Atlanta Jazz Festival…2008
It is 2008 and Piedmont Park Conservancy embarked upon a restoration plan to bring the lawns to their former pristine condition, thus requiring the festival to move to another location. This year audiences were able to appreciate their free jazz from their blankets and chairs in Woodruff Park over the Memorial Day weekend from May 24th through May 26th.
The performers were Bernard Linnette featuring Charito, Gordon Vernick and the GSU Jazztet, Jaspects, Joe Jennings and Howard Nicholson’s Lifeforce, Mike Phillips, Ojeda Penn Experience, Ron James and the Truth, Rua and the Serenata Band.
The 2008 Future of Jazz Winners that performed were Bradford in the Nu Jazz category, Genetic Drift for Fusion, Heather Johnson for Contemporary Vocals, Kemba Cofield featuring Melvin Jones in the Straight-Ahead Vocals category, Mace Hibbard snagged the Straight-Ahead Instrumental and Zon 3 picked up the Contemporary Instrumental brand.
The festival sponsors were Anheuser Busch Companies, BET J, Coca Cola Company, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Publix Super Markets, Inc., Central Atlanta Progress, MARTA, Brand Atlanta, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Bank of America, JazzTimes, Spelman College, 91.9 WCLK, Gibson Guitars, Ephiphone, SmartMusic, JW Pepper, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, CONNECT Magazine, Smooth Atlanta, TD Entertainment, Upscale, Rolling Out and City Living Home Furnishings. #AJF40
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Atlanta Jazz Festival…2007
The preview party for the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the 2007 Atlanta Jazz Festival took place at the Atlanta Civic Center on April 9th. Nnena Nchege had dubbed the legion of volunteers as Jazzteers two years earlier as noted by Mayor Shirley Franklin in her remarks when thanking them for their hard work. Visual imagery with a 30th Anniversary exhibition curated by Freddie Styles that showcased the rich history of the festival through the eyes of photographers Jim Alexander, Sue Ross, Michael Reece, Sheila Pree Bright, Julie Yarbrough and Eric Waters. The Bureau of Cultural Affairs produced a coffee table book utilizing the photographs of the above photographers with historical timeline by John Holman.
Thirty years was a milestone for the city of Atlanta taking the dream of newly elected first-time Black mayor Maynard Jackson and continuing the legacy that was set by directors before her. Camille Russell-Love had expanded the vision of the festival and incorporated new aspects that highlighted the city’s sustaining musicians and those yet to become professionals. 2007 was a banner year and May 26th – 28th was evidence of that tradition in Piedmont Park.
The Future of Jazz stage hosted Ron James, the 2007 Future of Jazz Winner, who took an honored spot in the programming along Future of Jazz artists Lillie Huddleston Quartet, Ken Ford, the Yonrico Scott Band, Antoine Knight, Toni Redd, Hudson on Bass, Jaspects, Joe Gransden, Joey Summerville, Julie Dexter, Reggie Hines, Squat, Tammy Allen, Bernard Linnette Quartet, William Green and DAYSAHEAD.
On the mainstage jazz fans got to see and hear the national acts of the Bad Plus, Bobby Hutcherson Quartet, Charles Tolliver Big Band, Chieli Minucci and Special EFX, Flora Purim & Airto Moreira, Herbie Hancock Quintet, Laws Family, Lou Donaldson Quartet, Mike Phillips, Monty Alexander, Nefertari Bey, Pete Escovedo Orchestra with Sheila E, Steve Turre, Ray Vega, & Juan Escovedo, Ronny Jordan Trio, Terri Lyne Carrington and Friends, Vijay Iyer Quartet, and.
Over the weekend Eric Essix performed at the Park Tavern, and Gordon Vernick and Robert Irving III ran their respective night of the Late Night Jazz Jam.
The sponsors Delta Airlines, Budweiser Select, Coca-Cola, Winsonic Technologies, Nextwave Entertainment, MARTA, BET J, Steinway Piano Galleries, Epiphone guitars, Mapex Drums, LBD Advertising, Four Spots Digital Media, The Atlanta Livery Company, Bermuda Department of Tourism, Publix Supermarkets, WCLK 91.9FM, WJZZ, Rolling Out, The Atlanta Tribune, Upscale Magazine, JazzTimes Magazine, Atlanta Party Starters, Mundo Hispanico, Transit TV, American Technologies, Georgia State University Rialto Center for The Arts, JW Pepper, Smart Music and the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. #AJF40
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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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