With a new artistic director and enhanced budget, the 17th annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival will move to a new venue for one bigtime concert – the brand new CHS Field featuring Dr. John, the eccentric New Orleans piano man and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
He'll headline on June 27 at 3 p.m. Admission is free but a ticket will be required for the 7,000-seat Saints baseball stadium. The tickets will be available at www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com.
New artistic director Francisco Mela has helped book a diverse lineup that includes an all-star quartet featuring Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Lionel Loueke and Eric Harland that will headline on June 26; the Marquis Hill Blacktet; Araya Orta Latin Jazz Quartet (doing a tribute to Jaco Pastorious), and Mela's own group, the Jazz Machine, featuring guest trumpeter Nicholas Payton.
All concerts are free. Except for the Dr. John performance, the other concerts will be held in Mears Park in downtown St. Paul.
Additional performers will be announced later.
