Jazz in June festival has plenty to offer for all types of music-lovers

Jazz is a genre of music that rests in a world all its own. It retains this certain unmistakable quality that makes jazz stand out from the rest, no matter the style.

Since 1984, Norman has held an annual festival in honor of jazz and its close cousin, blues. If this year is anything like the last, we are in for three days of sonic bliss.

Jazz in June will span three days — Thursday through Saturday.

Each day will offer something a little different, which is shown in the names of each night: Blues Under the Stars, Jazz Under the Stars and Jazz in the Park, respectively.

“Under the Stars” nights will take place at around 7 p.m. at Brookhaven Village, 3700 W. Robinson St., and Jazz in the Park will be at around p.m. at Andrews Park, 479 N. Webster Ave.

The festival also features clinics for aspiring musicians led by the world-class musicians of the festival.

There are four of these Saturday, the first starting at 11 a.m. with Brazil’s Influence on Jazz and the last starting at 2:30 p.m. with Davis Sanborn doing The Saxophone and Contemporary Jazz.

Jim Johnson at KGOU said the seats inside have been filled. However, he said they will be hooking up satellite speakers so you can listen to the clinic outside in the shade if you can’t get a seat.

Johnson also said getting there early could help ensure you get a seat.

Every musician who plays at this festival has the chops to back it up, so we will only look at each night’s headline acts.

Blues under the Stars is led by Carolyn Wonderland, a blues guitarist from Austin. Wonderland was featured in this year’s June issue of “Guitar Player Magazine.”

Composer and pianist Bert Dalton’s The Brazil Project will headline Jazz Under the Stars on Friday night. His amazing skills, paired with the infectious Latin rhythms, can only be described as amazing.

The final headliner is six-time Grammy Award-winning saxophonist David Sanborn. He has 24 albums that have sold thousands and thousands of copies. His range alone should make his show seem like an odyssey through music.

After Thursday’s and Saturday’s shows at about 11 p.m., there will be jams where anyone who wants to can go on stage and play.

Thursday’s jam will be at Coach’s Brewhouse, 110 W. Main St., and Saturday’s will be at the Santa Fe Train Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave.

Whether you are a seasoned jazz and blues purist or a newcomer to the genre, Jazz in June has something for you.

Shawn Stafford

Shawn is a former staff member of The Oklahoma Daily who worked as Life & Arts Reporter.