Month Of May Means 31 Days Of Jazz In Atlanta

This year the Atlanta Jazz Festival has created a special PASSPORT PROGRAM. It is the festival’s way of rewarding people who support jazz in the city. After visiting 10 venues that are part 31 Days of Jazz, you will be entered in a drawing to win a two-night stay at the W Atlanta – Midtown during the Atlanta Jazz Festival over Memorial Day Weekend. All the details are under 31 Days of Jazz on the festival web site: http://atlantafestivals.com/events/31-days-of-jazz/.

Here are some highlights of this year’s 31 Days of Jazz:

Thursdays – May 1, May 8 and May 15

Harper Family Jazz Jam every Thursday is hosted by Daniel Terence Harper at Churchill Grounds from 9 pm-12:30 am. Address: 660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. Cost: $10.

The Gordon Vernick Quartet performs straight ahead jazz featuring Vernick on trumpet, Kevin Bales on keyboard, Craig Shaw on bass and Marlon Patton on drums, at Edgewood Speakeasy from 7:30-10:30 pm. Address: 327 Edgewood Ave, Atlanta, GA 30312. Free admission.

Twain’s Presents Joe Gransden’s Jazz Jam every Tuesday starting at 9 pm. Address: 211 E Trinity Place, Decatur, GA 30030. Free Admission.

Jazz Narratives at Elliott Street Pub starting at 9 pm. May 7 with Julie Dexter, May 14 with Russell Gunn, May 21 with Jacob Deaton and May 28 with Sal Gentile. Address: 51 Elliott Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Free admission.

Jazz and Blues singer Theresa Hightower is performing at The Intercontinental Hotel from 9 pm – 1 am. Address: 3315 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326. Free admission.

Neighborhood Jazz Concert Presented by Councilmember Keisha Lance Bottoms at Adams Park from 4-8 pm. Address: 1620 Delowe Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30311. Free admission.

MARTA Monday featuring performances by Antonio Rodriquez Latin Jazz Ensemble to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the Doraville Station from 3:30-5:30 pm. Address: 6000 New Peachtree Road, Doraville, GA 30340. Free admission.

Wednesday WindDown featuring Tim Williams Project, Frank Barham’s Brazilian Fusion and James Robertson at Centennial Olympic Park hosted by WRFG 89.3 FM from 5:30-8:30 pm. Address: Park Ave W Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30313. Free admission.

Martinis & IMAX at Fernbank Museum from 6:30-11 pm. Address: 767 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Cost $13.
Saturday, May 10

Neighborhood Jazz Concert Presented by Councilmember Joyce Sheperd at Perkerson Park from 4-8 pm. Address: 770 Deckner Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30310. Free admission.

Neighborhood Jazz Concert Presented by Councilmember Kwanza Hall in Historic Fourth Ward Park featuring Ruby Vele and the Soul Sonics and Kebbi Williams and the Wolfpack from 4-8 pm. Address: 680 Dallas St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. Free Admission.

MARTA Monday at the College Park Station featuring performances by Dashill Smith’s Omega Level and Tree-O of Love from 3:30-5:30 pm. Address: 3800 Main St, Atlanta, GA 30337. Free admission.

Friday Jazz at the High from 5-10 pm. Address: 1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. Cost $19.50

Neighborhood Jazz Concert Presented by Councilmember Ivory Lee Young in Washington Park from 1-8 pm. This event is being produced in partnership with Atlanta Beltline’s Play Day and will feature adult and kids’ games and activities from 1-5 pm, such as rugby, softball and kickball, followed by a live jazz concert at 5 pm. Address: 1125 Lena Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30314. Free admission.

Neighborhood Jazz Concert Presented by Councilmember Alex Wan at McClatchey Park from 4-8 pm. Address: 152 Westminster Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. Free admission.

MARTA Monday at the Midtown Station featuring performances by SG4 from 3:30-5:30 pm. Address: 41 Tenth Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. Free admission.

Cocktails in the Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden featuring live jazz from 6-9 pm. Address: 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. Free for Garden Members, $18.95 for Non-Members.

Atlanta Jazz Festival concerts at Piedmont Park featuring Roy Hargrove, Ester Rada, Christian Scott, Bill Frisell, Freddy Cole, Somi, Ahmad Jamal and others. Address: 1320 Monroe Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. Check times and schedule at festival web site. Free admission.

Memorial Day Jazz with Luis Carreras and Friends at Erosol aka. Department Store starting at 3 pm and including performances by Lil’ John Roberts, Mastery (featuring Mamaniji, Russell Gunn, Kenah Boto, & Kenny Banks Jr.), The Emrah Kotan Group, Jeff Coffin and Future Man from Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. Address: 465 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Cost $20.

WindDown at Centennial Olympic Park featuring Marcell McCoy and Joey Summerville from 5:30-8:30 pm. Address: 265 Park Ave W Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30313. Free admission.

Soul Sista’s Juke Joint at Southwest Performance Art Theater featuring Kathleen Bertrand, Gwen Bunn, Grace Kisa, Jhelisa, Marian Mereba and Ursula Kendall starting at 8 pm. Address: 915 New Hope Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30331. Cost $25.

Neighborhood Jazz Concert Presented by Councilmember Felicia Moore at Grove Park from 4-8 pm. Address: 709 Hortense Place NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. Free admission.

Sponsors for this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival include Bank of America, Publix Charities, Coca-Cola, W Atlanta – Midtown, MARTA, XFINITY, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Georgia Lottery, FORD and Duty Free Americas. If you are interested in being a sponsor, contact Alex Davis at ADDavis@AtlantaGa.Gov.

# # #