ABOUT THE EVENTS

Following are many of the upcoming jazz concerts and jazz-related events in the Atlanta area. As you'll see, I focus primarily on straight-ahead jazz. Additional events may be found at JazzAtlantaGA.com, AtlantaJazz.Info, or Eventful.com's Atlanta Jazz listings. Also, if you'd like to see some of the best jazz musicians in Atlanta, I'd definitely visit the calendar page at Churchill Grounds' website. If you're looking for a restaurant that also features jazz music, I'd recommend that you check out the itineraries for the following jazz musicians: Joe Gransden, Will Scruggs, Laura Coyle and Trey Wright.

Here's an RSS feed for Atlanta jazz concerts and events.

Laura Coyle at Villa Christina
Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 6pm-9pm
Cost: Variable (cost of dinner)

Atlanta jazz vocalist, Laura Coyle, will perform at Villa Christina. More information...

Melvin Jones Quintet at the High Museum
Friday, May 16, 2008, 5pm-10pm
Cost: $18; free to members

Atlanta jazz trumpet player and educator, Melvin Jones, will perform at the High Museum of Art. More information...

Anton Harris at Churchill Grounds
Friday-Saturday, May 16-17, 2008 at 9:30pm
Cost: $15 cover, $10 minimum per set

Atlanta jazz saxophonist, Anton Harris, will perform at Churchill Grounds. More information...

Atlanta Jazz Chorus at Morris Brown College
Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 7pm
Cost: FREE!

The Atlanta Jazz Chorus will perform at the Hickman Student Center at Morris Brown College. The chorus band includes Melvin Jones on trumpet, Gary Motley on piano, and Che Marshall on drums. More information...

Henry Conway III at Studio 281
Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 9pm
Cost: $15

Atlanta jazz drummer, Henry Conway III, will perform at Studio 281.

Jazz Jam Session at Star Jazz & Blues Lounge
Monday, May 19, 2008, 9:30pm-midnight
Cost: $10, free for participating musicians

Atlanta jazz drummer, Bernard Linnette, will host a jazz jam session at Star Jazz & Blues Lounge from ~9:30pm to midnight. Star Jazz & Blues Lounge is located in the Castlebury Hill loft area (just southwest of downtown Atlanta). This event repeats every Monday night. Read my comments about this jam session. More information...

Jazz Jam Session w/ Joe Gransden at Twain's Billiards & Tap
Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 8:45pm-11:30pm
Cost: FREE!

Atlanta jazz trumpeter, Joe Gransden, will host a jazz jam session at Twain's Billiards and Tap in Decatur. The house band includes Tyrone Jackson on piano, Chris Burroughs on drums, Craig Shaw on bass, and Joe Gransden on trumpet. First set starts at 8:45pm with a second set around 10:30pm. This event repeats every Tuesday night. Read my comments about this jam session. More information...

David Ellington Trio at Graveyard Tavern
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 9pm
Cost: FREE!

Atlanta jazz organist, David Ellington, will perform at Graveyard Tavern (in East Atlanta). This night will feature saxophonist Clarence Johnson. Check out the video clips in David Ellington's bio to get an idea of how good the music is during these performances! More information...

2008 Atlanta Jazz Festival
Saturday-Monday, May 24-26, 2008
Cost: FREE!

The 2008 Atlanta Jazz Festival will take place during Memorial Day weekend. Due to the recent drought, the festival will not take place at Piedmont Park this year, instead the festival will occur at various venues around Atlanta and culminate with concerts at Woodruff park in Downtown Atlanta. With smaller size of this year's event, comes a change in focus. Unlike previous years, this year will NOT feature national acts.

The official website of the 2008 Atlanta Jazz Festival includes a list of musicians for each day, but it doesn't list the performance times yet. If this link doesn't take you to the Atlanta Jazz Festival site, try atlantafestivals.com. This year's site is much easier to navigate than last year's site, but it's still a little tricky to link to specific pages due to their web-page redirects.

Once I have an accurate list of each performance time, I'll update this section.

Bernard Linnette at Churchill Grounds
Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 9:30pm
Cost: $10 cover, $10 minimum

Atlanta jazz drummer, Bernard Linnette, will perform at Churchill Grounds. More information...

Sparrow Trio at Churchill Grounds
Sunday-Monday, May 25-26, 2008 at 9:30
Cost: $10 cover, $10 minimum per set

The Sparrow Trio (Takana Miyamoto, Ede Wright, and Chris Burroughs) will feature Julie Dexter on vocals as they perform jazz versions of Jimi Hendrix songs. More information...

Will Scruggs at Churchill Grounds
Friday-Saturday, May 30-31, 2008 at 9:30pm
Cost: $10 cover, $10 minimum per set

Atlanta jazz saxophone player, Will Scruggs, will perform at Churchill Grounds. More information...

