Jazz Festivals To See In 2017

Published on March 27, 2017 09:19 AM in Driving Destinations

Winter is over and jazz festival season is officially underway.

Throughout the spring and summer, stages across the nation host artists sharing their talents and paying homage to legends like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.

Here’s where to go if you plan on hitting the road for some live music in the coming months.

New Orleans Jazz Festival
When: April 28 to May 7
Where: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, 1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119

Perhaps it’s no surprise that hundreds of thousands of people take part in the bayou's weeklong annual festival every year. This year’s lineup includes Maroon 5, Usher and the Roots, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,Earth, Wind & Fire, Wilco, Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg, Kings of Leon, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Patti LaBelle, The Meters, Buddy Guy, Blues Traveler.

http://www.jazzfestival2017.com.

Seabreeze Jazz Festival
When: April 19 to 23, 2017
Where: Tidewater Beach Resort, 16819 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

A resort in Florida’s panhandle devotes an entire weekend to smooth jazz. Kenny G, Brian Culbertson, Boney James, Tower of Power and many more are slated to perform at the four-day event near Panama City Beach along the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.seabreezejazzfestival.com/line-up/

Music City Jazz Festival
When: May 25 to 27, 2017
Where: Riverfront Park, 100 1st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201

No list is complete without a trip to Music City. Acts at this outdoor festival along the banks of the Cumberland River include Roy Ayers, David Sanborn, Nathan East, and Ken Ford.

http://www.musiccityjazzfest.com.

Capital Jazz Fest
When: June 2 to 4, 2017
Where: Merriweather Post Pavillion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044

The three-day festival that includes artist workshops and meet-and-greets celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2017. New Edition and En Vogue headline the “Friday Night Soul” concert to start the festival. The Isley Brothers, Lalah Hathaway, Brian Culbertson, and Frank McComb are scheduled to perform during the weekend as well.

http://www.capitaljazz.com/

Red Cat Jazz Festival
When: May 25 to 28, 2017
Where: Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, Golf Course and Convention Center, 7 Hope Blvd. Galveston, TX 77554

Twenty-year-old saxophone prodigy Jazmin Deborah Ghent and vocalist Jessy J are among the headliners of this festival. Grammy-nominated Special EFX, a group fusing Latin and African rhythms with jazz, is part of the a lineup as well.

http://redcatjazz.com

Fillmore Jazz Festival
When: July 1 and 2, 2017
Where: Fillmore Street, between Eddy and Jackson streets, San Francisco, CA 94115

The Anton Schwartz Quintet and the Terrence Brewer Quartet are among the acts scheduled to appear in the 33rd annual event.

http://www.sresproductions.com/events/fillmore-jazz-festival/

Monterey Jazz Festival
When: September 15-17, 2017
Where: 2004 Fairground Rd, Monterey, CA 93940

Celebrate the Monterey Jazz Festival's 60th birthday as more than 500 musicians take part in the three-day event. The Monterey Fairgrounds offers eight total stages, four of which are indoors. John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, and Gerald Clayton are all scheduled to perform.

https://www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival
When: Oct. 12 to 15, Oct. 19 to 22
Where: Avalon Casino Ballroom, 1 Casino Way, Avalon, CA 90704

Saxophonist Vincent Ingala, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, and Norman Brown are scheduled to perform.