Jacksonville Jazz Fest announces lineup at new site
The lineup of singers and musicians ready to groove at this year’s free Jacksonville Jazz Festival have just been announced.
The festival will move to Metropolitan Park and Daily’s Place over the Memorial Day weekend because of construction at Riverfront Plaza (the former Jacksonville Landing site).
Headliners like British singer Joss Stone are set to perform on the final day — May 26 — as are Japanese pianist Keiki Matsui and The Baylor Project, a New York jazz duo.
Founded in 1979, the Jazz Festival was first held in Mayport, then moved to the then-new Metropolitan Park in 1982, where WJCT ran it for a number of years. The city took over the event in 2003, and it was held at Metropolitan Park, then downtown.
The event will return to Metropolitan Park May 23 to 26, with some performances across Gator Bowl Boulevard at Daily’s Place. The weekend starts with the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition presented by Keyboard Connection, set for May 23 at The Piano Place at the Florida Theatre.
On May 24, the festival brings the Brian McKnight 4, the Kenny Barron Trio and Jamison Ross, as well as Nichols Payton and the duo of Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin.
On May 25, pianist Brian Culbertson, vocalist Gregory Porter and saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin are set to perform, as are violinist Josh Vietti and the Humbertones.
More information is available at jacksonvillejazzfest.com.