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.
Sponsored By
Voices From The Community
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Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1998
The year is 1998 and it is the inaugural year for Camille Russell Love as the new Director of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs. Mayor Bill Campbell is heading towards his second term as the city prepares for the annual weekend of jazz May 18th to the 26th in Piedmont and Woodruff Parks.
The lineup Ms. Love brought represented a host of the city’s finest vocalists and instrumentalist as well as national and internationally renowned jazz musicians Andy Milne, Bill Anschell, Bob Miles, Cascade Avenue Be-Bop Society, Dave Bass Quartet, David Freeman, Detroit All-Stars, Dianne Reeves, Georgia Grammy High School Band, Grout, GSU Faculty, Hilton Ruiz Quartet featuring Dave Valentin, Jeff Crompton Quartet, Joe Jennings with Life Force, Johnnie Eason, Kamal Abdul Alim, Kevin Mahogany, Lester Walker Project, Mark Turner Quartet, Miguel Romero, Mike Kelly Trio, Milkshake Quintet, Najmah Marchelle, Obie Jessie, Ojeda Penn, Phil Smith and the Atlanta Jazz Consortium, Rick Bell, Ron Taylor, Swing Association, The Trio and Tommy Macon and the Gentlemen of Jazz.
All the festivities are sponsored by The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Atlanta Renaissance Hotel Downtown, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Creative Loafing, Jazziz, WCLK 91.9 FM, WRFG 89.3 FM and WJFZ. #AJF40
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Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1997
It was her final year that Barbara Bowser would lead the Bureau into the Memorial Day weekend festival. The programming was phenomenal and a fitting tribute as her swan song and the passing of the torch. Taking place in Woodruff Park with the Brown Bag Concert Series as well as in Piedmont Park.
The performance lineup was Bill Anschell, Bill Braynon’s Positive Energy Big Band, Bobby Hutcherson, Dave Bass Ensemble, Gloria Lynne, Jeff Crompton Quartet, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band, Jimmy Jackson All Star Band, Joe Campisi, Johnnie Eason, Kamal Abjul Alim, Life Force, Max Roach. Melody Cole Jazz Combo Quar-Tech, Mike Kelly, Naked Jazz, Ojeda Penn, Pharaoh Sanders, Philip Smith and the Jazz Consortium, Rick Bell Quintet, Rita Graham Duo, Swing Association, The Thad Wilson Quintet, Tommy Macon and the Gentlemen of Jazz and the World Saxophone Quartet.
The sponsors of the festival were The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Atlanta Renaissance Hotel Downtown, Creative Loafing, JazzTimes Magazine, WCLK 91.9 FM, WRFG 89.3 FM, WJFZ and MediaOne.
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