“The 2012 Atlanta Jazz Festival will officially begin on May 1st,” states Camille Russell Love, Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs.  “For the entire month of May we are partnering with parks, restaurants, clubs and venues around Atlanta to host jazz related events.  We are renaming May this year and we’ll call it ‘31 Days of Jazz!’ We’ve got something for everyone...from the soulful sounds of the Mose Davis Trio at Sun Dial, to spicy Latin jazz at Fiesta Atlanta in Centennial Park, to legendary pianist Johnny O’Neal at the Loews Atlanta Hotel.  We hope that people will get out and explore some new hot spots and eateries around the city, and truly get into the community spirit of the festival.”

Here are just some of the activities that are scheduled for “31 Days of Jazz.”  Many of the events are free, but some are ticketed and there is an admission charge. For details please check our web site,

May 1      Rialto Center for the Arts           Rialto Jazz for Kids JazzFest, 6p

May 2      Underground Atlanta                   Eat Street! Food Truck Wednesday, 11a-2p

May 4      Atlanta City Hall                              Lunchtime Jazz in the Atrium, 11a-2p

May 5      Clark Atlanta University               CAU’s Jazz Under The Stars featuring Rachelle Ferrell, 7-10p

May 6      Centennial Park                              Fiesta Atlanta – Cinco de Mayo Celebration, 10a-7p

May 7      Café 290                                             Jazz featuring Joe Gransden, 6p-2a

May 9      Sun Dial Restaurant                       Live Jazz featuring the Mose Davis Trio, 7-11p

May 11   Fernbank Museum                        Martinis & IMAX featuring the Derryl Rivers Band, 6:30-11p

May 12   Hammonds House Museum      Jazz in the Garden featuring the Lucky Street Band, 7-10p

May 13   Acoustix Jazz Restaurant            Jazzbeat Sunday featuring Eric Essix, 7:30p

May 18   High Museum of Art                     Friday Jazz featuring Takana Miyamoto, 5p-Midnight

May 19   Perkerson Park                               Neighborhood Jazz at Perkerson Park, 2-6p

May 20   Justin’s Restaurant                        Jazzing with Justin’s, 7p

May 21   Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint        All Jazzed Up, 6:30p

May 22   Briza Restaurant                             Live Jazz @ Renaissance Atlanta Midtown

May 23   Peachtree Center                          Groovin at Noon, 11:45a-1:45p

May 24   Loews Atlanta Hotel                     Live @ Loews featuring Ojeda Penn, 8-10p

May 25   Loews Atlanta Hotel                      AJF Kickoff Cabaret featuring Johnny O’Neal, 7-10p

May 26   Piedmont Park                                Live Jazz on two stages, 1-11p

May 27   Piedmont Park                                Live Jazz on two stages, 1-11p

May 27   Loews Atlanta Hotel                      Late Night Jazz Jam hosted by Jason Orr, 10p-2a

May 28   Piedmont Park                                Live Jazz on two stages, 1-11p

May 29   Arizona’s Steak House                 Jazzy Tuesday Night, 7:30p

May 31   Hartsfield-Jackson Airport          Jazz at the Airport, 5-7p

While you are out enjoying jazz at the various venues, pick up a brochure and enter the Passport Program contest.  The grand prize includes a two-night stay at the Loews Atlanta Hotel, dinner for two at one of the festival restaurant partners, a commemorate t-shirt and poster, and a special VIP Experience for two at the festival in Piedmont Park!

Sponsors for this year’s festival are The Coca-Cola Company, Publix Super Markets, PNC Bank, Clear, Cartoon Network, Chick-Fil-A, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Loews Atlanta Hotel, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Cayrum, Central Atlanta Progress, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, MARTA, Southern Pianos, Lanier Parking, Atlanta Inquirer, Atlanta Tribune, INsite Atlanta’s Entertainment Monthly, The Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Uptown Magazine, Atlanta Daybook, Rolling Out, JS108Atlanta.com, V103, 1380 WAOK, WCLK Jazz 91.9 and 89.3FM WRFG.

The 35th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is presented by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.  Join us on Facebook at AtlantaJazzFestival<

> or follow us on Twitter @AtlantaJazzFest<

>. For a complete listing of events for “31 Days of Jazz” and the performance schedule in Piedmont Park, please visit the official festival web site at