Downtown Jacksonville will be getting ready for its annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival coming for three days toward the end of May on Memorial Day Weekend.
As has been the custom, the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competiton will kick-off the festivities on Thursday, May 23rd, at the Florida Theater, 128 E. Forsyth Street. Free and open to the public, the competition will feature five finalists who will be competing for the first place prize of $5000, second place’s $2000 prize, and the third place $1000 reward. The winner will also perform at the festival on Saturday. The competition will begin at 7:00 pm.
Performers at the festival will include Michelle Manzo, The Brian McKnight 4, The Stanley Clarke Band, Nicholas Payton, Jamison Ross, Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin, and the Kenny Barron Trio on Friday. Brian Culbertson, Gregory Porter, the Huntertones, Josh Vietti, Lakecia Benjamin, and the Pablo Aragona Quintet will perform on Saturday. Sunday’s lineup will feature Joss Stone, the Baylor Project, Chucho Valdes and the Royal Quartet, Jeff Ryan, and Keiko Matsui, among others. The venue will also feature a Jazz Marketplace and Jazz Jam.
Preferred seating will be $99, and VIP packages will be $499 for the full Festival, and $219 for single day passes.
The Jazz Festival organizers are getting their annual commemorative poster printing done before the event, so patrons may purchase this year's poster featuring the latest festival graphic design. This year's poster has been designed by Varick Rosete.