Laura Coyle at Churchill Grounds
Friday-Saturday, June 6-7, 2008 at 9:30pm
Cost: $10 cover, $10 minimum per set

Atlanta jazz vocalist, Laura Coyle, will perform at Churchill Grounds with Chris Burroughs on drums, Louis Heriveaux on piano, and Craig Shaw on bass. This event takes place on both Friday and Saturday nights. More information...

Atlanta Jazz Chorus at Emory University
Friday, June 13, 2008 at 7pm
Cost: FREE!

The Atlanta Jazz Chorus will perform at the Cannon Chapel located at Emory University. The chorus band includes Melvin Jones on trumpet, Gary Motley on piano, and Che Marshall on drums. More information...

Dan Baraszu at the High Museum
Friday, June 20, 2008, 5pm-10pm
Cost: $18; free to members

Atlanta jazz guitarist, Dan Baraszu, will perform at the High Museum of Art. More information...

Dennis Springer at Georgia Aquarium
Friday, June 20, 2008, 7-9pm
Cost: $26, free for members

Atlanta jazz saxophonist, Dennis Springer will perform as part of the Jazz Journeys at Georgia Aquarium series. This series runs from May-September and will feature a different Atlanta jazz artist every Friday night. More information...

Takana Miyamoto at Callanwolde
Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 7:30pm
Cost: $15, $12 for members

Atlanta jazz pianist, Takana Miyamoto, will perform as part of the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Jazz on The Lawn series. More information...

Will Scruggs & Audrey Shakir at Callanwolde
Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 7:30pm
Cost: $15, $12 for members

Atlanta jazz saxophonist, Will Scruggs, will perform with vocalist Audrey Shakir as part of the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Jazz on The Lawn series. More information...

Tyrone Jackson and Rio Negro at the High Museum
Friday, July 18, 2008, 5pm-midnight
Cost: $18; free to members

Atlanta jazz pianist, Tyrone Jackson, will perform at the High Museum of Art. Tyrone will perform until 10pm. From 10pm-midnight, the Latin jazz band Rio Negro will perform. More information...

Gordon Vernick at Georgia Aquarium
Friday, July 18, 2008, 7-9pm
Cost: $26, free for members

Atlanta jazz trumpeter, Gordon Vernick will perform as part of the Jazz Journeys at Georgia Aquarium series. This series runs from May-September and will feature a different Atlanta jazz artist every Friday night. More information...

Melvin Jones Quintet at Churchill Grounds
Friday-Saturday, July 25-26, 2008 at 9:30pm
Cost: $10 cover, $10 minimum

Atlanta jazz trumpet player and educator, Melvin Jones, will perform with his quintet at Churchill Grounds jazz club. More information...

Kenny Barron Trio at Spivey Hall
Friday, October 17, 2008 at 8:15pm
Cost: $40

Jazz pianist Kenny Barron will perform at Spivey Hall (15 miles south of downtown Atlanta). I recommend that you call the Spivey Hall box office when ordering your tickets. I discovered that the best available seats are not always shown online but you can get them over the phone. Also, by calling you avoid the $10 processing fee. More information...

Brad Mehldau Trio at Spivey Hall
Friday, November 14, 2008 at 8:15pm
Cost: $40

Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau will perform at Spivey Hall (15 miles south of downtown Atlanta). I recommend that you call the Spivey Hall box office when ordering your tickets. I discovered that the best available seats are not always shown online but you can get them over the phone. Also, by calling you avoid the $10 processing fee. More information...

Paula West at Spivey Hall
Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 8:15pm
Cost: $40

Jazz vocalist, Paula West, will perform at Spivey Hall (15 miles south of downtown Atlanta). I recommend that you call the Spivey Hall box office when ordering your tickets. I discovered that the best available seats are not always shown online but you can get them over the phone. Also, by calling you avoid the $10 processing fee. More information...

Glenn Miller Orchestra at Spivey Hall
Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 3pm and 7pm
Cost: $40

The Glenn Miller Orchestra will perform two shows at Spivey Hall (15 miles south of downtown Atlanta). I recommend that you call the Spivey Hall box office when ordering your tickets. I discovered that the best available seats are not always shown online but you can get them over the phone. Also, by calling you avoid the $10 processing fee. More information...

Dave Holland Quintet at Spivey Hall
Friday, January 23, 2009 at 8:15pm
Cost: $40

Jazz bassist, Dave Holland, will perform with his quintet at Spivey Hall (15 miles south of downtown Atlanta). I recommend that you call the Spivey Hall box office when ordering your tickets. I discovered that the best available seats are not always shown online but you can get them over the phone. Also, by calling you avoid the $10 processing fee. More information...

Terell Stafford Quintet at Spivey Hall
Friday, March 6, 2009 at 8:15pm
Cost: $40

Jazz trumpet player, Terell Stafford, will perform with his quintet at Spivey Hall (15 miles south of downtown Atlanta). I recommend that you call the Spivey Hall box office when ordering your tickets. I discovered that the best available seats are not always shown online but you can get them over the phone. Also, by calling you avoid the $10 processing fee. More information...