Courtesy of the Sunset Jazz Festival

Donald Harrison, known as “The King of Nouveau Swing,” will kick off this year’s Coca-Cola Sunset Jazz Festival on September 8th from 2-9 p.m.  According to CBS Sunday Morning, Harrison is one of the most important musicians of the new millennium. He originated the Nouveau Swing Style, which fuses acoustic swing with modern R&B, hip-hop and musical influences from his upbringing.

Along with Harrison, the Calvin Edwards Trio, Envision, Fat Snacks and Los Leones will play the Festival at Symphony Park, the outdoor venue at SouthPark Mall. This year the Festival is held in conjunction with the “Coke Family Night Out” promotion across North Carolina. The Festival is also free to the public.

As the Queen City’s longest running free jazz festival, it has brought in a variety of talent from Baton Rouge, Raleigh, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. It also attracts diverse jazz enthusiasts, is great for families and anyone who is looking for a relaxing music-filled atmosphere.

The Sunset Jazz Festival was created by Pride Magazine in order to give back to the community. Pride Magazine is a venture of Pride Communications and is published bi-monthy to target the needs and interests of Charlotte’s African-American community. Festival organizer Dee Dixon said, “we are happy the festival is taking place as the Democratic National Convention wraps up. We are hoping some of the out-of-town guests will join us for an afternoon of great jazz.”