PIONEER ENDICOTT: Twin Cities Jazz Festival

From June 26th to June 28th, Mears Park in Downtown St. Paul will host award and grammy-winning jazz artists from across the country. Recognized as one of the region's premiere music festivals, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival attracts over 30,000 people of all ages to experience live music on four outdoor stages and over 30 indoor venues across the historic Lowertown neighborhood.
Now in it's 16th year, the three-day event remains free and open to the public, thanks to the support of many generous sponsors and supporters. We hope you adventure out to experience one of the largest free civic events in the upper Midwest right outside the Pioneer Endicott doors! Here are the details that will help you navigate the weekend events:

WHEN
The Twin Cities Jazz Festival kicks off on Thursday night with the annual Jazz Night Out. This evening of nonstop music includes stages throughout Lowertown, as well as along West 7th Street and University Avenue, where there will be the Green Line Jazz Stops. Enjoy six hours of live jazz on Friday, and a full day on Saturday. There will be plenty of food and beverage options on all three days, as well as a variety of sponsor and vendor booths.
Get the full event schedule here

MAIN STAGES

HealthPartners Main Stage at Mears Park - 4 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
MyTalk 107.1 Stage at Mears Park - 6 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
tpt Stage at the Union Depot - 3 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education Prince Street Stage - 6 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott

HEADLINERS

Branford Marsalis - This New Orleans native studied at Southern University and Berklee College of Music before joining bands and touring. He is a Grammy Award-winning saxophonist, Tony Award nominated composer, and record producer who has appeared in the films School Daze and Throw Mama From the Train. Marsalis served as Musical Director for Jay Leno's Tonight Show for two years and hosted NPR's Jazz Set for nine years. He now has his own label, Marsalis Music, and now records Grammy-nominated music with his quartet. Marsalis made his Broadway debut as the composer of original music for the Tony Waard-winning Broadway revival of August Wilson's "Fences." He was then asked to score the 2011 Broadway premiere of "The Moutaintop" starring Samuel Jackson and Angela Bassett. Marsalis has taught jazz education at Michigan State, San Francisco State, Stanford, and North Carolina Central Universities. Marsalis will perform on Friday, June 27th at the HealthPartners Mears Park Main Stage at 8:30pm.

Dianne Reeves - Born in Detroit and raised in Denver, Dianne Reeves was a singer from the beginning. She sang for the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics and was featured with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. A four-time Grammy winner, Reeves has also been honored with the Ella Fitzgerald Award from the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee College of Music. She was appointed as the first Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, overseeing the scheduling of jazz programming and educational workshops at the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Reeves will perform on Saturday, June 28th at the HealthPartners Mears Park Main Stage at 8:30pm

Melissa Aldana - This Chilean native is just twenty-four-years-old, but has already won first prize at the 2013 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition and is the first woman instrumentalist in history to win any of the Monk top honors. Aldana came to the U.S. on a Presidential Scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music. She now tours with her Crash Trio, which released its first recording in mid-June. Aldana will perform on on Saturday, June 28th at the HealthPartners Mears Park Main Stage at 6:00pm.

Joe Krown Trio with Walter Wolfman Washington - Krown discovered the Hammon B-3 organ as a college student in Buffalo, NY, and never looked back. He has played B-3 in his current trio with Walter Wolfman Washington and Russell Batiste since 2007. The Joe Krown Trio earned the 2009 Big Easy Award as Best Rhythm and Blues Band as well as Best R&B / Funk CD. See three of New Orleans greatest players on Saturday, June 28th on the tpt Stage at the Union Depot at 7:00pm.

CLUB & RESTAURANT STAGES

Amsterdam Bar - 9 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
Studio Z - 5 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
Black Dog Cafe - 6 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
Trattoria de Vinci - 6 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
Golden's Deli - 5 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
Heartland - 7 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
McNally Smith College of Music, FREE music workshops with festival headliners! - 12 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
Lobby Bar at the Saint Paul Hotel - 9 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
Senor Wong - 3 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
Kelly's Depot Bar & Grill - 5 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott
Bedlam - 3 minute walk from Pioneer Endicott