Jazz fans take note, Savannah Jazz Festival 2023 is coming right up with 7 days of live music by some of the best jazz players around! September 18th through the 24th at various venues in and around historic, downtown Savannah.
There’s nothing like good, live music to lift your spirits, inspire your mind, and refresh your soul, and jazz is some of the very best music there is. Savannah’s jazz heritage is as deep and ingrained as the art form is in American culture.
In fact, many jazz legends have called our historic city home over the years. Greats like Johnny Mercer, Ben Tucker, Irene Reid, Joe “King” Oliver, and many others. The annual jazz festival celebrates this heritage with a variety of performances from local, regional, and nationally recognized musicians.
Savannah Jazz Festival 2023 presents over 20 different concerts and other events in and around Savannah’s downtown historic district. This year’s festival includes a Blues Night, a Latin Dance Night, free shows in Forsyth Park, and a day of free school band concerts. There will also be a special screening of the “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool,” documentary by Stanley Nelson. A panel discussion with the director, Stanley Nelson, and Miles Davis’ nephew and son follows the screening.
This year’s concert venues include the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, the Lucas Theatre, Forsyth Park, and the Savannah Riverfront.
Best of all, our Savannah bed and breakfast, McMillan Inn, is within five minutes or less of all these locations. In fact, historic Forsyth Park is just five minutes away by foot! So go ahead, get your Jazz Fest tickets book your room at McMillan Inn, then sit back and relax, knowing you’re all set for Savannah Jazz Fest 2023!
Savannah Jazz Festival 2023 Schedule
September 18th through the 24th, 2023
Monday, September 18
7pm – Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool movie screening and talk at Lucas Theatre
Tuesday, September 19 – Blues Night at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum
7pm – E.G. Kight
8pm – Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials
Wednesday, September 20 – Latin Dance Night at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum
7:30 pm – C.O.T Band
Thursday, September 21
7pm – Ranky Tanky at the Lucas Theatre
Friday, September 22 – Free shows in Forsyth Park
5pm – University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble
6pm – TBD
7pm – Milena Casado
8:15pm – Eric Wyatt with Jeff Tain Watts
9:30pm – Dizzy Gilespie’s Afro-Latin Experience
Saturday, September 23 – Free shows in Forsyth Park
2pm – Demetrius Doctor Trio and The Wives
3pm – The Martin Lesch Band
4pm – Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame Band
5:15pm – Buckweheat Zydeco, Jr and Ils Sont Partis Band
6pm – Navy Band Southeast’s
6:40pm – Frank Catalano
8pm – Jane Bunnett and Maqueque
9:15pm – Nicolas Bearde and the Savannah Jazz Orchestra
11pm – Late Night Jam at the DeSoto Hotel
Sunday, September 24 – Free School Band Day
4 regional school bands at 400 W River St
Visit savannahjazz.org for tickets and more information. You can also follow the festival on Facebook.