BJA JAZZ FESTIVAL COMING, OCT. 1, 2016
By Ian Rashkin, BJA President.
Here at BJA Central we’ve heard a lot about how Baltimore lacks a jazz festival. There have been a couple of attempts, but for various reasons, they’ve not managed to take hold as an integral part of the Baltimore jazz scene. Of course, there are a few Baltimore-area festivals around that feature some jazz–the Federal Hill Jazz & Blues Festival, the recent Light City Baltimore event, and of course, Artscape, with more jazz this year than in quite some time. And there are a few offerings in nearby areas–Columbia, Washington–but the actual jazz lineup can sometimes be scant, and so far as I know, there is no one offering a full day of solid jazz in Baltimore–until now.
Baltimore Jazz Alliance is excited to announce the creation of Baltimore Jazz Fest a free, family-friendly, full day of Baltimore jazz, held in beautiful Druid Hill Park in the heart of Baltimore City. Produced in partnership with Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, the festival will feature a fantastic lineup of Baltimore talent, starting with some of the city’s finest high school jazz musicians and moving through the day with a trove of local talent, including many of our most well-known and -loved artists. The line-up of performers is in place and will be announced very soon.
Food stands and a beer garden, a musical instrument “Petting Zoo” for the kids, local artists, and the beautiful surroundings of Druid Hill Park and the Rawlings Conservatory will make this a great way to spend the day seeing and hearing many of Baltimore’s greatest jazz artists all in one place.
Why a festival? Why now? And why in Baltimore? Although BJA is not primarily known as a presenting organization; we have, in the past, produced a variety of events including a jazz composers showcase, the dueling saxes “Saxophone Colossi” concert, and of course, the BJA Big Band concerts from 2011 to 2014. But our primary mission is “to better serve artists and audiences by elevating the role of jazz in the Baltimore region,” and we try to do this in a variety of ways–through this newsletter, and our website; through our online calendar of jazz events, and coverage of local venues, jam sessions, and recordings; through our outreach at Artscape and other events; through our Jazz for Kids program and other educational offerings; and many other efforts.
In short, our job, as we see it, is to let as many people as possible know about Baltimore’s exceptional pool of jazz talent, and to encourage people to listen to (and present) live jazz here in the Baltimore area. We also serve as a portal to Baltimore’s jazz scene for many people from outside the area I know that when I moved here from the West Coast, I had a hard time finding all that was happening, and the BJA website and newsletter was a big help in finding my way around the scene. For visitors especially, who may not have time to hang around town and find the scene on their own, it’s a great way to get a quick glimpse of what is going on on any particular day, and to know where to find the happening clubs and other venues.
But all this can seem somewhat scattered, and we know that many people don’t get out and about to hear live music like they used to. So a festival is a great way to present a variety of Baltimore’s great musicians to a wide audience, and in a free, easily accessible, family-friendly setting that can encourage new listeners now and for future generations.
Every year at Artscape, the BJA has a booth where we present a display inviting people to ask “Where’s the jazz in Baltimore?”, with a map of some of the more popular jazz venues in the city. And throughout the weekend, hundreds of people stop to ask just that, often saying “I love jazz, but I never know where to find it”, or “I didn’t know there were so many places to hear jazz.” Of course, we all know there is a wealth of great music in this town, and it can be found at venues from downtown to the outer suburbs, in concert halls, bars, pizza houses, and parks.
But so much of it flies under the radar that still we find those people asking “Where’s the jazz?” Well, Baltimore Jazz Fest is one more way to spread the word that jazz is alive and strong here in Baltimore, and that there is something for just about every taste in our great community–young and old, traditional and modern, bluesy and mystical, sophisticated and raw.
So help us spread the word and celebrate jazz in Baltimore mark your calendars for October 1, 2016, noon until 8:30 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. Visit www.baltimorejazz.com for ongoing updates, volunteer opportunities, and details on the lineup. See you at Jazz Fest!
Bravo – I have been suggesting this for 30 years. I will be glad to volunteer for this event.
Good morning.
I would like to submit an artist for the Jazz Fest.
Where can i submit?
thanks, see below – the lineup is set for this year, but together we can make this a repeat event and a chance for all of Baltimore’s great talent to be featured!
This is great!!!!
How do you get on the festival?
The lineup for this year’s festival is already set – if everyone helps us to make this a big success, there will be more opportunities in the future, and we’ll let you all know how you can take part.
Who does the booking for the festival? I would love for my band to play.
The lineup for this year’s festival is already set – if everyone helps us to make this a big success, there will be more opportunities in the future, and we’ll let you all know how you can take part.
I would hope there would be some sort of a tribute to or performance for Ethel Ennis… one of Baltimore’s greatest jazz voices. WHILE SHE IS STILL ALIVE!!
I can’t wait to enjoy the festival. I will volunteer for this year and hope to participate next year.
Vocalist Coniece Washington
Would love to get information about being a vendor at this amazing event.
Please respond.
This is an exciting development. Now we can all stop talking and participate and volunteer. You can count on our support. Just let us know what volunteer opportunities are available.
great! will do.
I’d like more information as to how my band can perform at the event next year.
Hi Chip – stay tuned to this site. Right now we’re focusing on this event, but if we are able to continue it in the future, we will definitely put out word about how to take part. Thanks, see you at Baltimore Jazz Fest!
What’s the actual physical location of the stage and audience area in the park ? It would be helpful to know about parking in advance (if I should drive or if public transportation would be a better option)…perhaps you can post a site map for the festival with all event and amenity locations….Thanks !
Hi Dane, thanks for your question. http://www.baltimorejazzfest.com/faq.php has most of the answers you need – in a nutshell, the festival is on the grass just north of the Rawlings Conservatory, and parking will be managed by the Balt. City Rec & Parks staff, guiding drivers to locations throughout the park.
Hello any vendor space available 410 262 7817
Thanks, we’re all booked up.
Very excited to attend…also love going to Caton Castle and An Die Musik. Hope these venues are supporters and will be present along with Morgan’s jazz radio station and Gertrude’s at the BMA, which sponsors jazz in the sculpture garden on Sat nights in Summer, and JHU which sponsors jazz events at the Hopkins Club.
Thank you and best wishes on sponsoring this…hope it is a huge success and continues every year.
if there’s rain, will the schedule change?
Great question – the festival is rain or shine, so please keep your fingers crossed for good weather. IF it is stormy or VERY wet, we will have to cancel; we’ll make that decision on Saturday morning and let people know via this site, via baltimroejazzfest.com, and via facebook.
Forgive me if I over looked this detail, but will there be a cover charge? and will there be food vendors?
No cover, it is Free! And yes, there will be food and drink. See you there!
Can I bring my dog?
Interesting question – it’s a city park, so I expect city park rules apply – must be on leash and cleaned up after, but yes, your dog is welcome as long as not aggressive. See you there!
Is the festival still on for October 1 or has it been rescheduled due to several days of rain, including today?