Jazz Fest is Just Around the Corner

Now that the summer break for university performing arts programs has begun, the number of outlets in the city presenting national, touring jazz artists has greatly diminished.

There's still great jazz to be had in Atlanta during the summer months, if you want to search around in clubs.

The semi-monthly appearance of Joe Gransden's big band at Café 290 is a bucket-list item every Atlanta jazz fan must cross off at least once. Churchill Grounds and assorted restaurants will also be full with concerts and dinner-time performances throughout the summer. 

But for those who don't care to explore the city's jazz haunts, the 2011 Atlanta Jazz Festival is one of  the only ways to see national musicians until Paquito D'Rivera comes to Georgia Tech in October. (By the way, the can't-miss show of next year's university season is tenor saxophonist Branford Marsalis and pianist Joey Calderazzo at Spivey Hall in January — but I'm getting way, way too far ahead of myself.)

In less than a week, droves of Atlantans — some who are jazz fanatics, some who are simply lovers of fresh air and sunshine — will swarm to  for the Memorial Day weekend festival.

Average attendance at the two-day event during the past five years has been a bit underwhelming, a number that reflects the festival's transitory location.

When the festival stopped over in Woodruff Park in 2008 with a locals-only lineup, the music was solid, but nobody really heard it. A more respectable crowd of jazz lovers saw Freddy Cole and Russell Gunn perform at Grant Park in 2009.

Here's hoping this year's turnout will equal or surpass what happened last year — a huge mass of people spread out over the grass in Piedmont in what was the event's triumphant return to its proper home. 

With large amounts of people come large amounts of cars. I admit that I wasn't here for last year's Piedmont Park shindig, so I can't offer any eyewitness accounts about our neighborhood streets becoming parking lots.

I do know, however, that events in the park inevitably lead to an abundance of unwelcome traffic. I'm just glad I can easily walk down to the festivities.

So, what are the must-not-be-missed acts at the festival to which I will be walking?

To put it simply, every concert — save the smooth-jazz, ticketed event at the Chastain Park Amphitheatre on May 30 — is worth checking out. 

On May 28, the evening concerts start with local Audrey Shakir, one of the most visible and well-regarded female vocalists Atlanta has to offer. She's opening for vibraphonist Warren Wolf's quintet, which is followed by Regina Cater and her "Reverse Thread" project.

The highlight of my Sunday night viewing will be the Gerald Clayton Trio, which performs at 7 p.m. Vibraphonist Stefon Harris, trumpeter Christian Scott and saxophonist David Sanchez will perform their "Ninety Miles" blend of Cuban music after Clayton leaves the stage.

It's suitable that a festival celebrating Cuban music and presenting Carter's African-folk project would feature an international stage with a variety of music. These are, of course, lesser-known acts, but that doesn't mean they're not worth seeing.

Atlanta's own Wild Rice, a Latin jazz band, and the Brazilian-influenced Rua 6 are on the bill. 

The future of jazz will be on hand each afternoon on the mainstage. The Rialto Jazz for Kids All Star Jazz Band, a group of middle schoolers led by Dr. Gordon Vernick and Mace Hibbard, is probably the band to see out of the four bands. The JC Young Youth Jazz Ensemble performs May 29 at 1 p.m., followed by the Metropolitan Youth Wind Ensemble Jazz Band — a high school jazz group directed by Vernick. Rialto Jazz for Kids performs May 29 at 1 p.m., and the North Atlanta High School Jazz Band takes the stage at 3 p.m.

It looks to be a busy weekend for me. Hopefully, I'll see you there.