The wildly popular concert series, Jazzy Sundays in the Parks, sets the soundtrack for spring with a dynamic lineup of free, live jazz performances at Discovery Green and the Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park.
The series celebrates the vibrancy and rich tradition of jazz as well as the incredible Houstonians who preserve the artform. Jazzy Sundays, made possible by a grant from Kinder Foundation, is organized by Discovery Green Conservancy in collaboration with Emancipation Park Conservancy and Buffalo Bayou Partnership.
Traditionally, the series opens at Emancipation Park. This year, due to the construction of a new state-of-the-art performance stage and other park improvements, performances will take place at Discovery Green in March and the Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park in April, with Emancipation Park scheduled to host the series again next year.
“We’re excited about our continued investment in the community, including meaningful upgrades like the permanent world-class performance stage that will enhance the concert experience for artists and audiences alike,” said Corey Wilson, the new President and CEO at Emancipation Park Conservancy. “We’re grateful to our partners for carrying the series forward this season and invite the community to keep the tradition going. We look forward to rejoining the lineup and hosting Jazzy Sundays at Emancipation Park next year.”
The 2026 season unfolds with four Sundays of performances at Discovery Green beginning March 8, followed by four Sundays at the Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park. Highlights of the lineup include Houston’s own pianist wunderkind James Francies a Blue Note recording artist praised by The New York Times for his “liquid dynamism.” A graduate of the famed Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Francies will also teach a masterclass at the school as part of the series.
In the weeks following expect Mathias Lattin, a 2023 International Blues Challenge winner and rising guitarist carrying the blues forward and Unusual Musicians Collective Band and The
Cultural Society Orchestra, both blending jazz with contemporary and genre-defying approaches. Concerts take place from 5–7 pm and are free and open to the public.
Guests are encouraged to arrive early and bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Food and drink will be available for purchase, and a pop-up market featuring locally crafted items, food, and wearables will be on site at each park.
KTSU serves as the official media sponsor, with DJs and an on-site booth bringing music, dancing, and swag to launch each evening’s festivities. This year’s commemorative poster artist is Robert Hodge, an interdisciplinary artist and curator based in Houston whose work explores memory, materiality, and cultural reclamation through collage and community-driven practice. His work transforms found materials and archival imagery into living archives that honor African American history, resilience, and cultural continuity.
JAZZY SUNDAYS IN THE PARKS SCHEDULE
All concerts are from 5-7 pm
Discovery Green
1500 McKinney St.
(713) 400-7336
− March 8: James Francies Trio and Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
− March 15: New Breed Bass Band and The Texas Southern University Jazz Ensemble
− March 22: Mathias Lattin and Unusual Musicians Collective Band
− March 29: Cimafunk and The Cultural Society Orchestra
For more information, please visit discoverygreen.com/jazzy.
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park
105-B Sabine St.
(713) 752-0314 ext. 301
− April 5: Christian McBride & Inside Straight and Synesthesia
− April 12: Melvin Johnson & the Electro-Akoustic Super-Mega Band and Mahoganee Renee
− April 19: Susan Carol and Kinder HSPVA Jazz Ensemble
− April 26: Lil Nathan & The Zydeco Big Timers and Steve Dargin & Texas Kreole
For more information, please visit https://buffalobayou.org/jazzy-sundays
ABOUT DISCOVERY GREEN®
Discovery Green® is a highly acclaimed 12-acre park created by a public-private partnership between the City of Houston and the nonprofit Discovery Green Conservancy in downtown Houston, Texas. Since opening in April 2008, the park has welcomed more than 20 million visitors. Discovery Green ® features sprawling lawns, a one-acre lake, an interactive fountain, a playground, public art installations, gardens and an allée of century-old live oaks. The Discovery Green Conservancy works with hundreds of programming partners to present artistic, musical, educational, family-friendly and health-focused events each year, most of which are presented free to the public. The park also features two on-site restaurants, the award-winning destination restaurant The Grove and the fast-casual The Lake House, providing visitors with an array of dining options. As a nonprofit organization, the Conservancy raises all the funds needed for the programming that Houstonians enjoy. For more information, please visithttps://www.discoverygreen.com. Arts programming is made possible in part by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.
ABOUT BUFFALO BAYOU PARK PARTNERSHIP
Established in 1986, Buffalo Bayou Partnership is the non-profit organization creating and stewarding welcoming parks, trails, and unique spaces, connecting Houstonians with the city’s most significant natural waterway. The organization’s geographic focus is the 10-square mile stretch of the bayou that flows from Shepherd Drive, through the heart of downtown into the East End, and on to the Port of Houston Turning Basin. In addition to constructing award-winning green spaces such as Buffalo Bayou Park, BBP also removes trash from the waterway and activates the bayou through unique programs, public art, volunteer events, and recreational opportunities that enrich the quality of life in Houston. More at buffalobayou.org
ABOUT EMANCIPATION PARK CONSERVANCY
Established in 2014, Emancipation Park Conservancy (EPC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to restoring, managing, and enhancing Emancipation Park. The organization is committed to creating a vibrant open space that embodies both environmental and community excellence, all while preserving the park’s historical legacy. Through targeted capital initiatives, operational improvements, strategic partnerships, dynamic programming, and engaging events, EPC strives to transform the park into one of the nation’s premier landmarks and an internationally recognized destination.
ABOUT KINDER FOUNDATION
Kinder Foundation, a family foundation established in 1997 by Rich and Nancy Kinder of Houston, Texas, provides transformational grants that impact urban green space, education, and quality of life. More at www.kinderfoundation.org.
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Discovery Green. Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.
