The 32nd Annual Capital Jazz Fest is rapidly approaching, and music lovers are once again gearing up to kick off Black Music Month at “the jazz festival with soul.” The annual event returns to its home at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, from Friday, June 6th through Sunday, June 8th. Whether you are a jazz aficionado, an R&B fanatic or a hip-hop head, Capital Jazz Fest has something for every musical pleasure.
This year’s Capital Jazz Fest is kicking off with three pre-festival events on Thursday, June 5th. Pre-game with SoulBounce fam Zo! & Tall Black Guy featuring Debórah Bond at the Columbia Lakefront Stage hosted by Jodine Dorcé. This outdoor event is free and open to the public, so early arrival is suggested. There will also be ticketed shows at Encore Collective and the 18th & 21st Supper Club.
The festival will officially begin on Friday with jazz fusion band The Headhunters and Tom Browne performing on the Pavilion Stage, which will be hosted by The Bassman all weekend. That night’s headliner will be “Bees + Things + Flowers: A Tribute To The Legendary Roy Ayers” featuring several surprise artists paying their musical respects to the dearly departed icon Roy Ayers.
Saturday will be the first full day of the 32nd Annual Capital Jazz Fest, and the talent lineup is stacked. On the main Pavilion Stage, attendees can see performances by jazz and gogo fusion act The JoGo Project, R&B and jazz artist Dexter Wansel, soulful singer and keyboardist Frank McComb, Philly musicians The Urban Guerrilla Orchestra, adult contemporary R&B singer Avery*Sunshine, saxophonist/flautist Najee, silky soul man Will Downing and trumpeter Chris Botti. This stage’s headliner will be eclectic jazz singer Esperanza Spalding.
Over on the Symphony Woods Stage, radio vet Cayman Kelly will hold it down as the host. Scheduled to perform are progressive soul artist Bilal, ’90s R&B girl group Brownstone, New Jack Swing king Teddy Riley with The Teddy Riley Experience, ’90s R&B group Dru Hill and Keith Sweat headlining. There will also be a special tribute to Angie Stone following her untimely death in March.
Sunday will be the final day of the festival, and it will finish big. Gracing the Pavilion Stage will be singer/bassist Aneesa Strings, soulful jazz singer José James, actor turned spoken word artist Malcolm-Jamal Warner and his band Miles Long, jazz-funk group The Blackbyrds, living legend Bob James, saxophonist Gerald Albright featuring singer Leon Timbo, Marcus Miller paying tribute to David Sanborn and jazz darling Samara Joy. A Cappella gospel group Take 6 will close things out on this stage with their incredible vocals and range.
The Symphony Woods Stage will welcome R&B band Atlantic Starr, legendary rapper Big Daddy Kane, smooth ’90s R&B trio After 7, R&B crooner Eric Benét and the ultimate ’90s girl group En Vogue. The final act on this stage will be the dynamic duo TLC.
With all these talented artists spanning multiple genres, we can’t think of a better way to start Black Music Month than at the 32nd Annual Capital Jazz Fest. If you haven’t already, make plans now to pull up to the festival the first weekend in June to get your fill of live music. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster or at the Merriweather Post Pavilion box office. Visit the Capital Jazz Fest website for more information and to purchase tickets.
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