Savannah Jazz, in partnership with the City of Savannah and other sponsors announces that the 43rd Savannah Jazz Festival will take place September 18 – 22. 17 Free events are supported by the City of Savannah and this year two ticketed performances are sponsored by Roger Wood Foods, Lucas Theatre for the Arts, and Rancho Alegre.

          “We are grateful that the City of Savannah will continue their presenting partnership to deliver more free shows during the Savannah Jazz Festival than any other music festival in our region,” says Paula Fogarty, Executive Director.  Fogarty goes on to explain, “Last year’s festival hosted the largest numbers of attendees with over 50,000 people and we anticipate nothing less this year. We are now the largest free cultural arts event in the Lowcountry and a destination event for people from around the nation and the world.”

         The organization’s mission is to deliver world-class music to a large and diverse audience. Although the festival events in Forsyth Pare are free, there are tickets for purchase in the Patron’s Tent with seating and refreshments for those who do not want to bring their own seats and the can be purchased at www.savannahjaz.org.

Our World-class Lineup

       The events open with Latin Dance Night at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum featuring the upbeat salsa and Latin jazz music of Gino Castillo and the Cuban Cowboys.

       Blues night opens with Georgia Blues legend Robert Lee Coleman followed by the headliner Jimmy Hall, most famously known for his role as lead vocalist, harmonica and saxophone player for Wet Willies. Hall also has played with Gregg Allman, Chuck Leavell, Butch Trucks, Dicky Betts, Jeff Beck, and Joe Bonamassa.

      Female artists populate the stage again when 2024 GRAMMY Jazz Vocalist of the Year Nicole Zuraitis takes the stage with the USC Left Bank Big Band on Friday in the Park. On Saturday New Orleans jazz legend Doreen Ketchens will energize the crowd with her upbeat burning NOLA sound.

      Every baseball fan should come out when 4-time World Series Champion for the New York Yankees, Bernie Williams, takes the stage. Williams is a graduate of The Manhattan School of Music’s jazz program and is a Benedetto Guitar Artist. Two of his singles have made #1 on Billboard’s list and his second album was nominated for a Latin GRAMMY Award for Best Instrumental Album.

      Regional performers include, Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame Band, Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love, and the Savannah Jazz Orchestra with John Dokes, and School Band Day on Sunday.       

      “Our audiences are the most diverse and inclusive of any music event in Savannah with 40% Blacks, 40% Whites, 15% Hispanics, and 5% Asian and other. The Savannah Jazz Festival is truly ‘the people’s festival,’” Fogarty says. 

      Savannah Jazz, a 501c3 non-profit, is calling for your support to keep our festival free.  Your individual and corporate sponsorships will reach over 100,000 people globally. For the full schedule and lineup details visit www.savannahjazz.org.

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Please credit the photographers noted in the image titles:
John Alexander Photography
The French Guy Photography
Loman Creative