The651.com

Things are about to get a lot more jazzy in Downtown St. Paul this weekend as the Twin Cities Jazz Fest returns for the 13th year in a row. Head to charming Mear’s Park and numerous satellite locations Thursday through Saturday for more music than you can shake a saxaphone at.

Thursday kicks things off with a bang with music starting as early as 4pm at Senor Wong’s with Larry McDonough and
John Penny and runs through the night at venues all over downtown including The Black Dog Cafe, Hat Trick Lounge, The Bulldog, Artists’ Quarter, St. Paul Hotel, Mancini’s, and Studio V. The main stage at Mear’s Park will kick it’s weekend of free outdoor Jazz off with Alicia Renee with Jon Weber at 6pm and Connie Evingson at 7:30pm.

Friday feel free to pop over to McNally Smith College of Music during your lunch break at 12:30pm for a clinic with Gary Burton, then meander over to Walker West Music Academy at 3pm for Jon Weber. At 4:30pm the Mear’s Park takes the reigns with music all night long on two stages featuring Seven Steps to Havana, The Peterson’s, New Gary Burton Quartet, Miguel Hurtado, Marquis Hill, Zacc Harris, Jeremy Boettcher, and Sue Orfield. Music at surrounding venues will again be going strong at The Black Dog Cafe, Hat Trick Lounge, Artists’ Quarter, St. Paul Hotel, and Studio V.

Saturday, however, is when the Twin Cities Jazz Fest really shows its teeth, with so many musicians on three stages that we dare not list them all here–but we’ll try. Hear a wide range of sounds from the likes of Danilo Perez, Air Force Notables, Deodato with Gerardo Velez, Joh Patitucci, Jason Weismann Quartet, Janes Buckley, Jazz Central All Stars, Salsa del Soul, The Grindberg-Strachan-LeCrone Quartet, Twin Cities Youth Jazz Camp, St.Cloud Area All Star Jazz Band, Mpls South HS Jazz Band, Minnesota Youth Jazz Band, Dakota Combo and more. Not to mention, jazz will be in effect all night at surrounding locales including The Black Dog Cafe, Hat Trick Lounge, Artists’ Quarter, St. Paul Hotel, and Studio V.

For a complete schedule of the performances, locations and more info visit www.hotsummerjazz.com