Twin Cities Jazz Festival returns to St. Paul in September

Tommy Wiita
Mears Park in downtown St. Paul.[Courtesy of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.]

The Twin Cities Jazz Festival, a non-profit organization that focuses on bringing communities together to enjoy and appreciate the art form of jazz and inspire new generations of youth, is returning to downtown St. Paul in September.

According to the organization’s website, it started as a one-day event in downtown Minneapolis 23 years ago and has now grown into one of the largest free civic jazz festivals in the Midwest. The festival will take place in Mears Park on Sept. 17 and 18.

This year’s festival is headlined by award-winning pianist Kenny Barron and his trio, rising star Emmet Cohen and trombonist Defeayo Marsalis Quintet. A second stage will be set up on Fifth Street with music to dance to — swing, salsa and funk.

"Throughout the pandemic, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival has remained committed to our musicians, jazz fans and community. For the past 16 months, we’ve been hosting Jazz Fest Live, a weekly virtual concert series, and have watched our numbers soar. We have music lovers logging in from all 50 states and several countries," said Steve Heckler, Twin Cities Jazz Festival’s Executive Director.

The event is free to attend. Heckler noted the event is able to go on due to donations from multiple local sponsors.

"We appreciate all the donations that have allowed us to continue to bring live music into homes weekly. Together, we can help Minnesota rebound," Heckler said.

The lineup for both Sept. 17 and 18 goes as follows:

Friday, Sept. 17:

  • Mears Park Stage
    • 5:30 p.m. – Emmet Cohen with special guest Patrick Bartley
    • 7:30 p.m. – Kenny Barron Trio
  • 5th Street Stage
    • 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Maryann Sullivan & the Money Makers
    • 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Selby Avenue Brass Band

Saturday, Sept. 18:

  • Mears Park Stage
    • 12:30 p.m. – Walker West Music Academy & MacPhail Center for Music Youth performances
    • 3 p.m. – Twin Cities Seven
    • 5 p.m. – Moore By Four
    • 7:30 p.m. – Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet
  • 5th Street Stage
    • 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Jack Brass Band
    • 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Katia Cardenas
    • 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Salsa del Soul

For more information on the festival, click here.