Capital Jazz Fest

A weekend of hot fun & cool jazz!
Join us this June for the 17th annual Capital Jazz Fest, featuring live contemporary jazz and smooth R&B music on two big stages. This year’s Fest will be held June 5-7, 2009 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, March 7 at 12 noon EST!


Since its inception in 1993, the Capital Jazz Fest — which guitarist Chuck Loeb once referred to as the “Woodstock of jazz festivals” — has continually showcased the biggest names in contemporary jazz. Past performers on the Pavilion Jazz Stage include Herbie Hancock, Kenny G, The Jazzmasters, Kem, Grover Washington, Jr., Anita Baker, Ray Charles, Chris Botti, Ramsey Lewis, Dianne Reeves, Boney James, Incognito, Nancy Wilson, David Sanborn, George Benson, and countless others.

The Soul Stage at Symphony Woods (a.k.a. “The Party Stage”) showcases urban and alternative artists and has featured Musiq Soulchild, Ledisi, War, Eric Benet, Jeffrey Osborne, The Hidden Beach Unwrapped Band, Angie Stone, Isaac Hayes, Average White Band, Dwele, Loose Ends, Kindred, Plunky, Hil St. Soul, The Brand New Heavies, and many others.

What is the Capital Jazz Fest?
Each year in early June, tens of thousands of music lovers from throughout the country flock to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. to attend this weekend of hot fun and cool jazz — The Capital Jazz Fest. This multi-day, multi-stage outdoor music festival, which attracts music lovers from 44 states, is more than just a concert, it’s an event! It’s a place to people-watch, eat, drink, shop, mingle, relax, soak in the rays, and of course hear some of the coolest music performed by artists whom you won’t see anywhere else in the Washington-Baltimore area this summer.

In-between musical sets, you can enjoy fine art and crafts at the Festival Marketplace, culinary treats at the food court, plus artist workshops and meet & greets. After the show, check out the late night after-parties, plus the 6th Annual Capital Jazz Challenge competition, featuring some of the finest up-and-coming contemporary jazz talent, to be held at the Hilton Columbia hotel.

6th Annual Capital Jazz Challenge
Move over American Idol, the Capital Jazz Challenge competition is back for 2009! On Friday, June 5 at the Hilton Columbia hotel, the festival will host its sixth annual live performance competition, featuring up-and-coming contemporary jazz artists. Artists will compete for a $5,000 prize and a chance to perform on the festival’s Pavilion stage on Sunday, June 7.

-Taken from the Capital Jazz Fest website.