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
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Atlanta Jazz Festival… 2005
May 28th began the free weekend of jazz in its 28th year that the Atlanta Jazz Festival has been in existence. It took place in Piedmont Park and once again Alonzo Craig is the festival manager programming the event alongside Director Love. Some new names and young lions appeared as well some famous old tigers and a Latin contingent bringing the music of Puerto Rico to the delight of the audience.
In performance were Adams Township, Andy Bey, Benny Golson Quartet, Brown’s Theory, Carmen Lundy, Christian Tamburr, Claudia Acuna, David “Fathead” Newman Quintet, Deborah Brown featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith with Joe Beck, Gwen Hughes Trio, Inman Middle School Jazz Band, International Groove Conspiracy, J.C. Young Middle School Jazz Band, Jaspects, Johnnie Eason, K-Zari Quintet, Kathleen Bertrand, Kebbie Williams Project, Kenny G, Kermit Walker Trio, Latin Jazz All-Stars, Life Force, Nefertari Bey, Nestor Torres, North Atlanta School for the Arts Jazz Band, Ojeda Penn Experience, Peachtree Ridge High School Jazz Ensemble, René Marie, Rick Bell Quintet, Rio Negro, Rod Smith Quartet, Sasha, Sonny Fortune, Sonya Williams, Southern Art Music Ensemble, Springer Quartet, State of the Art featuring Sonny Emory, Takana Miyamoto, Teddy Adams Quartet, The Dennis, Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra, Tommie Macon & the Gentlemen of Jazz, and the Yusef Lateef Quartet.
Sponsoring this year’s events were the ever present General Motors, Delta Airlines, Wyndham Midtown Atlanta, Anheuser Busch Companies, The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Publix Supermarkets, MARTA, The Atlanta Livery Company, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mudo Hispanic, Rolling Out, Atlanta Tribune The Magazine, JazzTimes, Abyss Jazz Magazine, Creative Loafing, BET Jazz The 24 Hour Jazz Channel, Atlanta Channel, WSB-TV, Jazz 91.9 FM WCLK, Smooth Jazz 105.7 WJZZ, The Bubbling Creek Company, and Premier Events Management. #AJF40
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Atlanta Jazz Festival…2004
There was anticipation in the air as the days of jazz approach. The 2004 press conference and announcement party were now a part of jazz history, and the city awaited the gathering of jazzheads on May 29th through the 31st in Piedmont Park. It’s Alonzo Craig’s second year as the festival manager and to his credit he programmed a fabulous lineup of performers, notwithstanding the brothers Heath from his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina. It is also the third year for the festival’s Youth Jazz Band Competition where middle and high school students compete for a coveted spot to open each day of the festival weekend.
Performing at the 2004 festival were both local favorites and national acts including Ahmad Jamal, Arturo Sandoval, the Bernard Linnette Trio, the Bob Miles Ensemble, E.J. Hughes Group, Earmail, the Heath Brothers, Hiromi, Hugh Masekela, the Ian Show Trio, International Groove Conspiracy (Future of Jazz Winner), J.C. Young Middle School Jazz Ensemble, Jimmy Scott & the Jazz Experience, Joe Jennings & Howard Nicholson’s Life Force, Johnnie Eason, Julie Dexter, K-Zari Quintet, Lamar County High’s “Trojan Pride” Jazz Band, Life Force & Friends, Lizz Wright, North Atlanta Center for the Arts Jazz Band, the Ojeda Penn Experience, Randy Weston Quintet, the Regina Carter Quintet, the Rick Bell Quintet, Ron Wiggins, the Roy Hargrove Quintet, Russell Gunn & Ethnomusicology, Selah2, Shirley Horn, Takana Miyamoto, the Milkshake Quartet, Tommie Macon & the Gentlemen of Jazz, Toni Redd, Vinicius Cantauria, Yusef Lateef & the Adam Rudolph Duo, and Yusef Sharif.
