The fourth annual Davis Jazz and Beat Festival will take place Friday and Saturday at the John Natsoulas Center for the Arts, 521 First St., Davis.

The event will be filled with poetry readings and painting improvisation set to the rhythm of live jazz. Patrons will be able to experience live performances, peruse a thorough collection of Beat art, and meet world-renowned poets, jazz musicians and painters of the Beat Generation.

The Natsoulas GalleryÕs concurrent exhibition of Beat art will include paintings by some of the eraÕs most intriguing artists. On Friday, film screenings will showcase works by Stan Brakage, Jess Collins and Bruce Connor. A panel discussion will feature poet David Meltzer and filmmaker Craig Baldwin.

The annual Jack Kerouac Poetry Contest will offer the winner a chance to read his/her poetry at the conference, along with a cash prize and the offer to be published in a literary review.

SaturdayÕs Jazz Festival, a major fundraiser for the Davis High School Jazz Band, will feature entertainment on three stages. Jazz performance artists Ñ including Nancy Ostrovsky, Jonqui Albin and Myron Stephens Ñ will work at a rapid pace to capture the emotions of the live music.

The ensembles scheduled to perform include the DHS Jazz Band and Combo, the Sacramento State University Jazz Combo, the Brubeck Institute Combo, the UC Davis Jazz Combo, the Rio Americano High School Jazz Band, the Jaroba Jazz Trio, Yolo Mambo, Instagon, the Ross Hammond Trio and Boco do Rio.

Renowned poet Michael McClure will take the stage, as will influential musician and keyboardist for The Doors, Ray Manzarek. The third stage, highlighting poets and spoken-word performances, will feature Indigo Moor and Brad Henderson, with a grand finale performance by Meltzer.

A sculptural installation by Phill Evans, titled ÒWindship,Ó will allow two participants to play and listen to music on opposite sides of this kinetic art sculpture. Activities for younger participants will include Kids ÕnÕ Clay, the Kids Jazz Painting Wall and an interactive area by the Art-Science Fusion Program.

For additional information and a full schedule of events, call (530) 756-3938 or visit http://www.davisjazz.com.

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