Jazz festival plans pre-festival Cajun party

Hot jazz and zesty food will come together like Louisiana gumbo at the Village Green on Thursday night, September 16, when the Sisters Jazz Festival (SJF) offers a Cajun-style warm-up party for the three-day weekend event.

A supper of authentic Cajun food will precede zydeco music by the popular Gator Beat band at the festival's dress rehearsal for its weekend program. The 6:30 p.m. supper will be prepared by the new Central Oregon food server, the "Ragin' Cajun from New Orleans." Music will start at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

The Thursday warm-up is a return to a feature of several prior jazz festivals, offering a "locals night" for Central Oregon patrons as well as visitors who arrive early for the popular September event. The Cajun party will follow the SJF Sponsor Party, featuring music by the Michael Kaeshammer Trio.

Patrons with All-event badges for the jazz festival will be admitted free. Other fans will be charged only $5 for the evening program.

Four bands will kick off the jazz festival at noon Friday, September 17, at multiple venues in Sisters. Performances will continue through Sunday afternoon, September 19. All-event badges and single day badges will be available at the venues. Badges may be purchased in advance at Paulina Springs Books, on-line at www.sistersjazzfestival.com or at 549-1332.