Stefon Harris and Blackout and the Regina Carter Quartet to headline Twin Cities Jazz Festival

Stefon Harris and Blackout and the Regina Carter Quartet will headline the 26th annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival on June 21 and 22 in and around Mears Park in Lowertown St. Paul.

The free festival was founded in 1999 as a nonprofit organization with “a mission to keep the art form of jazz alive and well in our community.”

This will be the first year under new executive director Dayna Martinez, vice president of programming and education for the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and director of the Flint Hills Family Festival.

Jazz Fest founder Steve Heckler retired last year.

While the full schedule will be released closer to the event, organizers announced the headlining acts Tuesday. They include:

• Stefon Harris and Blackout, led by the man dubbed “one of the most important young artists in jazz” by the Los Angeles Times; 8:30 p.m. June 21.

• Karrin Allyson, a five-time Grammy nominee for best jazz vocalist; 6 p.m. June 21.

• Regina Carter Quartet, led by the 2023 National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy; 8:30 p.m. June 22.

• Joe Lovano Quartet, featuring Kenny Werner, John Lockwood and Francisco Mela; 6 p.m. June 22.

For further details, see twincitiesjazzfestival.com.

Related Articles

• Music and Concerts | Members of New Power Generation will pay tribute to Prince at Uptown Theater

• Music and Concerts | The ’60s pop Happy Together Tour set to return to the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand

• Music and Concerts | Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan to play Somerset Amphitheater in September

• Music and Concerts | The Tayoncé effect: Live Nation says concert attendance was up 20% in 2023

• Music and Concerts | Pink adds second show at Xcel Energy Center in October