Jazz in Boothbay officially begins with another free open air concert by the Bath Municipal Band on the Boothbay Common on Wednesday, July 18, at 7 p.m., when happy listeners of all ages bring blankets and lawn chairs and nibbles and sit outside under the summer moon and rock the night away.

Then it’s the night for Jazz at the Opera House, Friday, July 20, at 8 p.m. with the Mark Tipton Quintet. On Saturday, July 21, also at 8 p.m., the Royal River Philharmonic Jazz Band will perform. On Sunday, July 22, at the Congregational Church, the traditional rollicking Jazz Service will begin at 10 a.m.

We heard Mark Tipton first playing with the much admired State Street Traditional Jazz Band and fell in love with his music. In addition to getting our Boothbay audiences to our feet cheering wildly, Tipton has had a richly adventurous career as a freelance musician. He’s lived in New York City, Los Angeles, and here in Portland. He holds a B.M. in classical trumpet performance from the Oberlin Conservatory and a M.M. in classical trumpet performance from the Mannes College of Music, and currently studies with Vincent Pemzerella, formerly of the New York Philharmonic. Tipton began playing violin at seven, switching to the trumpet at nine. He grew up in Gorham and has performed with such legends as Ray Barrettop, Vassar Clements, Quincy Jones and countless others. The Mark Tipton Quintet is composed of Tipton as lead trumpet, Matt Langley on tenor sax, Jesse Feinberg on piano, Fitzgerald Jenkins on bass and Hayes Porterfield on drums. The Quintet performs music by such jazz legends as Duke Ellington, Woody Shaw, Charlie Parker, and Billy Strayhorn as well as some of Tipton’s original compositions. In addition to all of this, Tipton is professor of music at Colby College in Waterville and a trumpet instructor/administrator at the Portland Conservatory of Music.

The Royal River Philharmonic Jazz Band is a rollicking six-piece musical group of traditional Dixieland performers. The band includes Jeff Grosser on banjo, Paul Monet on coronet, Eric Anderson on tuba, Bill Raynhe on trombone, Bob Pillsbury on clarinet and Olie Sawyer on the piano. This brilliant ensemble has performed for a wide variety of events which range from births (honestly) to funerals, and has been seen in locations that include concert halls and churches, as well as barrooms and (get this) bordellos! They’ve been around for a little while, having been officially organized in 1975 and they play tunes that range from marches to two-steps and blues and ballads, comedy routines, religious songs and novelty music. The operative word tonight is fun.

Sunday's Jazz Service at the Congregational Church has become a tradition in Boothbay Harbor. Founded by Ned Freeman, the group is now led by Barney Balch of the Sheepscot Jazz and Swing Company. The group is composed of Balch on alto and soprano trombone, Mark Macsoud on drums, Herb Maine on bass and Kenny Gaspar on piano. This morning’s performance is expected to be memorable as always and is the epitome of making a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Tickets, when needed, for The Jazz Weekend may be found at Sherman's Bookstore, A Silver Lining, the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, the Boothbay Information Center, at the door, or check our website, www.lincolnartsfestival.net.