Adi Oasis was on hand at the Flynn in Burlington on Friday morning to help announce the lineup for the 2024 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival in a press conference.

In March, Flynn executive director Jay Wahl handpicked the French Caribbean funk and R&B artist to curate the 41st iteration of the annual festival. Oasis follows Lakecia Benjamin and Michael Mwenso, nationally known musicians who performed similar roles at the festival the past two years in what's become a new tradition. Following an introductory performance from the Edmunds Middle School Band, Wahl and Oasis revealed all the details of this year's festival, from the headliners to local school bands.
Haitian American composer, singer and visual artist Cécile McLorin Salvant, regarded as one of the best jazz vocalists of her generation, kicks off the festival at the Flynn Main Stage on Wednesday, June 5. Six of Salvant's seven albums have been nominated for Grammy awards, including her 2018 album The Window, which marked her third win in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category.

The Flynn also hosts the festival's closing show: Composer and pianist Robert Glasper performs on the Main Stage on Sunday, June 9. Glasper's Black Radio series of records blends many styles of music with jazz — as does the musician himself, a leading presence in the modern jazz scene who has appeared on records with hip-hop stars Kendrick Lamar and Q-Tip.



As in recent years, all other jazz fest shows will be free and open to the public, including the large-scale performances at Burlington's Waterfront Park. New Orleans' Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia, follows Oasis and her band on the Waterfront Stage on Friday, June 7. Saturday's waterfront lineup features Montréal voudou and rara musician Wesli, as well as headliner Seun Kuti & Egypt 80. That band continues the legacy of Seun's father, Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti.
Explaining her approach to curating the festival, which heavily features female artists, Oasis said, "I wanted to share my perspective. I wanted to bring in things that I thought were missing."

Oasis said one of her goals was to highlight women in jazz and music in general. As she pointed out, only 2 percent of published music is produced by women.

"We made sure we had women performing and women that write their own songs and have their own stories to tell," Oasis said. "I also wanted to put the emphasis on women of color in jazz. I don't think we're represented and elevated enough in general."

Along with Salvant and Big Freedia, she cited hip-hop artist Lady Wray, Los Angeles-based poet and activist Aja Monet, and vocalist and flutist Melanie Charles as prime examples of the festival presenting a stronger female presence.

Oasis noted increased LGBTQ representation as well, with the black box theater at the Flynn Space transforming into a late-night club called Hot Butter on Friday, June 7, complete with a performance from disco rave act the Illustrious Blacks.

"Hot Butter will be open to everyone but mainly focused on elevating the LGBTQ community in Burlington," Oasis said.

Vermont Comedy Club will once again transform into a late-night jazz club called Big Joe's, a tribute to legendary Burlington saxophonist Big Joe Burrell. And speaking of Burlington sax legends, City Hall Park hosts a tribute to Joe Moore, who died in March. Moore performed at the first BDJF in 1982 and every single fest afterwards. So it's fitting that, in collaboration with the Vermont Blues Society, Moore will be honored with an all-star show on the final day of the festival.

Pork Tornado, featuring Phish drummer Jon Fishman, whom Moore often played with, will perform at the tribute, along with Burlington soul duo Dwight + Nicole, R&B singer Myra Flynn, the All Night Boogie Band and Moore's "house band," Left Eye Jump.
The festival still boasts many of its legacy features, such as student bands from all across the state performing on the top block of the Church Street Marketplace. With 35 school bands on the bill and Oasis' plan to visit local schools such the Integrated Arts Academy in Burlington during the festival, education is front and center.

"Knowing that this festival puts such an emphasis on education and youth was a huge selling point for me," said Oasis, who has two children. "It's so important to elevate the youth. Maybe a little girl can see me play bass and think, 'Hey, maybe I can be a bass player one day.'"

The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival runs from Wednesday, June 5, to Sunday, June 10. For tickets and for more information, visit flynnvt.org.