Vail Jazz announces lineup for 27th Annual Vail Jazz Festival
New this year are free Sunday evening performances at Solaris Plaza
Special to the Daily
Vail Jazz has announced the lineup for the 27th Annual Vail Jazz Festival, taking place July 8 – September 6, 2021. The festival will include eight all-star Thursday evening performances, eight free Sunday evening performances, and the five-day Vail Jazz Party over Labor Day weekend.
Vail Jazz @ Vail Square series
Thursday evening headliner performances will return under the jazz tent in Lionshead Village as part of the Vail Jazz @ Vail Square series presented by Alpine Bank, the Jazz Cruise and the Town of Vail. Doors open at 5PM and performances begin at 6PM. General admission tickets are $50, premium seating tickets are $75. The schedule is as follows:
July 8: Curtis Stigers
July 15: Chuck Lamb’s Tribute to Dave Brubeck
July 22: Davina and the Vagabonds
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July 29: Ann Hampton Callaway
Aug 5: Anything Mose! John Chin Plays the Music of Mose Allison Featuring Richard Julian
Aug 12: Catherine Russell
Aug 19: Julien Labro’s Django Collective
Aug 26: Harold López-Nussa Trio
Free Sunday performances
New this year to the Vail Jazz Festival are FREE Sunday evening performances at Solaris Plaza in Vail Village. The Vail Jazz @ Solaris series is presented by the Town of Vail and Bol. The schedule is as follows:
July 11: H2 Big Band
July 18: Joe Smith and the Spicy Pickles ǀ Student Showcase: UNC Jazz Quintet directed by Steve Kovalcheck
July 25: Guitarra Azul ǀ Student Showcase: Azul de Azúcar from Kent Denver School directed by Justin Adams
Aug 1: Coração Brazilian Quartet ǀ Student Showcase: CCJA Bebop Police directed by Paul Romaine
Aug 8: Quemando ǀ Student Showcase: East High Jazz Combo directed by Keith Oxman
Aug 15: Tony G and Friends ǀ Student Showcase: Denver School of the Arts Jazz Workshop directed by Dave Hammond
Aug 22: The Gratitude Quartet ǀ Student Showcase: Denver Jazz Club Youth All-Stars directed by Dr. Ed Cannava
Aug 29: The Nelson Rangell Quartet
In addition to renowned regional performers, Vail Jazz will showcase talented Colorado student jazz bands on most Sundays. These students will open the show at 5:30PM; main acts perform at 6:30PM on every festival Sunday.
Vail Jazz Party
Steven K. Pope / Special to the Daily
Returning for the 27th year is the Vail Jazz Party over Labor Day weekend, September 2 – 6, 2021. This is where it all began for Vail Jazz and marks the grand finale of the Festival. The Party brings together some of the biggest names in jazz to play in a constellation of group performances.
A full lineup of events is coming soon. To date, musicians include: Vail Jazz House Band, Emmet Cohen Trio, Joel Frahm Quartet, Vail Jazz Alumni Sextet, Jeff Hamilton Trio, Adrian Cunningham, Mitch Forman, Bobby Floyd, Jerohn Garnett, Niki Haris, Ken Peplowski, Lyndon Rochelle, Byron Stripling, Dan Wilson and Lucy Yeghiazaryan.
All-access weekend passes are the best way to experience the Vail Jazz Party: Patron Passes are $475, and Performance Passes are $400. Tickets to individual sessions can also be purchased. Morning and afternoons sessions are $55 and evening sessions are $75.
All tickets go on sale June 7, 2010 at 10AM. For more information about the Vail Jazz Foundation and Festival, please visit VailJazz.org.
