This free festival will be filled with multiple stages of entertainment. Art in the Heart Downtown Art Show & Sale, Wine Down Tasting Experience, Generation Next Youth Talent Competition, Jazz Juniors educational activities, jazz exhibits and more will be there. Other festival highlights includes the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, ‘Round Midnight Jazz Jam, Jazz Talks, Sunday Jazz Brunches and other exciting activities.
This year the Jazz Festival offers free performances from renowned artists such as the Sonny Fortune Quartet, Basia and Tito Puente Jr. and his Orchestra.
The parade will be on Sunday, May 30 at 1:30 p.m. The parade in the streets led by JB Scott’s Swingin Allstars! Festival attendees are encouraged to bring their instruments and parasols to participate in this spirited celebration through downtown Jacksonville!
On Saturday May 1, 2010, there is a free, family-friendly event for those of us who love the silver screen and the glamor that comes with it. Catherine Bell, who plays Denise Sherwood of Lifetime Movie Network’s “Army Wives” and Alex Meraz, he plays Paul of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” and “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” will be there. The little ones have not been forgotten either, Barbie will make an appearance as well as Spiderman.
Bring your own chairs for the movies and live entertainment since the event takes place on parking lot asphalt. Hats and sunscreen might come in handy to, but coolers are not allowed.
Here is the schedule:
10 a.m.: Official kickoff – Food and arts/crafts vendors open
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: Outdoor children’s movie on digital LED screen
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Celebrity meet-and greet with Catherine Bell (Denise Sherwood of Lifetime Movie Network’s “Army Wives”)
12-3 p.m.: Celebrity meet-and-greet with Alex Meraz (Paul of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” and “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”)
Character meet-and-greet with Barbie
Character meet-and-greet with Spiderman
1:30-3 p.m.: Live entertainment by Shrimp City Slim – Based out of Charleston, Gary Erwin and his band will perform their specialty of Lowcountry blues and original songs
3:30-5:40 p.m.: Outdoor PG-13 movie on digital LED screen, introduced by Meraz
6-7:30 p.m.: Live entertainment by Tinsley Ellis – Named one of today’s premier blues/rock players by Billboard magazine
8:30-9:45 p.m.: Live entertainment by Buddy Guy – Winner of five Grammy Awards and 23 W.C. Handy Blues Awards, Guy will perform from his musical repertoire of electric blues
Around 9:45 p.m.: Fireworks will follow after Guy’s performance
The event takes place from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. at the former Myrtle Square Mall site, between 23rd Avenue North and 27th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach.
The Charleston Jazz Festival will take place on Saturday, May 8th at the Charleston Music Hall. Kim Waters, Kenny Lattimore and Daniel Davis will be preforming. Join us for the first year of this annual event!
Charleston jazz lovers are in for a treat this spring when local music enthusiast, concert promoter, and producer Steve Simon, the CEO of Steve Simon Presents, brings the first annual Charleston Jazz Festival to the Charleston Music Hall on Sat. May 8.
Headlining the event is award-winning jazz saxophonist Kim Waters with support from R&B vocalist Kenny Lattimore and 20-year-old jazz and hip/hop inspired violinist Daniel Davis. Waters is known for his sultry saxophone melodies, with inspiration coming from the likes of Duke Ellington and George Duke. Lattimore has been in the R&B scene for over a decade and brings his smooth vocal tunes, originals, and tasteful classics. Local jazz violinist-turned-musical star Daniel D. has opened for major players like Kanye West and has performed for President Obama. He and his violin create soulful versions of contemporary songs, like “Billie Jean” and Kanye West’s “Stronger.”
The 28th Annual Savannah Jazz Festival is held September 20 – 27, 2009 and if you love jazz, you have to come to Savannah for this special festival. Every year the festival takes over the city with a colorful musical celebration of all genres of jazz, from Dixieland, traditional swing, straight-ahead and bop to melodic standards, Latin rhythms and funky down-home “gutbucket†blues.
Savannah Jazz festival offers the best in international, national, regional and local jazz talent. There are many live performances, jam session and also film screenings.
This festival offer free concerts.
For a detailed schedule visit the website www.savannahjazzfestival.org or call 912-675-5419.
Bill Averbach is a seasoned musician with over 30 years of professional music experience. He has performed worldwide and recorded with many well known recording artists not just in the jazz genre, but world-beat, classical, folk, country, rock, and blues genres. He has recorded with many well known songwriters and taken an active role in the development of many emerging new artists. His experience with audiences extends beyond just performance. As a music specialist and lecturer Bill is comfortable speaking to a small room or a large audience exhibiting his candid and comfortable style as a communicator.
A graduate of Bard College, Bill had extensive exposure to the jazz greats of the Progressive Jazz Era. He was fortunate to have the opportunity of studying, interacting, and performing with Roswell Rudd, Karl Berger, Paul Motian, Lonnie Hillyer, Carla Bley, Charles Mingus, Jimmy Giuffre, Leo Smith, Leroy Jenkins, Dave Holland, Martin Banks, and many East Coast jazz players. In addition, as a composition major his formal training included work with world-class composers and performers Joan Tower, Benjamin Boretz, Luis Garcia-Renard, and Eli Yarden.
