Pensacola JazzFest, now in its 27th year, is a free all-jazz festival held in downtown, historic Seville Square. The Jazz Society of Pensacola (JSOP) produces the event with able assistance from a variety of corporate sponsors and community organizations.

The 2-day festival, held April 10-11, celebrates America's unique musical art form-Jazz. JSOP works all year to present this festival as its annual gift to the community, and we sincerely thank our individual and corporate donors for their essential support.

With its beautiful live oaks and historic surroundings, Seville Square Park offers a perfect springtime setting for the Pensacola JazzFest. A state-of-theart sound system brings the music to wherever you are in the park. In addition to the great music lineup, food, drinks and jazz merchandise will be offered for sale at reasonable prices.

A new offering in 2009, an Arts & Crafts Exhibition was a big success and will return in 2010 with even more exhibitor booths. JSOP will have tents and volunteers set up for purchase of JazzFest posters, a variety of jazzy shirts and memorabilia, plus beer and wine and soft drinks.

In addition, local area venders will offer some tasty food options for the hungry jazz listeners. Some seating is provided, but your favorite reclining lawn chair will make it just right. Please do not bring your pet dog, however, since Pensacola city ordinance prohibits dogs in the park.

The Kathleen T. and Philip B. Phillips, M.D. Jazz Piano Competition coincides with the JazzFest. It is a nationally recognized jazz performance competition sponsored by the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida, and made possible by the generosity of the Phillips family.

The annual competition attracts outstanding young musicians and judges from around the country and is open to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students, ages 17-35, at colleges and universities throughout the United States. The Judges will represent prominent musicians and educators in the field of jazz.

The finals of the competition will be held as a free public performance and will take place at the Historic Saenger Theatre in Pensacola, Saturday, April 10. The winner of the competition will then perform at the Pensacola JazzFest, on Sunday, April 11, 2010.

For more information about Jazzfest, visit www.jaz- zpensacola. com.