Atlanta Jazz Festival Launches New Free, Virtual Jazz Series on Facebook

5/1/2020

While the annual Atlanta Jazz Festival postponed its Memorial Day Weekend event due to COVID-19, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is excited to announce the launch of Atlanta Jazz Festival Sessions to celebrate 31 Days of Jazz this year.
Traditionally, the Atlanta Jazz Festival has hosted 31 Days of Jazz as live events that take place around metro Atlanta during May leading up to Festival weekend. This year, select Atlanta jazz artists have recorded their sessions that will be available at 9 p.m. each night beginning Friday, May 1 through Friday, May 29.

The OCA has selected a specially curated list of exceptionally talented local singers, musicians and bands to record 30-minute sessions resulting in unique virtual music experiences showcasing a mastery of jazz. The video recordings will be posted at 9 p.m. each night on the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s Facebook page, and then will be available on the official Atlanta Jazz Festival website the next day.

The Phil Davis Quartet will kick off the Atlanta Jazz Festival Sessions series on Friday, May 1, at 9 p.m., followed by Mike Burton and Joe Gransden with Kenny Banks Sr. on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, respectively.

OCA will release the first full week of artists filled with venerable performers on Monday, May 4, including Gritz and Jelly Butter, Kathleen Bertrand, Myrna Clayton and Julie Dexter. Check the AJF website frequently for performance updates, the new festival date, and other events.