Jazz collective Tunnel Six plays the Beat Niq on Thursday, May 27.

All right jazz fans, it's time to say May but think June. After all, we're only a scant month away from the annual Calgary Jazz Festival, and the lineup is awesome. So, think of May as the beginning-of-summer jazz fever this weekend, with Kristian Alexandrov’s gig at the Beat Niq kicking things off. In addition to Alexandrov, voted best pianist at the 2008 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, the May 14 and 15 gig features Ben Harries on the six-string bass, and Shannon Gaye on vocals, whose blend of soul and jazz has won national and international acclaim.

If you’re looking for a bigger sound, what better than the 20-piece Prime Time Big Band? Prime Time plays its regular biweekly Big Band Brunch at the Ironwood at 2 p.m. on Saturday May 15 and 29. Remember, the Ironwood is now in its new home in the old Garry Theatre, and what a setting for the awesome arrangements of contemporary tunes and classics from this powerful band.

Promise yourself to check out Weeds Cafe in the city's northwest on May 19 — saxophonist and composer Aaron Leaney has a gig with drummer Chris Dadge that night. Expect an evening of freeform improvisation from these talented musicians, whose work defies genre but explores everything from avant garde to alt rock.

At month's end, hit the Beat Niq for the jazz collective Tunnel Six, featuring Chad McCullough (trumpet) , Ben Dietschi (saxes), Brian Seligman (guitar), Andrew Oliver (piano), Ron Hynes (bass) and Tyson Stubelek (drums). This is a group of rising stars from a range of cities in Canada and the U.S., but despite coming together recently, the band sounds like it has played together for years. Not bad for a group that formed after attending the International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music at The Banff Centre. Tunnel Six plays original compositions, and it’s planning a major tour of Canada, the American Midwest and the Pacific northwest in 2010.

Lastly, as mentioned, the jazz fest has announced its full lineup at calgaryjazz.com. If you haven't already, mark your calendars for June 21 to 28 — the fest is bringing acts ranging from Cedar Walton, Poncho Sanchez and Chick Corea to Andre Leroux, Ben E. King and Francois Bourassa. These are just a few of the best of local, regional, national and international talent here next month.