Jazz Essence

Jazz Fests are the places for soul to experience new music and indulge in the known. They are places to let your heart rule and lead you to new destinations. They are definitely not the places to be stuck with your group and with the known name bands. It is an opportunity to discover what really lights your fire and what new there is in the world of music. Everyone looks for an opportunity to get into the performances by known bands whose music they revere. But if you are not a mad fan of a band, it is better to check out other smaller bands or local performers. You will have an intimate setting to experience a music you had never heard before. So, drop into a Gospel tent or just wander into the performance of a local band waiting to be discovered while others are jostling for a place to get a look at their big name band. If you are a little more disciplined soul, who like making informed forays into the unknown, lot of free fest magazines are available with listings and reviews. They will tell you what is available where, whose performance is worth a watch and which are the must catch acts.
Jazz Fests are places to take a little risk with your senses. So, split up from friends and go check something that appealed to you in the listings or the reviews. You may very well be on a journey to find the music for your soul. As these performances are happening simultaneously and in the same area, you can always get back together for some time together. This way all of you will have something new to share which you can enjoy as a group the next time.
There are as many ways to reach the grounds as fit your pocket. For those who can afford the indulgence, there are lines of cabs to ferry you to the grounds and back. But there can be a long wait as crowds pile up during major performances and at the end of the day. The other, cheaper option is the fest shuttles set-up especially for the Fest. These do not cost a fortune and do not require you to wait for long time for your turn. They will pick you up from the designated point in the city and will drop you back at the same place.
Once the performances are over in the indoor and outdoor stages, the nightclubs come alive. You can ask the locals beforehand or you can just take your chance. Most nightclubs will let you enter without advance reservation except when there is a performance by a big band. In those cases tickets may already be sold out or you can get them online or at the locations itself. Unless your heart is set on seeing a particular big band, you can always watch them when they visit your city for a show. So, at the fest just go out and enjoy the lesser known.