The recent heat wave has been scorching, but things might get even hotter when the sun sets this weekend for the three-day Jazz in June festival which features sizzling blues and jazz musicians.

This year’s Jazz in June marks the 26th anniversary of the free outdoor event, which also includes educational clinics and jams.

The concert series will feature both local and national musicians.

“I’m constantly amazed at the number of wonderful musicians from the Oklahoma area who share the stage with the national artists,” said Karen Holp, treasurer of the Jazz in June board of directors.

Jim Johnson is the chairman of the festival’s program committee, and said people should attend Jazz in June because of the quality of the music.

“I think one of the hallmarks of Jazz in June each year is that it has been consistent in the quality of the musicianship, even though each year only samples a small amount of the wide variety of jazz,” Johnson said.

Management information systems junior David Leach participates in the jazz band at OU and is also a member of a combo group called The Jazzmen.

Leach said he definitely plans on attending Jazz in June.

“It’s a great opportunity to hear jazz in Norman, since that’s kind of a rare thing,” he said.

Thursday — Blues Under the Stars

Thursday’s lineup opens with the Roland Bowling Band from Oklahoma City. The night’s headliner is Lloyd Jones, a songwriter, guitarist and singer from Oregon who plays a combination of blues, funk and R&B with a Memphis flair.

Thursday night’s festivities conclude at Coach’s Brewhouse, 110 W. Main St., with “Blues after Hours,” a jam session led by AJ Johnson & Why Not. Local musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments to jam along.

Tom Houser, one of the owners and operators of Coach’s Brewhouse, said the restaurant will be open during the jam session and he anticipates a very positive effect on business.

“We expect a bunch of people enjoying good music and good beer,” Houser said.

Coach’s Brewhouse opened as a music venue in October, and Houser said it usually hosts blues and rock groups. This is the first year Coach’s has been able to participate in Jazz in June.

“It’s an amazing event that we hope everyone in Norman will continue to support — mostly by just coming out and having a good time,” Houser said.

Friday — Jazz Under the Stars

Friday night will feature saxophonist Morris McCraven from Oklahoma City and headliner Judy Carmichael, a Grammy-nominated pianist from New York.

Carmichael will play swing and classical jazz that draws from the ’30s and ’40s jazz repertoire.

Carmichael’s quartet consists of a drums, sax and guitar in addition to her piano and vocals. She plays in a challenging style known as stride, in which her left hand plays her own bass lines.

“The concert will be rhythmic and upbeat, and everyone will want to dance,” Carmichael said.

She said she expects Oklahoma to feel even hotter after the unusually cool summer in New York.

“That’s gonna be a shock,” Carmichael said. “But I know the people are gonna be into the concert.”

The large crowd that usually attends Norman’s Jazz in June doesn’t daunt her, she said.

“People that want to have fun are my favorite kind of people,” Carmichael said.

Saturday — Jazz in the park

Saturday’s festivities will start with the Norman North High School jazz choir, which has been a Jazz in June tradition for 10 years.

Guitar prodigy Aaron Squirrel, 20, is returning for his second Jazz in June, but it will be his first as a performer.

Last year, this guitarist, who was born and raised in Norman, taught a guitar clinic. This year, he will be taking the stage with his quartet and two featured vocalists.

“Our music’s pretty eclectic and diverse,” Squirrel said. “We have jazz elements, some funk and even bluegrass.”

Squirrel said the performance will be high-energy, and he hopes to “rock it out” and gain some new fans.

“It’s really fun getting out and getting to show your talent,” Squirrel said.

Jeff Lorber is a Grammy-nominated electric keyboard player who specializes in smooth jazz. He is scheduled as Saturday’s headliner.

But Lorber isn’t the last feature of Jazz in June. Jazz after Hours will take place from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. This event is a jazz jam session held at Sooner Legends Inn & Suites, where musicians are again invited to join in.

The Saturday jam will be led by Juanita “The Duchess” Ellington, a vocalist and relative of the legendary Duke Ellington.

Doug Kennon, one of the owner-managers of the hotel, said the jam will be held in one of the hotel’s ballrooms with a bar and that this is the fourth year Sooner Legends has hosted a Jazz in June event.

“We like to be actively involved in the community,” Kennon said.

He said he welcomes everyone to come out and have a good time.

“It’s a very laid-back, warm and quaint setting where you can get up close and personal with the musicians,” Kennon said.

2009 Jazz in June Lineup

Thursday

“Blues Under the Stars”

Brookhaven Village

7 p.m. — Roland Bowling Band

8:45 p.m. — Lloyd Jones

11 p.m. — Blues Jam led by AJ

Johnson & Why Not at Coach’s Brewhouse

Friday

“Jazz Under the Stars”

Brookhaven Village

7:15 p.m. — Morris McCraven

9:15 p.m. — Judy Carmichael

Saturday

“Jazz in the Park”

Andrews Park

Noon: Clinics (at NIPA)

6 p.m. — NNHS Jazz Choir

7 p.m. — Aaron Squirrel

9 p.m. — Jeff Lorber

11 p.m. — Jazz jam led by

Juanita Ellington at

Sooner Legends Inn & Suites