Photo by Andrea Canter

Combining set after set of great jazz with an art fair and food concessions, the second annual Burnsville Art and All That Jazz gets underway in Nicollet Commons Park at 11 am, Saturday, August 20th. From the opening music of the Metro High School Jazz All-Stars to local Cuban pianist Nachito Herrera and nationally acclaimed guitarist Nick Collione, there’s something for everybody, and the music is free to all. Primary sponsors for this year’s event include US Federal Credit Union, Smooth Jazz 100.3, and Ames Construction, while Coca-Cola Midwest Bottling provides the official beverage for the festival.

In the heart of suburban Burnsville, Art and All That Jazz will close down a block each of 126^th Street and Nicollet Avenue, with 5,000+ expected to attend. Says festival founder and Burnsville City Councilman Dan Gustafson, “this is our year for the credibility of our festival. We want to make a statement that we’re here, and we’re here for a long time … You get a jazz festival off the ground and get it going, they don’t die, they just grow.” And there are grand plans for expanding the festival in the future, according to Festival Chair Ted Olson. “Our intention is to build this thing into a two- or three-day festival with multiple stages and possibly multiple venues around the Burnsville area…What we’re actually trying to build is a large, regional musical event that just happens to be taking place in Burnsville... A former Minneapolis nightclub owner (RoxyMusic), Gustafson’s music and business contacts have been instrumental in attracting talent. His new for-profit company, Art and All That Jazz, owns the festival, and hopes to finish this festival in the black and put the proceeds toward the 2006 event. The company also plans to donate 10% of its profits to charity.

In addition to a far-ranging line-up, there will be sales of artwork with a tent hosted by the Community Action Council, with some proceeds going to the Council’s human services efforts in Dakota County. VIP Tables (with wine and refreshments) are available for $200-$275); otherwise the event is free with concessions (including wine and beer) available. Spectators are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for the Community Action Council.

The Music

11 am, Minnesota Valley Academy of Music, Metro All-Star High School Band.

12:30 pm, Jim Price. Jazz violinist Price will perform with a group of area musicians in tipping their strings to the great Stephane Grapelli.

Photo by Andrea Canter

2:00 pm, Connie Evingson. One of the premiere voices of the Twin Cities and member of Moore by Four, Evingson will showcase her recent tribute Django Reinhardt with some ‘30s hotclub swing.

3:30 pm, Kico Rangel. Saxophonist Rangel brings his Latin vibes to Burnsville.

5:00 pm, Jaca Gereau. The trumpeter and bandleader will front “Baby Moses.”

6:30 pm, Nachito Herrera. One of the biggest talents around, Cuban pianist Herrera will leave you breathless and wondering who insured that piano anyway?

8:00 pm, Nick Colionne. Smooth jazz guitarist Colionne had a number 1 hit on the World Smooth Jazz Chart last year with “High Flyin’” and is a nominee for a Chicago Music Award for bestjazz CD. This will be a grand finale, two-hour set.

This will be a perfect event for the whole family, located about 25 minutes south of downtown Minneapolis at Nicollet Commons Park, W. 126th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Burnsville. For more information, visit the festival website at www.burnsvilleartjazz.com

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