Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

Latin jazz bandleader, conga player and salsa singer Poncho Sanchez is headlining the lineup of local, national and international artists performing at the Scottsdale Jazz Festival 2020. The FREE outdoor event is taking place at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Fountain Stage on Saturday, April 4, noon to 6 pm.  

Presented by the City of Scottsdale and Molina Fine Jewelers, the Scottsdale Jazz Festival 2020 kicks off Arizona Jazz Appreciation Month, and joins events taking place in more than 190 countries throughout April as part of UNESCO’s annual International Jazz Day celebration.

“We are proud to be kicking off Arizona Jazz Appreciation Month, and connecting the City of Scottsdale to this important global celebration,” says City of Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane. “Jazz truly is a unifying art form that appeals to residents of Arizona, and tourists who travel to Scottsdale from afar.” 

Scottsdale Jazz Festival 2020 features six hours of music that is a blend of salsa, jazz, soul and Latin American grooves performed by a lineup that also includes Donald Harrison jazz vocalist Nayo Jones, Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra, Scottsdale Community College Jazz Band, and a few special guest performances. Festival attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets, and arrive early for the best lawn seating. Reserved seats, which include gift bags, are available near the stage for jazz fans making donations of $125 or more.  Proceeds benefit the International Jazz Day AZ Foundation. 

Since 2011, the International Jazz Day AZ Foundation has been uniting Arizona around International Jazz Day, and producing festivals that are FREE for the public to enjoy with the support of generous sponsors and donors. Past festivals have featured world-renowned jazz artists such as Azar Lawrence, Nicolas Payton, Dr. Jesse McGuire, Maelo Ruiz, and Kermit Ruffins. For updated information on events and performers, visit www.jazzdayaz.com.