Atlanta Jazz Festival… 2001
May 20 – 28, 2001 and Memorial Weekend festivities loomed over a city in anticipation of another great year. The cavalcade of tents, chairs, blankets, baskets, coolers, grills, sunscreen and sunglasses are evidence of jazz fans head into the various parks and venues for free jazz under the sun and starry skies. This year they performed in Piedmont Park, Centennial Olympic Park, Woodruff Park, Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Variety Playhouse, Churchill Grounds, Sambuca Jazz Cafe, Borders, Park Tavern, Gilbert House, the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Atrium and Underground Atlanta.
It’s the 24th annual celebration and the fourth year Camille Russell Love is at the helm of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs. Her programming is impressive and the lineup impeccable as she brought to bear upon a city the talents of local favorites, new names and renowned national and international performers including Afro Rican Ensemble, Afroblue, Army Ground Forces Band, Arturo Sandoval, Audrey Shakir, Babatunde Lea, Bernard Linnette, Bilal Suni Ali, Bill Anschell, Bob James, Brian Blade Fellowship, Cassandra Wilson, Charles Flores Quartet, Chucho Valdes, Darren Winters, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dennis Springer, Dr. Didg, Expressions, Georgia State University Faculty Band, Imani, Jacques Lesure Quartet, Joe Jennings Life Force, Karla McAlpine, Ken Ford, Loston Harris, Medeski Martin and Wood, Michael Franks, Miguel Romero, Najuma, Ojeda Penn Experience, Orquestra Nova Sound, Patti Austin, Phil Davis Quartet, Poncho Sanchez, René Marie, Rick Bell Quintet, Russell Gunn, Saskia Laroo, Seven, Sheila E, Sonny Rollins, Terence Blanchard, The Chronicle, Tommie Macon & the Gentlemen of Jazz, Tropicus 22, Urban Blue, Yusef Lateef, Zelphia
This year’s celebration of free jazz would not have been possible without the sponsorship and support of General Motors, Publix Supermarkets Charities, Chandon Brut Fresco, Robert Mondavi, Bacardi, Budweiser, Wyndham Midtown Atlanta, AT&T Broadband, Cingular Wireless, MARTA, Borders, Atlanta Magazine, Rolling Out, Creative Loafing, The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, WSB-TV, WALR/KISS 104.7 FM, WCLK 91.9 FM, WVEE/V103 FM, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mundo Hispanico and The Atlanta Livery Company.
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The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager is regrettably leaving France and crossing the pond for the warm climates of Florida’s Space Coast and take in the great live jazz coming out of Heidi’s Jazz Club situated at 7 N Orlando Avenue in Cocoa Beach, 32931. This upscale hangout that opened in 1992 is connected to an Austrian restaurant and for the past twenty-five years has been serving up great jazz, drinks and atmosphere.
Performances are scheduled Wednesday through Sunday, with an open jam session on Sunday beginning at 7pm. Reservations are recommended at 321-783-4559 or at heidelbergcocoabeach.com/reservation/.
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Atlanta Jazz Festival…. 2000
Another year has passed and the city is reveling in a brand new millennium and for many 2000 is the first and only time they will experience the turning of a hundred years. This makes it a very special year as it’s Camille Russell Love’s third year and two Bill’s are nearing the end of their terms – President Clinton and Mayor Campbell, the latter being a bit daunted and a little tongue-tied when meeting Nina Simone.
However, for most of the jazz fans it was a very spiritual weekend in the city too busy to hate. As photographer Jim Alexander pointed out that the festival and the period leading up to it boosts the morale of the city. Jazz deejay Phil Clore echoes similar sentiment, commenting that the beauty of the people gathering in a mood of unity to listen to great music and each administration over the years have endorsed a theory held by Shirley Franklin and Maynard Jackson, that the festival increases the cultural pride of Atlanta.
The Atlanta Jazz Festival was in full swing from May 19th – 29th with numerous venues hosting jazz. Music was heard and appreciated by varied audiences in Piedmont Park, Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Rialto Center, the Tabernacle, Sambuca Jazz Cafe, Justin’s, Churchill Grounds, Karma, Woodruff Park, Centennial Olympic Park. and the Yin Yang Cafe.
