Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Jacksonville Jazz Festival
1998 Jacksonville Jazz Festival poster
Genre	Jazz music
Dates	May 26-29, 2016
Location(s)	Jacksonville, Florida
Years active	1979-1981 (Mayport) 1982-present (Downtown)
Founded by	Jake Godbold Mike Tolbert
Website
Jaxjazzfest.com

The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is a weekend celebration of Jazz music held in Jacksonville, Florida. Coinciding with Memorial Day weekend, the event has been dubbed by "experts" as "one of the 20 best in the nation", according to the Florida Times-Union. Admission is free with the exception of VIP areas, and events and performances take place throughout downtown venues.

Current performances are scheduled to be located at Hemming Plaza, the Jacksonville Landing, the Florida Theatre, and the main stage at Monroe Street (between Main and Ocean streets). The Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, a 30 year tradition, takes place at the Florida Theatre. Five finalists are awarded a cash prize and a chance to perform on the festival's main stage. Arts and crafts vendors are located throughout the downtown areas. Art mediums include clay, digital, drawing, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, sculpture and wood. Patrons can view these works from around the nation while still being in ear shot of performances.

Over the years the festival has featured such notable artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Michael Bublé, Diane Schuur, Patti Austin, Branford Marsalis, Count Basie Orchestra, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Diana Krall, Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Chuck Mangione, Chris Botti, Rippingtons, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, David Sanborn, Pamela Williams, Spyro Gyra, Dianne Reeves, Chick Corea, David Benoit, Boney James, Karrin Allyson, Grover Washington, Jr., Kenny G, Harry Connick, Jr., Natalie Cole, Mavis Staples and Greg Adams, to name a few.