Madison Chamber Music Festival tunes up

Madison is readying for the 2015 Chamber Music Festival, May 1 through June 14.

As usual, the 13th edition lineup planned by artistic director Christopher Rex, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra principal cellist, is broader than the festival name indicates. The slate includes the Eroica Trio, the bluegrass trio the Kruger Brothers, pianist Daria Rabotkina, the Dover Quartet and the Entre Flamenco Dance Company.

The festival opens with a 7:30 p.m. May 1 concert in the historic Madison-Morgan Cultural Center auditorium by Canadian Brass member Brandon Ridenour and his father, pianist Rich Ridenour.

Tickets are $25 ($5 students) for most performances. "An American Salute" concert by the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet at 3 p.m. May 17 in Madison Town Park is free, as is a Entre Flamenco family concert at 11 a.m. June 13 at the cultural center, 434 S. Main St. 1-877-233-0598, www.mmcc-arts.org.

Sax man Kebbi Williams organized the free Music in the Park concerts.

Credit: hpousner

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Credit: hpousner

West End jamming on April 19

As a precursor to the Atlanta Jazz Festival, May 22-24 in Piedmont Park, saxophonist Kebbi Williams will present the 5th annual event 2 to 8 pm April 19 in Atlanta's historic West End community.

Featured performers among the 30 bands performing on eight stages along Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, a stretch closed to vehicular traffic during the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition's concurrent Atlanta Streets Alive event, will include Russell Gunn, Julie Dexter, Joe Gransden, Frank Barham and Brazilian Sounds, Eric McFadden, 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra, Rahbi and Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective.

Closing out the day of music and pedestrian-friendliness, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson will conduct a 50-piece orchestra, including Atlanta Public Schools students and professional musicians, in a concert mixing jazz and classical music with funk and blues. It’s 6-8 p.m. at the Wrens Nest, 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. S.W., Atlanta.

Free. www.musicintheparkatl.org.