News • Jacksonville Jazz Festival

June 1, 2019

Lineup Announced For 2019 Jax Jazz Festival; WJCT Launches Pop-Up Jazz Station

Gladys Knight and Brian Culbertson will be the headliners at this year’s Jacksonville Jazz Festival that will be held on Memorial Day weekend, May 23 – 26. Best known for her hit with the Pips, “Midnight Train to Georgia,” Knight gained widespread fame and is known as the Empress of Soul. Jazz, funk and R&B artist Brian Culbertson is known for smooth jazz hits like “Always Remember” and “Hookin’ Up.” Other performers set to appear include: Monty Alexander Ledisi Kirk...

Jacksonville Jazz Fest News

May 27, 2019

Heat wave grips Jacksonville, Deep South, smashing records

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A scorching heatwave weeks before summer starts continues in the Deep South. High temperatures were at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius) on Sunday in Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina; Fayetteville and Wilmington in North Carolina; Savannah and Macon in Georgia; and Gainesville, Florida. All those cities tied or broke daily records and several haven’t seen a hotter day in May since records were kept. At Jacksonville International Airport on Monday, temperatures reached 100...

Jacksonville Jazz Fest News

May 26, 2019

2019 Jacksonville Jazz Festival: What you need to know

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Music legends will heat up the stage this week for the 2019 Jacksonville Jazz Festival in downtown. Jazz fest, which started in 1981 has become one the largest jazz festivals in the country. One study found that last year's Jazz Fest brought in nearly $10 million. It also found that more than 8-thousand hotels were booked for visitors wanting to get in on the music. Here are some quick facts for Jazz Fest 2019: It's...

Jacksonville Jazz Fest News

May 24, 2019

What to do this Memorial Day weekend in, around Jacksonville

Events taking place in northeast Florida over holiday weekend JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you're looking for something to do over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in the Jacksonville area, there's no shortage of choices. Many events are being held for the federal holiday. Memorial Day, a day to remember those who died while serving in the nation's armed forces, takes place this year on May 27. Some of the events taking place in northeast Florida and southeast Georgia include...

Jacksonville Jazz Fest News

May 23, 2019

Memorial Day Weekend Tradition, Jacksonville Jazz Festival Features Big Names, Festival Veterans and Young, Emerging Artists

Downtown Jacksonville does more than just set the stage for the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. It becomes the stage! A Memorial Day weekend tradition, the 39th annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival features a lineup of big names, festival veterans and young, emerging artists on two stages at the courthouse lawn and Hemming Park. The legendary Gladys Knight is the 2019 festival headliner. Other artists include Brian Culbertson, Monty Alexander, The Noel Freidline Quartet with Maria Howell, Ledisi, Kirk Whalum, Jazmin...

Jacksonville Jazz Fest News

May 23, 2019

Crowd favorite wins Jazz Festival Piano Competition

You could tell that Joe Davidian meant business from the moment he stepped onstage Thursday night at the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. No messing around with the piano bench, no saying a few words to greet the crowd — Davidian walked on, gave a little wave and went to work on Jimmy VanHeusen’s “Suddenly It’s Spring.” His three-song performance, easily the favorite of the Florida Theatre crowd, was good enough to win him the title and...

Jacksonville Jazz Fest News

May 21, 2019

Jazz Fest brings free live music downtown this weekend

THE STAGES Swingin’ Stage, at the Duval County Courthouse, Pearl and Adams Streets Groovin’ Stage, Hemming Park, Monroe and Laura Streets THE HOURS Friday: 6-11 p.m. Saturday: 3-11 p.m. Sunday: 3-10 p.m. THE SCHEDULE THURSDAY 7 p.m.: Jacksonville Jazz Festival Piano Competition, Florida Theatre ($13.50) FRIDAY 6:15 p.m.: UNF Jazz Ensemble 1, Groovin’ Stage 7:30 p.m.: Monty Alexander, Swingin’ Stage 7:45 p.m.: Jazmin Ghent, Groovin’ Stage 9:30 p.m.: Ledisi, Swingin’ Stage 9:30 p.m.: Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, Groovin’ Stage SATURDAY 10 a.m.: Jazz Fest Clinic with pianist Marcus Johnson, Ritz Theatre 3:15 p.m.:...

Jacksonville Jazz Fest News

May 20, 2019

City Prepares for 2019 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Local music lovers are set to descend upon downtown Jacksonville over Memorial Day weekend for the 39th annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival. This year’s festival is headlined by seven-time Grammy Award winner Gladys Knight and also features Brian Culbertson, Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective, Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum, Monty Alexander, Ledisi, Avery*Sunshine, Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet, The Sax Pack with Steve Cole, Jeff Kashiwa, and Kim Waters, Jamison Ross, the Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, Marcus Johnson, Greg Adams and...

Jacksonville Jazz Fest News

May 20, 2019

Jacksonville Jazz Festival Poster A Nod To City’s History As ‘Harlem Of The South’

This year’s Jacksonville Jazz Festival poster pays tribute to the city’s legendary reputation as the “Harlem of the South” in LaVilla's heyday. Brooklyn, New York, artist and jazz aficionado Keith Henry Brown was commissioned for this year’s poster. Brown said he was drawn to LaVilla’s musical history, noting Ray Charles got his start in Jacksonville. Charles played piano for bands at the Ritz Theatre in LaVilla as he was working to establish himself, earning $4 a night, according...

Jacksonville Jazz Fest News

March 20, 2019

Big names, bigger sounds coming to Jacksonville Jazz Festival

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Empress of Soul will be swinging into the River City in May as part of the 2019 Jacksonville Jazz Festival. Gladys Knight will be part of the lineup for what's billed as one of the largest free jazz festivals in the country. Jacksonville Jazz Fest will be May 23-26 covering 10 blocks of Downtown Jacksonville. Two stages of live music will feature jazz greats and modern favorites. The festival also includes an epic street party...

Jacksonville Jazz Fest News