Adam’s Township, Atmel Larry, Audrey Shakir, Cassandra Wilson, Cheryl Renee, Claudia Villella, Cyrus Chestnut, Dan Coy Trio, David S. Ware, Dennis Springer, Dr. Billy Taylor’s Jazz from the Kennedy Center, Eric Benet, Freddy Cole, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Herbie Hancock, In the Spirit, Jacques Lesure Trio, Kathleen Bertrand, Kevin Griffin, Kevin Houser Quartet, Life Force, Mahluli Workshop, Miguel Romero, Naked Jazz, Nina Simone, Papo Vazquez / Pirates & Trubadours, Regina Carter, Rick Bell Quintet, Ron Wiggins Trio, Squat, Steve Turre & Sanctified Shells, T.S. Monk and the Monk on Monk Big Band, Tuck & Patti, Urban Blue and the World Mambo Mission.
Sponsoring this year’s celebration of free jazz included some of the hosting venues as well as General Motors, DElta Airlines, Anheuser-Busch, MARTA, WSB-TV, Creative Loafing, Hilton Atlanta, Justin’s, Sambuca Jazz Cafe, Churchill Grounds, Karma, Centennial Olympic Park, The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, BET on Jazz, JazzTimes, Media One, WALR/KISS 104.7 FM, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Renaissance Atlanta-Downtown, Tabernacle, Rialto Center for the Performing Arts, Atlanta Downtown Partnership, Hartsfield International Airport Program and the Ying Yang Cafe.
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Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1999
It is now 1999 and the Memorial Day Weekend celebration of jazz in the city is May 23rd through the 31st and is happening all over the city at multiple venues: Piedmont Park, Churchill Grounds, Sambuca Jazz Cafe, Woodruff Park, Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Centennial Olympic Park, The Historic Gilbert House, Yin Yang Music Cafe, The Crow’s Nest and City Hall Atrium.
It is her sophomore production and Director Love is solidly establishing her jazz flavor as the century closes. Her festival programming is stellar and representative of her expansive knowledge of the music as she not only incorporates the cream of the Atlanta crop to perform but brings a host of national and international stars to the stages. In tow are Afroblue, Audrey Shakir, Bill Anschell, Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Dan Coy Trio, Danilo Perez Trio, Dave Douglas, David Freeman, Dennis Springs, Eclipse Jazz, Grout, In the Spirit, Jazz Convergence, Jeff Compton, Jez Graham Project, Kathleen Bertrand, Kompani, La Diaspora Folklorica, Little Jimmy Scott, Los Hombres Calientes, Marea Alta, Mike Kelly, Minority, Nancy Wilson, Nnenna Freelon, Phil Smith and the Atlanta Jazz Consortium, Roy Hargrove, Stanley Jordan, Stefon Harris, Swing Association, Take Notes, Tempest, The Dirty Dozen, West End Instrumental and Wycliffe Gordon.
Sponsoring this week of jazz are The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Visa, Anheuser-Busch, The Atlanta REnaissance Hotel-Downtown, Jazz Times, Jezebel, WRFG 89.3 FM, WCLK 91.9 FM, WJZF, Publix, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Creative Loafing and Money Gram.
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The Jazz Voyager
They say the best laid plans can change in the blink of an eye and oh, how true it is. I hopped a flight to Paris, France to catch my friend, saxophonist Mike Ellis and his group New Blue at the 45 Degrees Jazz Club. But sadly, another jazz venue has closed for good.
So since this Jazz Voyager has already landed in the City of Lights, I’m going to rent a car and drive four hours through the French countryside and see what I can discover that’s interesting as I head southwest to the coast for a little jazz on the water at the Piano Barge. Located in the Gulf of Morbihan in the small Breton city at Allée Loïc Caradec, 56000 Vannes, it is the best jazz club to emerge anywhere in the world these past two years.
An old boat turned into a chic bistro, Piano Barge is a dream come true for proprietress Dephine Grimont and the French jazz community. However, it does more than just host live sessions, some of its cabins are used as studios, with the goal of producing 20 to 30 new albums a year.
Reservations are recommended for the restaurant and can be made by calling +33 2 97 47 76 05. Open evenings from 6:00pm-12:00am Wednesday through Saturday.
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