This year the Jazz Festival offers free performances from renowned artists Roberta Flack, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Chris Botti, Boney James, Stanley Clarke Trio, Jazz Attack, Joe Sample & Patti Austin, Jimmy Cobb, Guitars & Saxes, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Latin Jazz All Stars, Mindi Abair, Dr. John & the Lower 911, Bill Frisell’s 858 Quartet and many more!

Art in the Heart of Downtown
But this festival offers more than great jazz music. There’s also “Arts in the Heart of Downtown”, where you can enjoy art while listening to jazz music. The art event is open all festival days.

Wine Down
For those of us who enjoy wine tasting, there’s a special event during the Jazz Festival.
It’s called Wine Down and takes place in Hemming Plaza on Saturday May 23 as well. Taste Tickets are $15, and you’ll get to sample eight wines and receive a complimentary glass. Jazz and wine tasting, not a bad combo!

Young Jazz Musicians Competition
Come watch a live competition. Young jazz musicians will showcase their talents for the chance to win a music scholarship. Jazz talents between the ages of 7-21 auditioned for the competition to be held during the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used to further his or her music education.

Location: Breezin’ Stage (The Jacksonville Landing Courtyard)
Saturday, May 23
First Round 1:30 p.m.- Finals 5:30 p.m.
Free admission

CHOPS, A Documentary
This award-winning documentary film tells the story of a group of young, talented musicians who learn to make the most of their gifts in an acclaimed jazz program at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. We follow their musical journey to New York City where they compete at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Festival against the top high school jazz bands in the nation. Win or lose, the experience puts them at the threshold of their dream and reveals their incredible personal and musical growth.

CHOPS – watch the trailer!

Saturday, May 23
Doors open 1:30 p.m. Showtimes: 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Location: Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts (Jacoby Symphony Hall). Free Admission

Jazz Parade
Saturday, May 23 at 3 p.m.
No festival is complete without a parade. This is of course a special jazz parade down Laura Street from Hemming Plaza to The Jacksonville Landing. The parade is led by the St. Johns River City Dixieland Band. Everyone is encouraged to bring their instruments and parasols. What about jazz hands?

Jazz Juniors
Saturday, May 23 & Sunday, May 24
Bring the kids to Jacksonville Landing for jazz fun. Jazz Juniors is a variety of fun, learning activities to introduce young hearts and minds to the world of jazz.
There’s even an instrument “Petting Zoo” where children are introduced to each family of instruments and can play them.
In front of The Jacksonville Landing – (on Water St./Independent Drive). Free Admission

Jazz Giants: The Photography of Herman Leonard
Experience the life of great jazz musicians in this photo exhibit by award-winning jazz photographer Herman Leonard. The exhibit includes framed prints of jazz greats including signature performances and candid moments of Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and more.

MOCA Jacksonville, (Museum of Contemporary Art)
Free admission (to the exhibit only)
All festival days

Q&A sessions
Take part in question and answer sessions featuring jazz performers, educators, festival stakeholders and supporters.All Festival Days. Free admission

Wednesday, May 20
Mike Tolbert, Jacksonville Jazz Festival pioneer
Noon at Snyder Memorial Church
Festival pioneer and Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Famer Mike Tolbert will discuss the beginnings of the festival and why Jacksonville is so passionate about jazz.

Friday May, 22
Contemporary keyboardist Lao Tizer
8 p.m. at Main Library (inside the former Shelby’s Coffee)
Lao Tizer will discuss his performance style, influences and experiences.

Saturday, May 23
CHOPS: Behind The Scenes
4 p.m. at Times-Union Center (Jacoby Hall)
Former Douglas Anderson School of the Arts band members, band director Ace Martin and documentary director Bruce Broder will discuss their preparation for and experience at the Essentially Ellington Competition.

Need a map?

Click here to get a Printable map for the 2009 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Parking During the Jazz Festival
Click here to get a printable map for parking for Jacksonville Jazz Festival 2009

Skyway is Free for the Festival
Compliments of JTA, the Skyway will be FREE for the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. The Skyway is the easiest way to get to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival from the Northbank and Southbank of the St. Johns River – and it’s fun too. The Hemming Plaza station will drop fans in the middle of the action at the Groovin’ Stage in Hemming Plaza and the Laura Street Corridor.

The Central Station will drop festival fans just a block away from the Breezin’ Stage inside The Jacksonville Landing, near the Jazz Juniors area and the Laura Street Corridor. This stop is also located just behind the Omni Jacksonville Hotel where the ‘Round Midnight Jazz Jam will be held on the Saturday night of the festival.

Skyway Hours
Friday, May 22, 6 a.m.-2 a.m.
Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m.-2 a.m.
Sunday, May 24, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Northbank Stations

* Hemming Plaza Station (Monroe and Hogan streets)
* Central Station (Bay and Pearl streets)
* Rosa L. Parks/FCCJ Station (Hogan and State streets)
* Convention Center Station (Bay and Johnson Streets)

Southbank Stations

* San Marco Station (San Marco Boulevard and Mary Street)
* Kings Avenue Station (Prudential Drive and Kings Avenue)

For more information, call (904) 630-3100 or visit www.jtafla.com.

JTA Parking
JTA Parking locations include the Prime Osborn Convention Cener lot on the Northbank and the Kings Avenue Garage on the Southbank. Park at these locations for $5 per vehicle.

Bike Valet by Bike Jax
Bike Valets are not like car valets, it’s  more like a coat check. The good thing is your bicycle will be safe while you’re having fun. You leave your bike and get  a numbered ticket and the Bike Jax staff guards your bike and accessories in a secure enclosure until you are ready leave the event. The idea behind Bike Jax valet is to promote bicycling. Many bicyclists are afraid of getting their bicycles stolen, the bike valet will help – and get more people to ride bikes. Great idea!

Friday – Sunday during festival hours
Locations:

• Hemming Plaza (in front of City Hall St. James on Duval St.)
• Hogan St. (between The Jacksonville Landing and the Times-Union Center

Water Taxis

Water taxis will provide service from both sides of the river during the Jacksonville Jazz Festival.

Hours of Operation
Thursday, May 21, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday, May 22, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Saturday, May 23, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday, May 24, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Northbank Stops

* Metropolitan Park (Jacksonville Municipal Marina)
* The Jacksonville Landing

Southbank Stops

* Friendship Fountain Park
* Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront
* Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk

Fares

Metropolitan Park (Jacksonville Municipal Marina) $4 one-way. All other downtown locations $3 one-way
For more information including stop locations and group discounts, call (904) 733-3382 or e-mail ssmarinetaxi@comcast.net.

Read Coastal Companion’s previous post about The Jacksonville Jazz Festival 2009

Read Coastal Companion’s Event Calendar post about The Jacksonville Jazz Festival 2009 event