Michael Reese Captures The Soul Of Music In His Artwork For This Year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival

Atlanta Jazz Festival, the country’s largest free jazz festival, takes place this Labor Day Weekend on Sunday and Monday in Piedmont Park. Mayor Maynard Jackson founded the event 43 years ago, to promote the art form that originated here in the South. Michael Reese’s photograph “Theories of the Lowest End” was named the Official Artwork of the 43rd festival. Reese joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes via Zoom along with Camille Russell-Love, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, which sponsors the event.

Last year’s festival went virtual, and organizers focused its programming on all-local musicians, helping the community’s jazz scene stay engaged during the pandemic. But this year, the festival boasts such jazz luminaries like Grammy-winning singer Patti Austin, and the legendary studio bassist Ron Carter. Artists will perform across two stages, the Meadow Stage and the Oakhill Stage at Piedmont Park.

Sunday at the Oakhill Stage focuses on international performing artists, like Italian jazz guitarist Pasquale Grasso, and pianist Yuko Mabuchi from Japan. The Meadow Stage hosts the master jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp on Monday along with the eclectic trumpeter with funk and electronic fusion, Theo Croker.