2007 Jazz Fest celebrates 10 years and growing

Over the years, the Main Street Jazz Fest has become the preeminent community gathering for downtown Murfreesboro. Back for its 10th year, Jazz Fest is expecting its biggest turnout yet thanks to the most talent-packed lineup to date.

Jazz Fest will take place May 4 – 5 on the Murfreesboro square. The event will feature an array of local high school and middle school bands and nationally renowned jazz musicians making the festival unique to Murfreesboro. Jazz Fest is free to the public. Last year the event brought in approximately 20,000 spectators, and organizers are expecting a larger turnout this year.

“Jazz Fest is popular for a number of reasons,” Jazz Fest spokesman Sean Gilliland said. “Part of it is because it is a beautiful location on the east side of the courthouse. It’s free, so it’s a good family event. But at the center of it all, we want to promote jazz. It’s America’s only true original art form.”

Besides promoting jazz, a genre which has drowned out in this bastion of country and indie rock, the festival serves to draw attention to downtown Murfreesboro.

Main Street is a non-profit group founded in 1985 which focuses on the revitalization of downtown Murfreesboro. The group serves in a variety of capacities, ranging from working to bury power lines downtown to bringing events like Jazz Fest to Murfreesboro.

“Besides the music, we want to draw attention to our gorgeous and historic downtown,” Gilliland said.

When to arrive/where to park

On Friday, the music will focus on local high school and middle school bands. Friday’s show begins at 6 p.m. and will feature bands from Eagleville, LaVergne, Siegel, Riverdale, Oakland, Blackman and Smyrna.

For both the Friday and Saturday session, Gilliland encourages spectators to park at the city parking garage and in free parking around the square.

Who to see

The Saturday session features professional jazz musicians from around the nation, including headlining act Louis Hayes, a world-renowned jazz drummer.

Hayes will be performing with the Cannonball Band.

Besides Hayes, a highlight will be U.S. Army Ground Forces Jazz Guardians Band, a perennial crowd favorite at the event.

Other prominent acts performing Saturday on the main stage will be vibraphone and marimba master Jerry Tachoir and MTSU percussion director Lalo Davila.

The Pulse is excited to hear MTSU graduate Chris West, who will perform at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. West does things with a saxophone that don’t seem humanly possible and recalls an era when jazz saxophonists were the most popular musicians in the world.

A full listing of the acts can be found by visiting mainstreetjazzfest.com

Other attractions

Since it’s a Murfreesboro festival, you know there will be plenty of good food and several local restaurants will be on hand, as will other food vendors from around the country. Jazz Fest will also feature a Kids Alley with fun and games for children.

JAZZ FEST 2007 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, May 5th

“Future Jazz Greats”

6:00 p.m.?Eagleville High School Jazz Band

6:30 p.m.?Siegel High School Jazz Band

7:10 p.m.?Riverdale High School Jazz Band

7:50 p.m.?Oakland High School Jazz Band

8:30 p.m.?Blackman High School Jazz Band

9:10 p.m.?Smyrna High School Jazz Band

9:50 p.m.?LaVergne High School Jazz Band

Other Attractions: 6:00 – 9:45 p.m. Food vendors open

Saturday, May 6th

(Main Stage)

11:00 a.m.?Rutherford All County High School Jazz Band

12:00 p.m.?MTSU Jazz Ensemble I

1:30 p.m.?Jerry Tachoir

3:00 p.m.?Lalo Davila

4:30 p.m.?A.P.S.9

6:00 p.m.?US Army Ground Forces Jazz Guardians

7:30 p.m.?Louis Hayes Cannonball Band with J. Pelt and V. Herring

Other Attractions:

10:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.?Food vendors open

Noon – 6:00 p.m.?Children’s recreational and Craft Activity Stations (Open to the public free of charge on the North Side of the Square) ? JazzFest Clinic Meet the Artist by Louis Hayes

3:30 p.m.?Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Center

for the Arts, 110 W. College Street.Open to the public.

(Kroger Stage)

11:00 a.m.?Lebanon High School

11:45 a.m.?Central Middle School

12:30 a.m.?Siegel Middle School

1:15 p.m.?Blackman High School II

2:00 p.m.?Tullahoma High School

2:45 p.m.?TN School for the Blind

3:30 p.m.?Belmont Jazzmin

4:30 p.m.?Jo Byrnes High School (Robertson Co.)

5:15 p.m.?Father Ryan High School