The Savannah Music Festival
Recently selected as one of the "best events around the world" by The Times of London, The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) is Georgia's largest arts festival and one of the most distinctive cross-genre music festivals in the world.
A world-class celebration of the musical arts, The Savannah Music Festival takes place over three weeks in late March and early April and showcases features commissioned works, unique and imaginative productions and rare regional appearances by renowned artists in jazz, classical, blues, bluegrass, gospel and other styles of American and international roots music.
Features include includes dance, film and narrative programs, more than 400 classical, jazz, blues, bluegrass, and international artists that make The Savannah Music Festival a distinctive destination event and one of the highlights of springtime in Savannah.
Past artists have included: Frederica von Stade, Ricky Skaggs, Richard Goode, Wayne Shorter, Emmylou Harris, Les Ballets Africaines, The Blind Boys of Alabama; Deborah Voigt, Buddy Guy, Eddie Palmieri, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Del McCoury, Marcus Roberts, Andre Watts, Joshua Redman & the San Francisco Jazz Collective, Hubert Sumlin, The Codetalkers, Peru Negro, Dick Hyman, Derek Trucks Band, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Rockin' Dopsie, Emerson String Quartet, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Carey Bell, The Tallis Scholars, The Heath Brothers, Hamilton de Holanda, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Buddy Guy, Toots Thielemans, Bill Charlap and many others.
Commissioned works during the past five years have included: "Welcome to Georgia Town" and "Savannah Trails" by Wycliffe Gordon; "Celeste" by Stewart Copeland; "An Evening with Beethoven" featuring Mia Farrow and the Beaux Arts Trio; Hank Jones Trio + Symphony Orchestra; "East Meets West" featuring Daniel Hope, Derek Trucks, Gaurav Mazumdar and Ayaan & Amaan Ali Bangash; "Mando Madness" with David Grisman, Sam Bush, Mike Marshall, Don Stiernberg & Tony Williamson; George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" and "Gershwin for Lovers;" "Yamacraw" by James P. Johnson; "Jazz Guitar Heaven" with Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola, Howard Alden, Martin Taylor & Jimmy Bruno; "Masters of Mexican Music;" and many others. Commissioned works have included: "Transfigured Night," a new ballet by Alex Ossadnik; "Concerto for Hope," a violin concerto by Roxanna Panufnik; "In the Spirit of Place," a music and dance work for full gamelan orchestra by Gamelan Cudamani; "Trio" by Uri Caine, written for the Beaux Arts Trio; and "Moody's Groove" by Jimmy Heath, written for Savannah native James Moody's 80th birthday hometown celebration.
Also, leading up to and continuing throughout the Festival, The Savannah Music Festival produces free educational programs for school children in the surrounding eight-county area (including lower South Carolina) in an effort to help teachers and students gain a more profound understanding of the musical arts.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution comments, “Georgia’s largest musical arts festival and has rightfully earned a reputation as a unique cross-genre offering... Whatever you do, don’t miss it.”
For more information and a full line up of the artists taking part in the festival, visit http://www.savannahmusicfestival.org
