Capital Jazz Festival | Washington D.C.
June 4, 2009 by lindsey
Filed under Festivals, Washington DC
Jazz Trio Posters by Justin Bua
Each year in early June (since 1993), tens of thousands of music lovers from throughout the country flock to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. to enjoy hot fun and cool jazz of the Capital Jazz Fest, once referred to by guitarist Chuck Loeb as the “Woodstock of jazz festivals .This multi-day, multi-stage outdoor music festival, which attracts music lovers from 44 states, has continually showcased the biggest names in contemporary jazz. Past performers include Herbie Hancock, Kenny G, Grover Washington, Jr., Anita Baker, Ray Charles, Ramsey Lewis, Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson,George Benson, Eric Benet, Jeffrey Osborne, The Brand New Heavies and countless others. In-between musical sets, attendees can enjoy fine art and crafts at the Festival Marketplace, culinary treats at the food court, plus artist workshops and meet & greets.
Held the weekend of June 5-7, 2009 in the wooded setting of Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbus, Maryland, this year’s festival artist lineup includes such superstars as Chaka Khan, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Norman Brown, Fourplay, Lalah Hathaway, Kirk Whalum, Regina Belle, Roy Ayer,s Angie Stone, Gary Taylor, En Vogue, Will Downing, Marion Meadows, Raheem DeVaughn, Pieces of a Dream with special guest Phil Perry, Peabo Bryson, and many more.
For more information on schedules artists, venues and related festival events, please visit the festival’s official website.
San Francisco Black Film Festival | San Francisco, CA
June 2, 2009 by lindsey
Filed under Festivals, San Francisco
The mission of the San Francisco Black Film Festival (SFBFF) is to celebrate African American cinema and the African cultural Diaspora and to showcase a diverse collection of films – from emerging and established filmmakers. This is accomplished by presenting Black films, which reinforce positive images and dispel negative stereotypes, and providing film artists from the bay area in particular and around the world in general, a forum for their work to be viewed and discussed. SFBFF believes film can lead to a better understanding of and communication between, peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while simultaneously serving as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times.
An early proponent of the global perspective, the festival has always been ahead of its time. “The San Francisco Black Film Festival was designed to draw international participation,” says SFBFF founder Ave Montague (See Note). “Long before popular culture paid lip service to ‘going global’, we were walking the walk, presenting global motifs and topics from filmmakers around the world”.
From its modest beginnings in 1998 with $3,000 in funding, SFBFF has grown from a one day event with an audience of 300 to an five day multiple venue cultural celebration drawing over 2,000 people. Comprised of film screenings, panel discussions, hands-on workshops, the Ueban Kidz film series, opening and closing programs, and the Melvin Van Peebles Award ceremony which recognizes an emerging filmmaker for risk taking. Under the leadership of founder Ave Montague, the San Francisco Black Film Festival is managed by a dedicated Advisory board of 15 artists, business people and film professionals. For more information, visit SFBFF’s official website.
Special Note: Ave Montague, a noted promoter of arts organizations in San Francisco and founder of the San Francisco Black Film Festival, passed away on January 30, 2009. In addition to running the annual SFBFF, Montague publicized many nonprofit groups over the years, including the Lorraine Hansberry and Oakland Ensemble theaters, the Bay Area Black Journalists Association, the Omega Boys Club and the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). Born in East Orange, N.J., Montague moved to San Francisco in the 1980s, Montague started her own public relations firm, representing artists and nonprofit groups like the United Negro College Fund and the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. Out of the latter came the San Francisco Black Film Festival. Montague received the Business Woman of the Year Award from the San Francisco Business and Professional Women’s Club in 1994, and, with the late Faith Fancher, was a founding member of Friends of Faith, an organization that educates women about breast cancer. Montague is survived by a son, Kali Ray, of Atlanta, and two grandchildren.
Atlanta Jazz Festival | Atlanta, GA
Usually held for several weeks in mid-May and ending Memorial Day weekend, the Atlanta Jazz Festival is arguably the largest FREE jazz festival in the country, if not the world, featuring top entertainers, an artist market, and children’s activities. Past performers include Stanley Jordan, Max Roach and Nancy Wilson.
Performances are held at various locations throughout Atlanta including: Woodruff Park, Centennial Olympic Park, Underground Atlanta, Churchill Grounds, Piedmont and more. Visit the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s official website for more information.
Soul Beach Music Festival | Aruba
Held on the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Soul Beach Music Festival offers a mixture of neo-soul artist, nationally known comedians and island beach activities. The concert series has featured past performances by artists including Maze, Sean Paul, Chaka Khan, Wyclef Jean, India Arie, the Gap Band, Boyz 11 Men, Lauryn Hill, Nina Sky, Anthony Hamilton, Alicia Keys and Brian McKnight.
The festival again kicks things off on the sun-kissed beaches of Aruba with five-days of power-packed events, lead by a star-studded lineup of Robin Thicke, Common, Estelle, Jamie Foxx, Wayne Brady and Etana.
This year’s event runs from May 20-25, 2009. Need more information? Visit the Soul Beach Music Festival official website.
Barbados Gospelfest | Barbados
Barbadians are very religious people with over 100 religious sects operating in Barbados. Against this backdrop it is inevitable that there would be a large religious festival on the island. Gospel music plays an important role in the spiritual lives of Barbadians and the growth of Barbados Gospelfest is indicative of this fact.
Featuring a very diverse musical line up, including traditional, reggae, calypso, jazz, and soul, this annual celebration draws top gospel talent from Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, Jamaica, US Virgin Islands, the French island of Martinique, and the USA. Past performers have included Dorothy Norwood, James Moore, Ben Tankard, Douglas Miller, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Alvin Slaughter, Tramline Hawkins, Candi Staton, Harrella Goodwin, and Kirk Franklin.
For more information regarding venues and performances, visit the Barbados Gospelfest website. Also check out the island’s official tourism site as well, if you’re contemplating visiting Barbados now or in the near future.
