City Hosts Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival

Alexandria will host the 35th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival on May 28, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Waterfront Park, at the bottom of Prince Street.

Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets or simply sit on the grass. Food, such as barbeque, fried chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, snow cones and funnel cakes will be for sale, but everyone is welcome to pack a picnic lunch or supper.

Grilling, alcoholic beverages, smoking and pets are not allowed at the event.

If it rains, the free festival will relocate to the ’s Kauffman Auditorium, located at 1108 Jefferson St.

The performance schedule is as follows (The following information was provided by the city):

• 1 p.m. — The Commodores
  Navy’s premier jazz ensemble, featuring 18 of the Navy’s top jazz and big band musicians. 
• 2:30 p.m. — Marcus Johnson
  Renowned jazz keyboardist, composer and producer who has been included among the ranks of contemporary jazz greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride and Vanessa Williams.

• 3:30 p.m. — Barbara Martin Trio featuring Liz Barnes
  Features straight ahead jazz standards and original compositions by vocalist-guitarist Barbara Martin and pianist Liz Barnes.

• 4:30 p.m. — Al Williams
  Alexandria favorite and four-time WAMMIE Award winner, the latest, for 2010 Best Jazz Best Jazz Instrumentalist. 

For more information on the annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival, call the Special Events Hotline at 703-746-5592 or visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.