Boston's BeanTown Jazz Fest Lineup Set for Sept. 29 - Oct. 1

The lineup for the Boston BeanTown Jazz Festival, September 29-October 1, is complete and the 40,000 fans who graced the three city blocks in the South End for the free, outdoor portion of last year's festival may have less elbow room this year.

More than 15 national and local acts will play straight ahead, contemporary, and Afro-Cuban jazz--some incorporating hip-hop, blues, and gospel into their sound--over three days of music that will excite and inspire listeners of all ages. The BeanTown Jazz Fest, presented by Sovereign Bank, is being produced this year for the first time by Berklee College of Music.

The BeanTown Jazz Festival schedule of all activities follows. Visit www.beantownjazz.org for more details.

Thursday, Sept. 28:

Marsalis Music presents The Art of the CD Cover panel discussion
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Harvard University, 24 Quincy Street, Cambridge
Free
With speakers Arnold Levine, Art Director for Marsalis Music, and former Art Director for Sony/Columbia Records; Lou Jones, acclaimed Boston photographer whose images grace the covers of Michael Carvin and Jimmy Cobb's recent Honor Series CDs. Moderated by Bob Blumenthal, creative consultant for Marsalis Music, two-time GRAMMY-Award winner for liner notes, and noted jazz critic.

Friday, September 29:

The Jazz Journalists Association presents The House that Trane Built: The Story of Impulse
Records book discussion. 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
David Friend Recital Hall, Berklee College of Music Genko Uchida Building, 921 Boylston St.
Free
Speakers: Ashley Kahn, author of The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records; Saxophonist Dave Liebman; Bob Blumenthal, Marsalis Music.

BeanTown Jazz Festival kick-off concert with the Story of Impulse Records - The McCoy Tyner Septet with Charnett Moffett, Eric Kamau Gravatt, Dave Liebman, Wallace Roney, Steve Turre, and Donald Harrison
8:15 p.m.
Berklee Performance Center
Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Saturday, September 30:

BeanTown Jazz Festival
Noon - 7:00 p.m.
Free
On Columbus Ave, starting at the corner of Mass. and Columbus Avenues. Accessible on the T by the Mass. Ave. Orange Line stop, the Symphony stop on the Green Line's E car, the # 1 bus at Mass. and Columbus Aves., and the Silver Line at Washington St. and Mass. Ave.

Sovereign Stage

12:15 - 1:00 p.m. The Mike Tucker Quartet

1:15 - 2:00 p.m. Ellen O'Brien

2:20 - 3:35 p.m. Kenny Garrett Quartet

4:00 - 5:15 p.m. Carmen Lundy and the New Songbook Artists

5:35 - 6:50 p.m. The Christian McBride Situation

Marsalis Music Stage

12:20 - 1:05 p.m. New England Conservatory Jazz Composers Ensemble

1:25 - 2:40 p.m. Jimmy Cobb, with Javon Jackson

2:55 - 3:40 p.m. Delfeayo Marsalis with a Berklee student group

4:00 - 5:15 p.m. Doug Wamble Quartet

5:35 - 6:50 p.m. Mike Carvin Quintet

Global Stage

Noon - 1:15 p.m. Omar Sosa Trio

1:30 - 2:15 p.m. Antonio Jackson and Friends

2:35- 3:50 p.m. Lionel Loueke's Gilfema

4:10 - 4:55 p.m. Hot Like Fire

5:15 - 6:30 p.m. Unwrapped All-Stars featuring Dennis Nelson

The Jazz Journalists Association presents The Legendary Recording Session of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue panel discussion.
Noon -1:00 pm
At the BeanTown Jazz Festival VIP Tent
with speakers Ashley Kahn, author of Kind of Blue; Bill Milkowski, jazz critic for JazzTimes and Jazziz, author of Jaco: the Extraordinary & Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorious; Jimmy Cobb, legendary jazz drummer, the last living member from the historic recording sessions for Kind of Blue; Christian Scott, trumpet player and Concord Records artist with his debut release Rewind That; Fred Taylor, Boston's legendary jazz icon, former owner of Paul's Mall and the Jazz Workshop, and friend and colleague of Miles Davis.

Sunday, October 1

Gospel Jazz Brunch with Kendrick Oliver's New Life Orchestra and special guest vocalist Kevin Mahogany

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Ave, Boston.

Tickets available at Ticketmaster.