Starting its 23rd year, the free Jazz in the Park concert series has become a Las Vegas tradition. Some of the biggest names in jazz have highlighted this annual series.

Picnics, blankets and low back chairs are welcome.
Food and Drink are available for purchase on site.
Seating begins at 6:00 p.m. arrive early for good seating, show starts 7:00pm.
No pets allowed.

The Jazz In The Park Series is taking place at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater at 500 South Grand Central Parkway in downtown Las Vegas. MAP

VENDORS
If you are interested in becoming a Jazz In The Park 2013 vendor click here for the vendor application. Please read and fill out the application completely.

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Talent Brings the Grooves to Jazz in the Park
LVA Jazz Combo to Headline, Perform with Famous Friends     

The talent is set and the amphitheater is ready for another season of music with Clark County Parks and Recreation’s Jazz in the Park concert series, which celebrates its 24th year. This year, the free series will feature the Las Vegas Academy Jazz Combo, which has invited the first three artists to perform with them -Dee Dee Bridgewater on May 11, The Jeff Hamilton Trio on May 18 and Tom Scott on May 25. The series continues with Earl Klugh on June 1 and Pete Escovedo on June 8. Seating for those with picnic baskets, blankets and low-back chairs will begin at 6 p.m. with performances beginning at 7 p.m. at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. Food vendors also will be available on site. Admission and parking are free.  

 “This series is an institution and a highlight of the year’s cultural calendar, often bringing the biggest names in jazz to Las Vegas,” said County Commission Chair Steve Sisolak. “It is also a lot of fun. People love to bring their lawn chairs, blankets and a bite to eat while enjoying great jazz in our beautiful amphitheater.”  

 The Las Vegas Academy Jazz Combo has invited three well-known jazz artists to perform with them for Jazz in Park May 11, 18 and 25. The combo will perform as the house band on stage for Grammy and Tony Award-winning artist Dee Dee Bridgewater, jazz veterans The Jeff Hamilton Trio and Tom Scott, who was once a teenage band leader.  

The Las Vegas Academy Jazz Combo is the recipient of more Signature Grammy awards than any other high school fine arts department in the country. A part of the World Jazz Studies program at the Las Vegas Academy performing arts high school, it also was the overall winner at the 2012 Reno Jazz Festival.  

 “The skill these young musicians have far surpasses their ages,” said Pat Bowen, instructor and leader of the Las Vegas Academy Jazz Combo. “This is an opportunity not many young musicians ever experience, and we’re all honored to play alongside artists with such storied and admirable careers.”  

Bridgewater is known for her “musical kaleidoscope” style, featuring everything from vocal jazz to scat. Bridgewater has been described as unafraid and uninhibited with a versatility in her music and producing skills that makes her a unique and powerful performer. Her latest project, Midnight Sun, released in 2011, is a collection of love songs from throughout Bridgewater’s Grammy and Tony Award-winning career.  

The Jeff Hamilton Trio consists of Hamilton, Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown, as well as countless other sitting musicians. The trio has received accolades for its work since the first recording. The trio’s second release, Jeff Hamilton Trio-LIVE, was nominated by critics for best jazz recording in Germany in 1997. The most recent release, Red Sparkle, is currently available.   Scott is the son of film and television composer Nathan Scott (theme songs for “Dragnet,” “Lassie” and “Starsky and Hutch”) and began his professional career as a teenager, leading a jazz ensemble and as a studio musician.

Scott, a founder of the Blues Brothers Band, also was the band leader on “The Pat Sajak Show” and “The Chevy Chase Show” and provided musical direction for the 68th Academy Awards in 1996 and several Emmy Award telecasts from 1996 to 2007. He also has appeared on records by George Harrison, The Grateful Dead, Paul McCartney, Steppenwolf, Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Joni Mitchell, Blondie, Eddie Money, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Olivia Newton-John and Frank Sinatra.  

On June 1, Jazz in the Park continues with Klugh, an American smooth jazz, crossover jazz and jazz fusion guitarist and composer. Modern Guitar Magazine wrote, in 2006, that he “is considered by many to be one of the finest acoustic guitar players today.”  

Escovedo will close the series on Saturday, June 8 with jazz experience that spans decades. Music thrives in the Escovedo family blood. The father of Sheila E. and Peter Michael Escovedo, of “The Wayne Brady Show” band; Escovedo formed the Escovedo Brothers Latin Jazz Sextet before Santana hired him and his brother Coke for his group. His latest recording, the first since 2003, Live from Stern Grove Festival, was released in 2012.  

Those interested can call Clark County Parks and Recreation at (702) 455-8200.