The event will feature a range of talent, from top-tier student work to performances by the world’s leading professional musicians.

The line up takes advantage of the musical riches in our area and region, and celebrates jazz as a uniquely American art form, a blending of cultures and transitions that is both musically sophisticated and joyously spontaneous.

Since 2018, the Fredonia Jazz Society has presented events at the Domus Fare Restaurant in Fredonia, an activity that was abruptly halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. This first major venture after COVID-19 will be a two-day outdoor jazz festival of first-rate talent. Food and drink will be offered at concession tents set up by The Catering Co. There will be plenty of free parking on the Rotunda grounds. There is a nearby indoor location, in case of rain.

Many of the musicians at the Festival live in or hail from Western New York, creating a picture of just how much talent exists here.

Friday night’s performance will be taken by i3∂ (Thirteen Degrees) from Ithaca, NY, which includes Fredonia-Dunkirk’s own Nick Weiser on the keyboard.

Saturday begins with performances by jazz bands from Chautauqua County high schools and SUNY Fredonia. These performances will occur at both the main stage at the Rotunda grounds and at the gazebo in the Fredonia Village Square.

Saxophonist Dave Golando, retired from Dunkirk Schools, has assembled a great quintet of Buffalo musicians that includes Joe Goretti (drums) and Mark Filsinger (trumpet), along with SUNY Fredonia alumni Ed Croft (bass) and Ian Liedke (piano).

The Buffalo-based Multi Dimensions Quartet (George Caldwell, piano, Sabu Adeyola, bass, John Bacon, Jr., drums, and Bobby Militello, alto sax/flute will be on stage as the daylight fades to night.

Then, Delfeayo Marsalis, from New Orleans, rounds out the evening, backed up by a trio of Western New York musicians.

The line up for the Fredonia Jazz Festival is as follows. All start times are approximate.

Friday, Sept. 24

Rotunda

6 p.m. — i3∂ (Thirteen Degrees) — Nick Weiser, piano, Nicholas Walker, bass, Greg Evans, drums

Saturday, September 25

Gazebo in the Square

11 a.m. — SUNY Fredonia jazz combos

Rotunda

11 a.m. — Cassadaga High School

11:30 a.m. — Brocton High School

Noon — Clymer High School

12:30 — Fredonia High School

1:15 — SUNY Fredonia Jazz Orchestra

2:30 — Dave Golando Quintet, Ian Liedke, piano, Ed Croft, bass, Joe Goretti, drums, Dave Golando, sax, Mark Filsinger, trumpet

5 — Multi Directions Quartet with Alex McArthur, George Caldwell, piano, Sabu Adeyola, bass, John Bacon Jr., drums, Bobby Militello, sax

7 — Delfeayo Marsalis

The performances that occur before 4:30 p.m. will be free and open to the public. The evening events will have a modest fee of $15. Those who attend Friday night will be given a ticket to return on Saturday night so they do not need to pay again. This ticket is even transferable to another person if desired.

The Fredonia Jazz Society is a community-based, non-profit organization that supports and hosts live performance and related activities around Western New York for the benefit of music lovers of all ages and backgrounds. With an emphasis on high standards and on local and guest artists, the aim is to enhance the quality of life through music and the arts.

Tickets and more information are at fredoniajazzsociety.com “http://fredoniajazzsociety.com” .