV, Jazz Media, Premier Events and the Bermuda Department of Tourism. #AJF40

  #preserving genius

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