Sponsoring this weekend of free jazz for the public are Michelob, Atlanta Brewing Company, Borders Books, Music & Movie Cafe, MARTA, Publix Super Markets, Caversham Financial, Comcast, Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown, Premier Events Management, BET Jazz The 24 Hour Jazz Channel, Creative Loafing, Smooth 107.5, WRFG 89.3 FM, Southwest Atlanta Magazine, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Magazine, General Motors, The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlanta Tribune The Magazine, HPNOTIQ, Delta Air Lines, Armstrong Marketing, Rolling Out, JazzTimes, Jazz 91.9FM WCLK, Mundo Hispanico, Upscale and Abyss Jazz Magazine. #AJF40
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Atlanta Jazz Festival… 2003
In the tradition of past festival jazz returns to Piedmont Park over the Memorial Day weekend from May 24 – 26th. Added to this are 26 days of jazz around the city and the sophomore year of the Youth Jazz Band Competition, a collaboration between the Bureau of Cultural Affairs and WCLK, that brought together middle and high school jazz bands to compete for the chance to perform on the mainstage as the opening act each day of the day of the festival. To add to the fun a Kids Zone was added to include family-oriented activities not limited to games, art and puppeteers.
The lineup for the weekend included Bernard Linnette Interactive Sextet, Bobby Sanabria y Ascension, Camille, Dr. Dan, Eddie Palmieri, Fourplay featuring Bob James, Nathan East, Harvey Mason & Larry Carlton, Irvin Mayfield Quintet, Jacques Lesure Quartet, Kathleen Bertrand, Matthias Lupri Group, Maysa, Metalwood, Ojeda Penn Trio, Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, René Marie, Richard Bona, Somi, Soulive, Sunny Jain and Wild Rice.
Sponsoring the 2003 weekend were General Motors, Michelob, Borders Books Music & Movies, Caversham Financial, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Atlanta Magazine, Comcast, Creative Loafing, Delta Airlines, Hpnotiq, Jazz 91.9 FM WCLK, JazzTimes, MARTA, Mundo Hispanico, Odwalla, Publix Super Markets, Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown, Rolling Out, Smooth Jazz 107.5 WJZZ, Terry manufacturing, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta Livery Company, The Atlanta Tribune and WSB-TV. #AJF40
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Atlanta Jazz Festival…2002
They gathered in Piedmont Park over Memorial Day for a weekend of jazz, barbecue, camaraderie and sunshine as they laid blankets and chairs on the lawn in front of the big stage. It was May 25th when the festivities began and they continued until the last note on May 27, 2002. It was not unusual, as a matter-of-fact, it became a common occurrence to see many festival participants in the commemorative T-shirts that were produced over the years. Celebrating the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the city produced an exhibit of the commemorative posters to mark the 25th anniversary.
This year was no less remarkable than the past years and in continuing the tradition jazz fans were given the opportunity to enjoy the talents of the Abbey Lincoln Quartet, Abebi Stafford, Bebel Gilberto, Ben Allison’s New Quartet, Carlos Washington & the Giant People Ensemble, D.D. Jackson Trio, Dan Baraszu, Darren Winters Ensemble, Dennis Springer, Ficciones, Jack West & Curvature, Jimmy Scott, Joshua Redman with Brian Blade & Sam Yahel, Living Daylights Trans-Atlantic, Lizz Wright, Marea Alta, Michel Camilo Trio, Miguel Romero, Mike Blackburn Trio, Mike Kelly, Moment’s Notice, Momentum, New Power Trio, Orquestra Nova Sound, Project Logic featuring DJ Logic, Ray Charles, Rio Negro, Ronny Jordan, Roy Haynes’ Birds of a Feather featuring Kenny Garrett, Nicholas Payton, John Patitucci & Dave Kikoski, Takana Miyamoto, Tommie Macon & the Gentlemen of Jazz, Winard Harper, Woody Williams Rhythmodics, World Mambo Mission, Xpressions, and Yusef Sharif
This year’s celebration of free jazz would not have been possible without the sponsorship and support of Anheuser-Busch, Publix Supermarkets Charities, Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Wyndham Midtown Atlanta, AT&T, MARTA, JazzTimes, Atlanta Magazine, Rolling Out, Creative Loafing, Mundo Hispanico, WSB-TV, WABE-PBA, WCLK 91.9 FM, WJZZ, WVEE/V103 FM, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Atlanta Livery Company.
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