Jacksonville Jazz Festival announced lineup

Jacksonville Jazz Festival (22-25 May 2025) Read More Kool & the Gang The sound shifted to the soul funk of Kool & The Gang, the legendary (and the most sampled) R&B band that began in 1969 who can boast having won two Grammy Awards, seven American … Janelle Monae Everyone I know is really excited about having American singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress Janelle Monáe in town this July 3rd at the State Theatre in Minneapolis. Maybe … The Roots I also see The Roots moving their music in this direction. It was their first album, “Things Fall Apart” that caught my attention. By chance I knew the title came from Chinua Achebe’s novel .… Tank and the Bangas Over at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell, we saw New Orleans-based funk-soul musical group Tank and the Bangas. The group is fronted by Tarriona Ball (aka Tank), and was the winner .…

Presented by Jacksonville Aviation Authority, this Jacksonville Jazz Festival is amazing multi-day music festival, is completely free! Featuring several award-winning artists performing in the heart of Jacksonville, Florida.

The JJF just officially announced their schedule for 2025 today… and we’re so excited to see that legendary Kool & the Gang is one of the headliners.

Kool & the Gang at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse (19 Oct 2024)

We saw Kool & the Gang at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Oct 2024 and said, “The sound shifted to the soul funk of Kool & The Gang, the legendary (and the most sampled) R&B band that began in 1969 who can boast having won two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, 9 Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums. Public Enemy’s Chuck D helped everyone remember their decades-long impact and a hit-filled rousing medley found singer James “J.T.” Taylor (who joined in 1979) performing with co-founder Robert “Kool” Bell and the rest of the band, for the first time since 1999 (along with The Roots in tow), complete with an onscreen disco ball and confetti cannons.”

Trombone Shorty at MN Yacht Club (20 July 2024)

Also excited to see Trombone Shorty on the bill, having seen him recently at MN Yacht Club and noted, “Trombone Shorty was a whole lot of fun. He really has a great stage personality, and although he does sing on some songs, he let his trombone do most of the talking. Being from New Orleans, he definitely had to play “When the Saints Go Marching In”. Of course, being in Minnesota, he had to play Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy”… trombone style! We haven’t seen him before, only through the television show Treme, but seeing him in person, we’ll definitely have to check him out again when he comes back to the area.”

Please note that the location to this year is new, it is at the Tailgaters Parking (East of Everbank Stadium).

Schedule

THURSDAY • MAY 22, 2025

Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition at The Florida Theatre

7:00 PM

Kool & the Gang (23 May 2025)

FRIDAY • MAY 23, 2025

Let's Ride Brass Band featuring Bella Kosal	4:30 PM
Spyro Gyra	6:00 PM
Maysa	7:45 PM
Kool & the Gang	9:30 PM

Janelle Monáe (24 May 2025)

SATURDAY • MAY 24, 2025

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Jazz Combo	3:45 PM
Piano Comp Winner	4:45 PM
Tank and the Bangas	5:45 PM
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue	7:30 PM
Janelle Monáe	9:15 PM

The Roots (25 May 2025)

SUNDAY • MAY 25, 2025

UNF Jazz Ensemble I	3:15 PM
Connie Han	4:15 PM
Branford Marsalis Quartet	5:45 PM
Boney James	7:15 PM
The Roots	9:00 PM

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