John Ellis

For the 28^thconsecutive year, Lake George Village’s Shepard Park will host the free Lake George Jazz Weekend. This year’s festival will be held on September 17 and 18.

Highlights of this year’s festival include a Saturday evening concert by the Don Byron New Gospel Quintet.

Byron’s New Gospel Quintet combines original compositions by the highly regarded clarinetist with traditional Gospel pieces. He will be joined by vocalist DK Dyson. The concert begins at 7:30 pm.

Saturday’s performances begin at 1 pm with Cuban-born pianist Osmany Paredes. Paredes gained national attention a few years back through a high-profile tour with fellow Cuban percussionist Dafnis Prieto, who performed at the Lake George festival in 2007.

Next up will be saxophonist John Ellis, backed by the New Orleans sounds of Double-Wide. Ellis’s album, “Dance Like there’s No Tomorrow,” introduced Double-Wide’s unique sound, described by Billboard magazine as “jazz steeped in the who-dat nation through a hip Brooklyn lens.”

Grace Kelly

The last performer on Saturday afternoon will be vocalist and alto sax player Grace Kelly, who, at the age of 19, has six recordings to her credit and some lofty accolades, including  several awards from the Boston Phoenix.

Sunday’s program opens with Charles Cornell, a gifted pianist from nearby Hartford Central School, who will attend Purchase College Conservatory in the fall. He’ll be joined by an equally talented and young band from the area.

Apex, with alto-sax players Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green, takes the stage next.

The festival will close with the Kyle Eastwood Quintet. Kyle, the son of Clint Eastwood, grew up in southern California. After studying film making, he turned to music and in 1998 his debut album, From Here to There, was released on Sony. After two more album releases in 2004 and 2006, Eastwood combined his interests of film and music together. As a composer, Eastwood began working in film with a contribution to the score for Mystic River. His compositions for film include pieces for Million Dollar Baby and soundtracks for Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima, Gran Torino and Invictus.

The Lake George Arts Project is able to present the Lake George Jazz Weekend thanks to the generous support of Kenneth and Susan Gruskin, the Village and Town of Lake George, program advertisers and with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

Performance Schedule:

Saturday, Sept. 17, 1 to 6 pm:

Osmany Peredes Quartet

John Ellis and Double-Wide

Grace Kelly Quintet

Special evening performance, 7:30 pm: Don Byron Gospel Quintet

Sunday, Sept. 18, 1 to 6 pm:

Charles Cornell Quartet

Apex: Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green

Kyle Eastwood Quintet