Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1995
It’s 1995 and Mayor Campbell’s second year of his first term and Phil Clore, co-founder of SOJA, the Southeastern Organization for Jazz Arts continues its legacy of bringing jazz to elementary schools. Larry Ridley, an early leader of the Festival’s workshops, has established the African-American Jazz Caucus as a part of the International Association of Jazz Educators.
The festival commences on May 20th and runs through May 27th and is sponsored by The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Coors Brewing Company, Stereo and Video Systems, The Mall at Peachtree Center, WCLK 91.9FM, The Atlanta Marriott Marquis, England Piano & Organ/Young Chang, Catfish Station and Yin Yang Cafe.
The performance lineup is impressive taking the main stages at Woodruff and Grant Parks with the Teddy Adams Quintet, Wes Anderson Quartet featuring Audrey Shakir, Atlanta Youth Ensemble, Azanyah, Glen BarBour, Bazooka Ants, Rick Bell Quintet, Cindy Blackman Quartet, Bluiett’s Barbecue Band, Decoy, Georgia All Star Grammy Jazz Band, GSU Faculty Jazz Band, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band, Jocelyn Harris & Trio, Vincent Herring, Stanley Jordan, Oliver Lake Quintet, Russell Malone Quartet featuring Javon Jackson & Winard Harper, Chuck Mangione, Milkshake Quartet, Ramon Morris Quartet, Naked Jazz Orchestra, Johnny O’Neal Trio, Jerome Runte, Jimmy Smith, Yohembi, Russell Blake, Richard Brown, Kofi Burbridge, Eddie Davis, Sven Djorsing, William Greene, Louis Heriveaux, Ted Howe, Obie Jessie, Elgin Manson, Tarus Mateen, Ramone Morris, Howard Nicholson, John Ormond, Ramon Pooser, Lil JOhn Roberts, Sherry Scott, Eric Vaughn and Thad Wilson.
#preserving genius
More Posts: festival,forty,free,history,jazz,music,tradition,years
Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1994
Memorial Weekend is once again upon the city and Mayor Bill Campbell takes office for his first term in 1994. The torch has been passed to Barbara Bowser and under her direction the Bureau has commissioned visual artist Maurice Evans to create the commemorative poster, a visual representation at present unable to produce. Over the course of four days from May 27th to the 30th, music will be heard at Underground Atlanta and in Grant Park.
The performances will come from E Train featuring Sheila E, Eric Leeds & Charlie Sepulveda, New York Voices, Earl Brooks, T.S. Monk Sextet, Steve Coleman and Five Elements, Ravi Coltrane, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Shirley Horn Trio, Charles Lloyd Quartet, Cyrus Chestnut Trio, Charlie Mingus Big Band, Terence Blanchard Quintet and The Contemporary Piano Ensemble with Donald Brown, Geoff Keezer, Harold Mabern, Mulgrew Miller and James Williams.
Stepping up to the plate to insure the continuing legacy of a free jazz festival are The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Wyndham Midtown Atlanta, Underground Atlanta, Mundo Hispanico, Coors Light, Zima Clearmalt, WCLK 919 FM, Jim Scott Pianos and Atlanta Peach Caribbean Carnival.
#preserving genius
More Posts: festival,forty,free,history,jazz,music,tradition,years
Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1993
It’s 1993 and it’s Mayor Jackson final year of his third term as the festival mounts for another summer weekend of jazz. The perennial master of ceremonies, Ernest Gregory, with his deep resonating voice once again welcomes the festival patronage. As he introduces musicians and dignitaries, he warmly gives recognition of thanks to the myriad of sponsors and bridges the gap between each performance. All of this is backed by a well chosen soundtrack of music selected by the festival staff.
The year the festival’s lineup hosted Airto, Azanya, Scotty Barnhart, Dave Bass Quartet, Rick Bell, Vinnie Bernard, Jerry Byrd, Don Byron, Norman Connors, Charles Earland, Charles Fambrough, Nnenna Freelon, Joe Jennings, Stanley Jordan, Hal Galper Trio, Georgia State Faculty Ensemble, Roy Hargrove, Mark Helias, Louis Heriveau, Nancee Kahler, Earl Klugh Trio, Jon Lucien, Gloria Lynne, Dan Matrazzo, Meantime, Mulgrew Miler, Steve Nelson, Ken Professor Philmore, Flora Purim, Rebirth Brass Band, Grant Reed, Marlene Rice, Arturo Sandoval, Jimmy Scott, Audrey Shakir, Yusef Sharif, Rod Smith, Savannah Smith, Kirk Whalum, Wingspan with Kenny Garrett and Wild Magnolias & World Symphony Quartet.
Sponsoring all the festivities from May28th to June 4th at Underground Atlanta, Malibu Jacks, Atlanta Renaissance Hotel, Grant Park, Variety Playhouse, Woodruff Park and Chastain Park Amphitheater were the Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Circuit City, goody’s Headache Powder, Soapstone Center for The Arts, Atlanta Renaissance Hotel, WCLK 91.9 FM, Creative Loafing, Variety Playhouse, Underground Atlanta, WVEE 103 FM, Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuits, South Dekalb Mall, Lawry’s Seasoning Salt, Advanced Media Television Producers, AT&T, Malibu Jacks, Concert Southern Promotions and Jim Scott Pianos, Organs, Keyboards.
