The festival features a variety of bands and styles that organizers say will offer "something for everyone."

The festival officially kicks off at 11 a.m. Friday, but the Jazz Festival will treat Sisters to one of the festival's most popular bands, Gator Beat, as part of the dedication of the new Sisters High School Thursday evening, September 11 (see related story.)

The lineup of bands for the 2003 Sisters Jazz Festival will feature bands representing traditional jazz, swing, big band, straight-ahead combos, Cajun, zydeco and blues as well as groups that provide a mix of many musical styles.

Main stage bands will rotate through venues at the Village Green, Comfort Inn/Mountain Shadow RV Park, Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill and Saloon and Sisters Elementary School (see festival schedule at left).

Returning to Sisters this year are Chicago Six, Titan Hot 7, Blue Street Jazz Band, Gator Beat and Oregon Coast Lab Band. Newcomers to the festival are the Pieter Meijers Quartet with Brady McKay, Cornet Chop Suey, Good Bait Quintet and Lily Wilde and her Jumpin' Jubilee Orchestra.

New as a group to the Sisters' stages is Yve Evans and Company. Evans is well known to local patrons as a featured vocalist with the California-based Chicago Six.

Cornet Chop Suey, from St. Louis, Missouri, will kick off the festival Friday at 11 a.m. at a free concert at Barclay Park, simultaneous with the opening of the Village Green and Comfort Inn venues.

Yve Evans and Company and Chicago Six will combine their talents for one of the two free Gospel programs next Sunday morning at the Village Green. Blue Street will present the second Gospel set at the Comfort Inn site.

The 15-piece Lily Wilde orchestra will present a 1-1/2- hour program featuring Wilde's dynamic vocal styling on swing tunes from the '40s and '50s on Saturday night at the Village Green.

The Jazz Festival mini-venues, presenting regional jazz groups, will be open during meal breaks on Friday and Saturday.

Night owl jazz fans and musicians will be able to continue listening and playing at jam sessions with festival bands both Friday and Saturday nights at Bronco Billy's. Friday night's primary band will be Cornet Chop Suey, while Saturday night's jam will be led by Clarinetist Bob Draga and Titan Hot 7.

Sisters Jazz Festival passes, including a three-day badge and single-day badges for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are available at Paulina Springs Book Company or may be purchased beginning Thursday morning at the Village Green. Badges will be sold at all main venues when the festival opens.