One of the performers at next weekend\u2019s Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Sheila E., had a Top 10 pop single, toured three times in Ringo Starr\u2019s Band and spent years as musical director for Prince. Her father Pete Escovedo, who is also on the bill, is a former member of Santana and a titan in the Latin jazz community.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a performer, sax man Charles Lloyd, who was named Down Beat magazine\u2019s Jazz Artist of the Year \u2014 51 years ago. Another, Trombone Shorty, first played the famed New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at age four. There\u2019s a 10-time Grammy winner playing (Arturo Sandoval), as well as one of the founders of the jazz fusion movement (Jeff Lorber) and a guy who released the all-time best-selling instrumental acoustic guitar album (Ottmar Liebert).<\/p>\n
In short, a lot of really good music is coming to town \u2014 and it\u2019s free.<\/p>\n
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival plays out on three stages Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 27, in the downtown streets. There\u2019s a big change to the layout this year, with one of the main stages relocated from the Jacksonville Landing to the Duval County Courthouse.<\/p>\n
But first, the traditional opener: The Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, which features five up-and-coming pianists competing for a spot on the festival stage. This year\u2019s competitors, chosen blindly based on taped submissions, are Matt DeChamplain, a graduate of the University of Toledo; Keelan Dimick, who also competes in this year\u2019s American Pianists Association Competition; Nicholas Olynciw, a student at Western Michigan University; Matthew Villinger, who earned a Masters in Jazz Performance from Southern Illinois University; and Spencer Zweifel, a student at the University of Northern Colorado. Noel Freidline returns as host of the event. The piano competition is Thursday at the Florida Theatre. Tickets are $13.50.<\/p>\n
All other festival shows are free unless otherwise noted. VIP packages are available from $99-$359.<\/p>\n
THE STAGES<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 The Swingin\u2019 Stage is near the Duval County Courthouse, at Pearl and Adams streets<\/p>\n \u2022 The Groovin\u2019 Stage is at Hemming Park<\/p>\n \u2022 The Breezin\u2019 Stage is near Adams and Main streets<\/p>\n PROHIBITED ITEMS<\/strong><\/p>\n Coolers, outside food or alcohol, grills, tents or canopies, umbrellas, pets, recording devices, fireworks, flagpoles, glass containers, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, drones, musical instruments, projectiles including balls and Frisbees and signs or flags larger than 2-by-3 feet.<\/p>\n CLOSED STREETS<\/strong><\/p>\n Downtown streets will begin to close to traffic on Tuesday; some will be held open until Friday. The following streets will be closed until Monday, May 28: Duval from Logan to Hogan, Broad from Forsyth to Monroe, Adams from Main to Jefferson, Laura from Forsyth to Church, Monroe from Pearl to Ocean, Pearl from Duval to Forsyth, Hogan from Forsyth to Church, Duval from Hogan to Julia, Duval from Ocean to Main and Main from Church to Adams.<\/p>\n SKYWAY<\/strong><\/p>\n The JTA Skyway will run from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sunday, May 27.<\/p>\n LATER<\/strong><\/p>\n After the last act walks off stage, the music isn\u2019t done. Jazzfest After Dark puts music in more than a dozen downtown venues Friday and Saturday nights. You can catch acts at 1904 Music Hall, Bold City Brewery, Cowford Chophouse, Spliff\u2019s Gastropub, De Real Ting Caf\u00e9, the Volstead, Element Bistro Bar & Lounge, Myth Nightclub and Breezy Jazz Club. Some have cover charges. For a schedule, go to jazzfestafterdark.com.<\/p>\n THURSDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n 7 p.m.: Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, Florida Theatre, $13.50<\/p>\n FRIDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n 5:30 p.m.: Raisin Cake Orchestra, Groovin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 6 p.m.: Chris Thomas Band, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 7 p.m.: Champian Fulton Quartet, Groovin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 7:30 p.m.: Grace Kelly, Swingin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 7:30 p.m.: Charles Lloyd Quartet, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 9 p.m.: Lohai, Groovin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 9:30 p.m.: Dianne Reeves with Peter Martin, Romero Lubambo, Reginald Veal and Terron Gully, Swingin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 9:30 p.m.: Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n SATURDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n 10 a.m.: Ulysses Owens Jr. drum clinic, Ritz Theatre<\/p>\n 11 a.m.: Grace Kelly saxophone clinic, Ritz Theatre<\/p>\n 3 p.m.: Micha Bethea Big Band, Swingin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 3 p.m.: Zach Bartholomew Quartet, Groovin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 3 p.m.: Jonathan Baptiste & the Urban Intellectuals, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 4 p.m.: Second Line Jazz Parade, Broad and Adams streets<\/p>\n 4:30 p.m.: Piano Competition winner, Swingin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 4:30 p.m.: Pete Escovedo with Jimmy Bosch and Chembo Comiel, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 5:30 p.m.: Vijay Iyer Sextet, Swingin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 6 p.m.: Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra, Groovin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 6:30 p.m.: Euge Groove, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 7:30 p.m.: Sheila E., Swingin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 8 p.m.: Russell Malone Quartet, Groovin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 8:30 p.m.: The Bad Plus, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 9:30 p.m.: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Swingin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n 10 a.m.: Sacred Jazz Brunch featuring the Noel Freidline Quintet with Maria Howell, Omni Hotel, $39<\/p>\n 2 p.m.: Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys, Groovin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 2:30 p.m.: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble 1, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 3 p.m.: UNF Jazz Ensemble, Swingin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 3:30 p.m.: Linda Cole & the Joshua Bowlus Quartet, Groovin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 4 p.m.: Naughty Professor, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 4:30 p.m.: Ulysses Owens Jr. Three, Swingin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 5 p.m.: Josh Vietti, Groovin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 5:30 p.m.: Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 6:30 p.m.: Maysa<\/p>\n 7 p.m.: Jeff Lorber Fusion, Groovin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 7 p.m.: Arturo Sandoval, Breezin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n 8:30 p.m.: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Swingin\u2019 Stage<\/p>\n