Once again, one of Richmond’s biggest jazz events takes place on one of the year’s hottest weekends.
Temperatures in the mid-90s are predicted for the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival at Maymont, along with clear skies on Saturday and scattered clouds and possible afternoon thunderstorms on Sunday. There seems to be little chance of the dramatic storms that briefly cleared Maymont one year and shortened the closing day another. The challenge will be staying hydrated, not getting wet.
But there is one big update to the lineup: The biggest jazz name on the initial marketing for the event, Kamasi Washington, will not perform. He also cancelled appearances at Birchmere and the Newport Jazz Festival. (Updated details can be found at www.richmondjazzandmusicfestival.com .)
This weekend’s event takes place at two stages on the hill near the main entrance. In between is a gauntlet of food and product vendors.
Saturday
On the primary Virginia is for Lovers stage, just inside the entrance, the lineup opens at noon with vocalist Zhe Aqueen. She is followed by local favorites Erin and the Wildfire, followed by Grammy-nominated and capitalization/punctuation-enhanced MAJOR. Then the neo blue-eyed soul/funk of Down to the Bone from the United Kingdom. Iconoclastic jazz/hip-hop pianist Robert Glasper takes the stage at 6 p.m., followed by R&B/” Fresh Prince” reboot star Coco Jones. The day closes out at nine with headliner Chaka Khan, the biggest mainstream draw.
The Dominion Energy Stage, on the hillside down from the mansion, opens with Richmond singer Sharon Rae North, followed by the Lao Tizer band featuring “American Idol” runner up Elliot Yamin. Mid-afternoon it’s American/Haitian singer/rapper Fridayy, then New Orleans classic Dirty Dozen Brass Band. The close-out is R&B singer Mario, followed by DC-based rapper Wale (pronounced “Wah-lay.”)
Sunday
The Virginia is for Lovers stage opens with New York jazz vocalist Rahsaan Cruise, followed by RVA genre-hoppers Weekend Plans. The balance of the day is a long, deep dive into smooth/contemporary jazz, Peter White, Kirk Whalum, and a supergroup assembly led by Dave Koz, featuring Candy Dulfer and Eric Darius. Grammy winner- and 14-time nominee- soul jazz singer Ledisi headlines the final night.
The very talented Richmond singer Jerel Crocket opens the Dominion Energy stage, followed by local event favorites Legacy Band VA. The excellent Latin music performers Pedrito Martinez Group, at 3:45, is perhaps the only band to have played both this festival and the October Folk Festival.
The rest of the program is straight R&B artists, first Lalah Hathaway, then Chante Moore, and finally Joe, one of the top artists in the genre of the ‘90s.
Daily passes to the Richmond Jazz and Music Festival are $120. A weekend pass is $185.