#preserving genius
More Posts: festival,forty,free,history,jazz,music,tradition,years
Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1992
Programming innovations were continued to be realized during Mayor Jackson’s 3rd term as the Bureau brought in newcomers Gary Motley, Cassandra Wilson and Christian McBride to share the stage with veterans Nat Adderley, Joe Sample and Freddie Hubbard among others. Continuing as Program Director, John Armwood ushered in viable relationships with several radio stations that played jazz – WCLK, WRFG, WREK, Jazz Flavors and WABE as sponsors or media promoters and would enlist not only his voice but those voices of radio personalities Phil Clore, Carl Anthony and H. Johnson to work as staff or masters of ceremonies for festival events.
Returning sponsors for the 1992 Atlanta Jazz Festival over the Memorial Day weekend from May 29th to June 7th were AT&T, The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlanta Penta Hotel, Creative Loafing, WVEE-103 FM and WCLK 91.9 FM. The festival brought three new sponsors into the family with Advanced Media, Concert Southern Promotions and Jazziz.
Performances were held at the Variety Playhouse, Club 590 West/Atlanta Penta Hotel, Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Grant Park, High Museum of Art Hill Auditorium and the Robert Woodruff Park for the Brown Bag Concerts.
Performing this year were George Adams, Audrey Shakir, Nat Adderley Quintet, Lonnie Smith Southside Trio, Carl Allen, Malachi Thompson Quintet, Geri Allen Trio, Cassandra Wilson, Bill Anschell Trio, Scotty Barnhart, Bazooka Ants, Rick Bell, David Benoit, Cindy Blackman, Dave Burrell, Joe Chambers, George Coleman Quartet, Richard Davis, Lou Donaldson, Georgia State Faculty Jazz Band, Juedinne Gordon, Bennie Green Trio, Spyro Gyra, Miklos Harsszesi, Joe Henderson Quartet, Vincent Herring, John Hicks, Andrew Hill, Fred Hopkins, Freddie Hubbard, Al Jarreau, Carter Jefferson, Joe Jennings, Obie Jessie, Stanley Jordan, Victor Lewis, Harold Mabern Jr., Howard Mandel, Christian McBride, Gary Motley, Ny Unity, Greg Osby, Don Palmer, Ritual Band East and Joe Sample.
#preserving genius
More Posts: festival,forty,free,history,jazz,music,tradition,years
Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1991
The year was 1991. The baton of Program Director was passed from Rob Gibson to John Armwood, who had previously worked as the coordinator of the festival’s education component. He was instrumental in maintaining classical mainstream jazz in the parks while newer venues hosted smooth jazz, set up jam sessions at the Penta Hotel, established a jazz dance contest with improvisational dancing to improvisational music, and facilitated WLCK 91.9FM radio The Jazz of the City broadcasting the festival live from Grant Park.
Over the Memorial Day weekend performances and workshops and lectures were held on May 31st at Center Stage, Chastain Park Amphitheater, with a late night jam session at Club 590 West/Atlanta Penta Hotel. June 1st, 2nd held at High Museum of Art-Hill Auditorium and Grant Park with more late night jam session at Club 590 West/Atlanta Penta Hotel. On June 3rd-7th the Brown Bag Concerts were performed in Woodruff Park again ending the night with a late night jam session at Club 590 West/Atlanta Penta Hotel and on June 8th & 9th the festival closed out with performances in Grant Park.
Performing this year were Sonny Rollins, Spyro Gyra, Bob James, Rick Bell quintet, Joe Jennings and Life Force, Cecil Bridgewater, Arthur Blythe Quintet, Jackie McLean Quintet featuring Rene McLean, Ojeda Penn Experience, Bobby Hutcherson, The Harper Brothers, Charles Earland, David “Fathead” Newman, Grant Reed Quartet, Simone & Company, Mark Maxwell Band, Audrey Shakir Company, Eddie Davis Quintet and Johnny O’Neal, Olu Dara, Okra Orchestra, Azanyah, Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band, Dameronia, Abbey Lincoln, Fusai Abdul-Khaliq Ensemble, Dvae Holland Quartet, Don Pullen Trio and the David Murray Octet.
As well as being on the main stage Joe Jennings & Howard Nicholson, The Harper Brothers also led the nightly Jam Sessions. Critic and editorialist Stanley Crouch hosted a lecture and film presentation.
Sponsoring the 1991 festival were Adams Outdoor Advertising, AT&T, Atlanta Penta Hotel, The Coca-Cola Company/Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Coors Brewing Company, Creative loafing, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, National Endowment For The Arts, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Southern Keyboards/Kawai Piano Company, WVEE/V-103 FM and WCLK 91.9 FM.
#preserving genius
More Posts: festival,forty,free,history,jazz,music,tradition,years