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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Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1996
It’s an Olympic year in Atlanta and the eyes of the world are on the city as it prepares for the Summer Games that took place some 45 days after the jazz festival. Barbara Bowser has once again spearheaded the Bureau of Cultural Affairs and the Atlanta Jazz Festival took place in three locations this year, Woodruff Park, Justine’s Cafe and Grant Park.
With a small band of sponsors great things were accomplished and our thanks went out to Jazz Times, The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Justine’s Cafe, Renaissance Atlanta Hotel, WCLK 91.9 FM and WRFG 89.3 FM for their unwavering support.
Over eight days from May 20th to May 27th we heard the talents of Kamal Abdul Allir, The Rick Bell Quintet, Dave Ferguson, Hunab Ku Quartet, Tom Harrell, Kenny Garrett, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Eric Reed, Christian McBride, Vanessa Rubin, Cecil Bridgewater Big Band with Joe Jennings, Stephen Scott, Kuumba Frank Lacy Big Band, Jon Faddis with Jimmy Heath and Slide Hampton, Stanley Clarke and George Duke. #AJF40
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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.
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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.
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