Cost: Free

Organizer: City of Chicago

What to expect: As if this even needs an explanation. Jazz Fest is certainly one of Grant Park's best, a weekend teeming with the best in local and national acts on three stages.

Why to go: Check out our top picks.

The full schedule:

Friday, September 4
Jazz on Jackson
noon: Ernie Adams Trio with special guest Richie Cole
1:10 p.m.: Fareed Haque and the Flat Earth Ensemble
2:20 p.m.: Jason Adasiewicz's Rolldown
3:30 p.m.: Esperanza Spalding

The Chicago Community Trust Young Jazz Lions Stage
noon: The Jazz Improv Collective
1 p.m.: Morgan Park Academy Jazz Ensemble
2 p.m.: St. Charles High School Jazz Ensemble
3 p.m.: Columbia College Jazz Ensemble

Jazz & Heritage Stage
12:30 p.m.: Dudley Owens Quintet
2 p.m.: Diane Delin Quartet
3:30 p.m.: Bob Seeley and Bob Baldori

Petrillo Music Shell
5 p.m.: Jeff Parker Quartet
6 p.m.: The Trio featuring Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis and Roscoe Mitchell
7:10 p.m.: Madeleine Peyroux
8:30 p.m.: Gonzalo Rubalcaba Quintet

Saturday, September 5
Jazz on Jackson
noon: Greg Ward's Fitted Shards
1:10 p.m.: Dan Cray Trio with special guest Geof Bradfield
2:20 p.m.: Nicole Mitchell Black Earth Strings
3:30 p.m.: Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble

The Chicago Community Trust Young Jazz Lions Stage
noon: The Jazz Institute of Chicago's Jazz Ambassadors
1 p.m.: Whitney Young Magnet Jazz Ensemble
2 p.m.: Wheeling High School Jazz Ensemble
3 p.m.: DePaul University Jazz Ensemble

Jazz & Heritage Stage
12:30 p.m.: Red Rose Ragtime Jazz Band
2 p.m.: "Art of the Solo" with William Parker
3:30 p.m.: A Tribute to Benny Goodman featuring Eric Schneider

Petrillo Music Shell
5 p.m.: 80th-Birthday Jam with Fred Anderson
6 p.m.: Amina Figarova Sextet
7:10 p.m.: William Parker presents "The Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield"
8:30 p.m.: Dave Holland Big Band

Sunday, September 6
Jazz on Jackson
noon: Mike Allemana's Come Sunday
1:10 p.m.: Solo Piano featuring Ben Paterson and Yoko Noge
2:20 p.m.: James Falzone's KLANG: The Goodman Project
3:30 p.m.: "New Apartment Jam" with Von Freeman

The Chicago Community Trust Young Jazz Lions Stage noon: Civic and Arts Jazz Ensemble
1 p.m.: Lincoln Park H.S. Jazz ensemble w/ special guest composer Ari Brown
2 p.m.: Evanston High School Jazz ensemble with special guest Junior Mance
3 p.m.: Young Jazz Lions Jam Session

Jazz & Heritage Stage
12:30 p.m.: Kevin Nabors Quintet
2 p.m.: "Percussion Discussion" with Art Burton
3:30 p.m.: Kelly Brand Quintet

Petrillo Music Shell
5 p.m.: Archie Shepp Quartet featuring Willie Pickens, Avery Sharpe and Ronnie Burrage
6 p.m.: A Tribute to Art Tatum featuring Buddy DeFranco and Johnny O'Neal
7:10 p.m.: Dee Alexander
8:30 p.m.: World premiere of Muhal Richard Abrams commissioned composition "SPIRALVIEW" performed by The Arthur Hoyle Orchestra, conducted by Muhal Richard Abrams. Featured soloists include trombonist George Lewis, bassist Harrison Bankhead and reed players Ari Brown and Roscoe Mitchell

Centerstage Reviewer: Ben Rubenstein