The Brooklyn Jazz Underground — eight vibrant Brooklyn-based musicians engaged in various projects — is set to stage the 4th Annual Brooklyn Jazz Underground Festival. The event will unfold over three weekend nights, March 5-7, at Manhattan’s Cornelia Street Café, and feature new BJU members (trumpeter David Smith, drummer Rob Garcia and saxophonist Adam Kolker) in addition to original members Alexis Cuadrado, Alan Ferber, Dan Pratt and Sunny Jain  leading their ensembles in performances of original music, much of it comprised of new works. (See the full schedule below.)

In related news, beginning on the first Thursday after the festival, the BJU, in collaboration with Connection Works — another Brooklyn-based organization heavily involved with jazz and the arts — be will curating a residency at Korzo, a new spot for jazz and improvised music in Brooklyn (667 5th Avenue). In the interest of developing and presenting original works and new ensembles, every BJU and Connection Works member will curate the Thursday night shows for a month at a time. Sets begin at 9:30 and 11 p.m. every Thursday.

Also, Brooklyn Jazz Underground, Volume 4, the BJU’s fourth annual compilation of music, is also available now as a download only at http://brooklynjazz.bandcamp.com.

Since the Spring of 2008, BJURecords has been expanding its catalog with recordings from a diverse group of Brooklyn-based artists. The label’s full catalog and additional information is available at www.BJURecords.com. Releases in 2010 will include new recordings from trombonist Mike Fahie (featuring Bill McHenry, Ben Monder, Ben Street and Billy Hart), trumpeter David Smith, drummers Sunny Jain and Owen Howard, and bassist Alexis Cuadrado.

Pictured above, from left to right, the Brooklyn Jazz Underground: Dan Pratt, Adam Kolker, Anne Mette Iversen, Alexis Cuadrado, Sunny Jain, Rob Garcia, David Smith and Alan Ferber.

The 4th Annual BJU Festival Schedule

Friday, March 5

9 p.m.: Dave Smith Quartet, w/Nate Radley (guitar), Gary Wang (bass), drums and saxophone TBA

10:30 p.m.: Alexis Cuadrado — Quinteto Ibérico, w/Jeremy Udden (saxophones), Brad Shepik (guitar), Dan Tepfer (piano) and Richie Barshay (drums and percussion)

Saturday, March 6

8:30 p.m.: Adam Kolker Trio, w/Ugonna Ukegwo (bass), Billy Mintz (drums)

9:45 p.m.: Sunny Jain

11 p.m.: Rob Garcia

Sunday, March 7

8:30 p.m.: Dan Pratt Organ Quartet, w/Jared Gold (organ), Alan Ferber (trombone), drums TBA (performing music from their new Posi-Tone Records CD, Toe the Line, due out in March 2010)

10 PM: Alan Ferber Group (performing music from his new Sunnyside Records CD, due out in April 2010)