A three-day long jazz festival will start tonight and take place until Saturday at Brookhaven Village. Jazz in June, a non-profit event that will be celebrating its' 19th year, will have activities for the whole family including free outdoor concerts every night and student workshops.

"Jazz in June is a civic event that shows we are open to the community. We always try to have something for the kids, because we've always felt that it should be an event for families. We'll have the moon bounce, snow cones, and chances for the kids to try and win beanie babies by spinning a wheel," Kidoodle's owner Jan Nelson said.

Tonight the festival will jump off with Blues under the Stars from 7p.m. to 10 p.m. at Brookhaven Village. Headlining tonight's performances will be Miss Lavelle White, Houston's 1995 Blues Artist of the Year and inductee into the Austin Music Hall of Fame onn Friday. The concert will be Jazz under the Stars from 7p.m. to 11 p.m. again at Brookhaven Village. Eliane Ellas, a mainstream jazz pianist with Brazilian roots, will be headlining along with performances from the Norman High School North Jazz Choir and Jahruba.

Saturday will be a full day of jazz events. From noon to 4 p.m. there will be free student workshops taking place at the Norman High School North Choir Room. Reservations are required and can be done by calling 1-800-522-0772 extension 1947.

From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. the final jazz performances will take place at Andrews Park. With many headliners including the Norma Zenteno Band, a group that plays a mixture of jazz, salsa, classic rock and roll fusion along with The Legends of the Bandstand that includes names such as Curtis Fuller, Louis Hayes, Buster Williams, John Hicks, and David Fathead Newman.

The finale of Jazz in June will be a Jazz in June Jam Session from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Holiday Inn. This event will only be for people age 21 and up and will be hosted by the Freddie Bryant Band, a group with their focus on jazz and Brazilian music.

"Jazz in June is a delicate balance, because we try to compromise by bringing in quality music for the established jazz fan, but we also want to provide an open door into the world of jazz for newcomers," Karen Holp, member of the board of directors and chairman of the program committee said. The three day jazz festival will be entirely free of charge and open to all. "I hope everyone will come out, the quality of the music this year is wonderful with very recognized artists both globally and nationally," Holp said.
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