The 29th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival

[Lois Gilbert]

The 29th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival
May 1st through May 31st, 2006
Various venues throughout Atlanta culminating in a
3-Day Festival in Piedmont Park

Atlanta, GA (Mar. 17) – Mark your calendars music lovers because May is around the corner and the Jazz is going to be hot in Atlanta! It's time for
31 days of electric performances, fine-dining and memorable events that make the 29th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival one of the premier jazz events in the country!

The 31 Days of Jazz gives Atlantans the chance to get a taste of jazz, in every form and in many diverse venues, every day in May! From the Nightlife Series to Dinner and Jazz and Eclectic Jazz, there is ample opportunity to experience one of this country's oldest and purest music forms.

Described by Mayor Shirley Franklin as "one of the city's proudest traditions," the Atlanta Jazz Festival brings legendary performers, up-and-coming talent, artists, vendors and Atlanta's finest restaurants, as well as youth ensembles and high school performers, together for one of the largest jazz festivities in the country.

"The Atlanta Jazz Festival is one of Atlanta's finest traditions,"
said Camille Russell Love, Director of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs for the City of Atlanta. "As the largest free jazz festival in the country, we want people to experience and really get to know jazz and its rich heritage."

The 29th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival May Events Include:

Nightlife Series: All month long enjoy the renowned sounds of live jazz nightly at bars and nightclubs throughout the metro Atlanta area including; Churchill Grounds, Apache Caf , Eye Drum Art & Music Gallery, FunkJazz Kafe and more.

Jazz Etc.: Special events and concerts around the city at venues including the High Museum of Art, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Rialto Center for the Performing Arts and Hammonds House Museum.

Dinner and Jazz Series: A perfect combination of live jazz and delectable cuisine will be offered at restaurants including; C'est Bon, Camille's Sidewalk Caf , City Grill, Dailey's, Justin's, Two Urban Licks and others.

Eclectic Jazz: Experience jazz in diverse places such as the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, The High Museum of Art, The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and Rialto Center for the Performing Arts. Lunchtime jazz performances will take place on Broad Street in Downtown Atlanta's beautiful, historic Fairlie-Popular district.

Memorial Day Festival: Three days of pure fun over Memorial Day Weekend at Piedmont Park featuring a Jazz Education and Workshop Series, artist market, food vendors, and the Main Stage featuring live performances from world-renowned jazz performers all weekend long. In addition to the main stage, this year's festival will feature the Future of Jazz stage, a second stage featuring Atlanta's one-and-only Future of Jazz competition. The winner of this year's competition will perform on the main stage the last evening of the festival.

Featured Events: The Atlanta Jazz Festival is thrilled to partner with Chastain Park Amphitheatre to kick-off the 2006 festival weekend.
Nationally recognized artists scheduled to perform this year will be announced soon.

Jazz Jams Late Night: Jazz music will be offered at the 2006 Atlanta Jazz Festival Host Hotel, the Sheraton Atlanta.