Call for Jazz Artists to Compete at 2nd Annual Downtown Albany JazzFest Competition Announced

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The 2011 Downtown Albany JazzFest Competition Winner - Out of the Box. © Larry Gravett

ALBANY, NY (07/09/2012)(readMedia)-- The City of Albany and the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) are proud to announce the 2nd Annual Downtown Albany Jazz Fest Competition to coincide with the 11th Annual Riverfront Jazz Festival. The competition, slated for Friday, September 7, 2012 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, takes place in numerous downtown Albany establishments, featuring regional and local bands competing for the prize of playing the opening set on stage the following day at the Riverfront Jazz Festival. Attendees will vote for their favorite performance throughout the evening and the winner will be announced by midnight on the BID's website.

"Five hundred people came out for the 2011 Downtown Albany JazzFest Competition and our attendance doubled for our Blues Completion offshoot that happened this past May", said Georgette Steffens, Executive Director, Downtown Albany BID, on the increase of the popularity of these events.

The Downtown Albany BID plans to continue and improve upon the success of these competitions offering opportunities for Capital Region musicians to increase their audience, network with the regional music community, and expand on their experiences. The Downtown Albany JazzFest Competition was designed to both promote the local talent that exists in the region while attracting attention to the Downtown.

Submissions by Capitol Region jazz bands and artists will be juried by a panel of judges and those selected will be eligible to compete on September 7, 2012. Completed applications, along with mp3 files of two songs and a promotional photo in JPEG format, should be e-mailed to the Downtown Albany BID at info@downtownalbany.org, or received at the BID office on 40 N. Pearl Street, no later than August 1, 2012 at 3:00 PM. Bands chosen to compete will be paid a $100 stipend. Applications and more information can be found on the BID's website at www.downtownalbany.org. Questions can be directed to Marcie Bergan, Director of Operations at the BID, at 518.465.2143 x 13 or mbergan@downtownalbany.org. For the latest information and developments regarding the Jazz Fest Competition please visit www.downtownalbany.org which will periodically post event updates.

Put on by the Special Event division of the City of Albany, the Riverfront Jazz Festival is a free event that has hosted artists such as Joshua Redman, Ravi Coltrane, and John Scofield. Attendance of over 10,000 is expected for the festivities at the Albany Riverfront Park Amphitheatre at the Corning Preserve on Saturday, September 8, 2012 from 12:00 PM to 8:30 PM. For more information on the Riverfront Jazz Festival visit www.albanyevents.org or call 518.434.2032.

Since 1996, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) has worked to restore, promote and maintain the character and vitality of downtown Albany and improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for those who work in, live in and visit New York's Capital City. The BID is a private, not-for profit 501(c) (3) organization. For more information about the Downtown Albany BID please visit downtownalbany.org or @downtownalbany.

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