Jazz Beats Radio attended the July 2014 Sunset Jazz Festival, which was held at Atlanta’s Chastain Park Amphitheater. Multi–award winning saxophonist Boney James headlined the A-list bill that featured Brian Culbertson, Dianne Reeves, Jonathan Butler, Norman Brown, and Alex Bugnon.

The Jonathan Butler Trio included guitarist and South African–native Butler, guitarist Brown, and keyboardist Bugnon, as they opened the evening with the George Benson classic cover, “On Broadway.” The three smooth jazz heavy weights essentially declared Atlanta as party central, presenting a delicious array of head-bopping, body-rocking hits from both past and present.

The second set featured the rich vocal artistry of Grammy–award winner Dianne Reeves who presented delectable works from her latest CD, “Beautiful Life,” including a cover of “Fleetwood Mac’s legendary “Dreams,” Marvin Gaye’s intoxicating “I Want You,” and assorted classics. She warmly embraced the audience, transporting us all to that place called home, completing the set with her signature tune, “Better Days,” to which the crowd erupted with elation.

Now, enter Brian Culbertson. Everyone (and we do mean everyone!) stood on their feet as this Decatur, Illinois–native pianist extraordinaire delivered an explosive near hour of jazz, funk, and unadulterated soul. Attendees partied non-stop through his provocative performance.

Headliner James snared the baton and stormed onto the stage, steering the audience right over the edge with his laundry list of saxophonic hits, including wicked covers of “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Sweet Thing.” The pièce de résistance was the African and Brazilian percussive influenced, shake-your-body-down-to-the-ground “Batucada” from his latest CD, “The Beat.” James also chatted up the audience, discussing his simultaneous 2013 nominations for Grammy, Soul Train, and NAACP awards. Oh, what a night!

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