In Austin, Bill performed with many musicians including Alejandro Escovedo, Butch Hancock, the Killer Bees, Omar Kent Dykes, Ponty Bone, Doug Sahm, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Marsha Ball, John Mills, Toby Anderson, Will Taylor, Mark Ruben, Bookah Michel, Mitch Watkins, Tina Marsh, Richard Rodriguez, Lucky Oceans, D’Jalma Garnier, Jim Haber, Danny Levin, Tony Garnier, Hoyt Axton, Sonny Terry, Glover Gil, Ted Roddy, Rodney Craig, Freddie Krc, Robbie Sherwin-Jordan, Larry Lesser, Jay Rozen, Burton Greene, Alex Coke, Mike Mordechai, Steve Zirkle, David Levy, Craig Marshal and the Lucky Strikes, Suzanna Sharpe (Samba Police), Suzi Stern, Donna Menthol, Rene Mesritz, David Perkoff, Steve Schwelling, Horacio Rodriguez, Martin Banks, James Polk, and many others…
Bill is also a composer who is constantly working on projects that range from Jazz tunes to film scores to musical arrangements for singers and producers and his Jazz Opera.
Sunday, October 25th at 5 p.m. at Four Points by Sheraton Historic Savannah – 520 West Bryan Street. (Bryan & MLK). The event is free for Coastal Jazz Association members and $10 for non-members. Join and admission is FREE.
For more info call: 912.675-5419 or go to www.coastal-jazz.org
The MOJA Arts Festival celebrates African-American and Caribbean Arts. About half of MOJA’s events are without admission, the rest are offered at affordable ticket prices. The MOJA festival in Charleston is scheduled for September 24 – October 4, 2009.
The festival includes visual arts, classical music, dance, gospel, jazz, poetry, R&B music, storytelling, theatre, children’s activities, traditional crafts, ethnic food, and much, much more.
Here are a few performances:
Saturday, Sept. 26
AN EVENING OF JAZZ UNDER THE STARS
WITH LALAH HATHAWAY
National recording artist, LALAH HATHAWAY performs under the stars in a familiar romantic cabaret setting. The evening also features two of Charleston’s favorite artists–the Charlton Singleton Group and opening the evening with his usual dynamic performance style, violinist Daniel Davis. College of Charleston Cistern Yard, 66 George Street. General Admission: $25.00; College students with ID $20.00. For reserved tables, please call (843) 724-7308. 7:30pm. Saturday, Sept. 26
Sunday, Sept. 27
A CLASSICAL ENCOUNTER
Duo recital by cellist, Kenneth Law, Professor of Cello at Converse College, Spartanburg, SC and pianist Stephen Buck performing works by Faure, Piazzolla and Rubinstein, classical composers. City Gallery at Waterfront Park, 34 Prioleau Street. Admission: $10.00. 2:00pm-3:00pm.
Sunday, Sept. 27
GOSPEL CONCERT
“A Back Home Gospel Hour†– MOJA presents Gospel Divas, Lynn-Marie Boone, Joy Pryor, and Gwendolyn Rodgers and the Men of Gospel, Rev. Randolph Miller, Anthony Burke and Mario Desassure in an old fashioned Back Home Gospel Hour. Joining the ensemble is Javetta Campbell with a special appearance by Minister Herbert Beard. Enjoy gospel music at its best. Trinity United Methodist Church, 273 Meeting Street. Admission: $10.00. 4:00pm.
Saturday, Oct. 3
R&B CONCERT
The MEHD Group presents the international recording artist, THE O’JAYS performing live on stage at the Family Circle Tennis Center.
For more information and tickets visit the website www.mojafestival.com
or call 843-724-7305
This year we celebrate the Johnny Mercer centennial. Johnny Mercer was born in Savannah in 1909. He wrote lyrics to 1,700 songs – out of those 100 or so were hits and four nominated for awards. His most famous are probably “Moon River†and “Days of Wine and Rosesâ€. He was a cofounder of Capital records just to mention a few of his achievements.
Mercer in the Squares is a free concert at lunch-time in the squares of Savannah lasting all summer. Bring your sandwich or picnic lunch and enjoy a musical adventure with R&B, jazz, Wednesdays and Fridays 11:30 and 1:30 in Johnson and Wright squares.
The events are presented by New Arts Ensemble and the City of Savannah in conjunction Enjoy Mercer favorites in a summer-long tribute to Savannah’s acclaimed songsmith.
June 3: Johnson Square
June 5: Johnson Square
June 10: Wright Square
June 12: Wright Square
June 17: Johnson Square
June 19: Johnson Square
June 24: Wright Square
June 26: Wright Square
July 8: Johnson Square
July 10: Johnson Square
July 15: Wright Square
July 17: Wright Square
July 22: Johnson Square
July 24: Johnson Square
July 29: Wright Square
July 31: Wright Square
City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs 912-651-6417
www.johnnymercercentennial.com
