LIVE JAZZ | R&B | SOUL | BLUES | NEO-SOUL
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
3 DAYS + 3 VENUES =
1 GREAT WEEKEND
Curtis King, founder and president of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc. (TBAAL), has traveled around the country for over 16 years to frequent and study major music festivals, specifically festivals of a jazz nature. For over forty-seven (47) years, TBAAL has entertained millions of patrons from around the globe in its downtown Dallas location, The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. True to its mission, this major multi-discipline cultural arts conglomerate, fosters, cultivates, perpetuates, preserves and promotes the arts and letters of the African, Caribbean and African-American experience. TBAAL serves over 450,000 arts enthusiasts annually and is an iconic centerpiece for the city of Dallas’ artistic and cultural diversity offerings to its citizens and tourists worldwide.
Dallas, known as “the can-do city” and a “city that works,” is the steady pulse and heartbeat of a major growing American metropolitan area that prides itself on being a new frontier and maverick of the southwest for exciting and creative innovations. Many people are unaware that Oscar, the Academy Award statuette, was named from Texan Oscar Pierce, whose niece worked in Hollywood for the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences.
When she saw the gold statuette, she reportedly said, “Why, that looks just like my Uncle Oscar.” History like this is a testament that Texas continues to be a beacon of light and fertile ground for transplants, immigrants and settlers to hang their permanent hats on a thriving city like Dallas!
Dallas, accessibly located in the center of the country, is a prime spot for an exciting national festival to attract tourists. Simultaneously, it gives Dallas/Fort Worth residents an opportunity to partake in a major music festival and to see on three stages some of the world’s best national and international mainstream, cutting-edge, traditional and contemporary artists and performers.
Like the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 festivals, this year’s festival will also feature an array of renowned music artists from around the world where patrons will experience a gumbo of jazz, blues, R&B, soul, pop and neo-soul music. Also, there will be a showcase stage for Promising Young Artists from the Dallas/Fort Worth area schools and music programs in day-long back-to-back performances.
For three days, the 2024 festival attendees will browse and shop at vendor booths, and experience delectable and diverse food. Produced by TBAAL, the Riverfront Jazz Festival promises to be one of Dallas' annual major attractions for patrons, tourists and Dallas citizens.
RIVERFRONT JAZZ FESTIVAL FOUNDER
And PRODUCER
