Welcome to the 2011 Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival –Presented by Magic City Smooth Jazz.
The 8th Annual Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival returns to the Historic 4th Avenue Business District. After a very challenging year for the city of Birmingham and the economy, we want to personally invite each and every one of you back to our Historic District for the most exciting jazz festival in the southeast. So tell your friends, the Historic 4th Avenue District is the place to be on Saturday, September 24th.

Are you ready for Prime Time?
Headliner Paul Taylor has just one question for his fans who have been Burnin’ for more since his last hit album in 2009: Are you ready for Prime Time? The popular saxophonist sure is. A true contemporary urban jazz force of nature, Taylor has been on one of the most successful runs of his 15 year recording career, scoring his first #1 ever on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart with Ladies’ Choice (2007) and hitting #1 on the airplay charts with the title track from Burnin’. Paul’s in Prime Time mode with an emotionally powerful 10 song collection of instrumentals and vocals, which finds him vibing with a mix of old and new (and very funky) musical friends. Paul will be joined on stage by a host of star-studded performers including the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars, Bo Berry Quintet, Neo Jazz Collective, Cleve Eaton, Darryl Evan Jones and Jose’s Jazz Quintet. 

Join us for a Free workshop with Paul Taylor
Nothing is more important than educating the next generation of musicians. Join us at 9 a.m. Saturday as Paul Taylor hosts a FREE music education workshop for youth at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Contemporary jazz stardom came naturally for Taylor, whose mix of funk and silk, groove heavy chops on soprano, alto and tenor, dynamic stage presence and catchy melodies were a natural fit for the genre. Paul graduated from UNLV as a music performance major who began playing sax at age seven and discovered his true calling while playing in a local high school garage band called Mixed Company.

Introducing your Festival Host for 2011 – Tasha Simone
WUHT HOT 107.7 Midday personalities Tasha Simone will be the 2011 host for the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival. There may be no bigger fan of smooth jazz music than Tasha Simone.

You can hear the Birmingham native’s unforgettable voice weekdays from 9am-2pm on (WUHT) HOT 107.7. You can also see Tasha Simone on Fox 6 News Thursday nights during the E-Block entertainment segment. As a Fox 6 contributor Tasha Simone shared her opinion of the contestants on the #1 hit show American Idol during “Idol Buzz” for several seasons. Because of her position with Fox 6 she is often “on call” to share her thoughts on all things “pop culture”.

In 2008 she was selected as a “Female Powerhouse” by Who’s Who in Black Birmingham and graced the cover of Faith: The Christian Connection Magazine. She has also been quoted in Essence Magazine. Although Tasha’s career keeps her very busy, she makes sure to share some of her time with young people. As a career mentor in the program “BeWhoYouWannaBe” she inspires children, ages 7-13, to discover and walk in their dreams. Tasha Simone is a beautiful woman inside and out and it is evident in all she does on the air and in the community.