When selecting a soundtrack for a bicycle event, jazz might not be the most obvious choice – but when coupled with the Athens Twilight Criterium bicycle race, one of The Classic City’s most enduring and beloved traditions, this American musical tradition is a surprising fit.

The University and Twilight Criterium will host the second annual UGA/Athens Twilight Jazz Festival this Friday and Saturday.

Though this festival commenced only last year, Athens is no stranger to showcasing jazz. The idea to host it stemmed from two local festivals prevalent in the ’80s and ’90s – namely the late director of University bands Ron Dancz’s competition-oriented Festival of Champions and a now-defunct version of the Twilight Jazz Festival.

“[The old festival] used to be associated with Twilight Criterium, but it really didn’t involve the University in the way that it does now,” said Dr. Mitos Andaya, associate director of choral activities at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, who is in charge of the Jazz Festival.

“It’s been kind of an on-and-off thing,” she said. “They tried to revive it in 2000 or 2001, roughly, and then that stopped.”

But the festival’s new manifestation is more than just a revival; it’s a fusion of goals and objectives.

“Our idea was to try to bring back both of those concepts of the festival: bringing other school ensembles from various parts of Georgia here to campus while also combining the community aspect,” Andaya said.

As testament to the dual purpose it serves, the jazz festival will be dispersed among three different sites. The Twilight outdoor stage, located downtown on College Avenue, centers around the Athens community.

Conversely, the School of Music and Performing Arts Center provide educational focus, with instrumental clinics and master classes open to the general public.

“We hope to revive jazz in Athens and the southeast and educate all the willing through our masters classes,” said Ryan Lanford, a senior from Marietta.

Lanford is a part of the Terry College of Business’ Music Business Program and is handling the booking and PR for the festival.

“You don’t necessarily have to know music theory to benefit from the clinics,” he said. “The clinicians are ready to help anyone who wants to learn about jazz music. That’s what they’re here for.”

The jazz styles on display downtown this weekend range from the traditional (U.S. Army Ground Forces’ Jazz Guardians, University of Georgia Brass) to the more free-form and experimental (JazzChronic).

As a sign of the recession, the 2009 Twilight Jazz Festival has had to work with a tighter budget than the previous year – hence why there isn’t an artist on the bill as high-profile as saxophonist Joshua Redman, who headlined the event last year.

But this year’s festival has its share of perks: jazz guitar extraordinaire Mimi Fox is slated to appear with the Festival All-Stars on Saturday night on the Twilight outdoor stage.

“[Fox] was here last year as part of the Festival All-Stars,” Andaya said. “She is incredible. She’s a five-time Downbeat Awards Critics’ Poll winner for guitarist, and she’s going to be here and working with our guitarists and giving a master class.”

Also, when contrasted with 2008, this year’s festival places a more significant emphasis on vocal jazz.

Classic City Jazz, the University’s vocal jazz combo, will perform Friday night on the downtown stage. Additional vocal-oriented groups from colleges and high schools across the region will perform at the School of Music and the Performing Arts Center.

“There are more high schools that are developing vocal jazz,” Andaya said. “Word is getting out that they actually have a place to come to and listen to other groups who do the same type of genre. So in some ways, the festival is actually bigger, even though we’ve gone with a lower budget.”

“The Jazz Festival is a non-profit effort, and it’s meant to bring in some really good players for students to learn from,” Lanford said. “There will be as much musical knowledge at this festival as you could find anywhere.”

The best part: none of the jazz performances conflict with the main event, and as such festival-goers will not have to pick and choose.

“The Saturday events are timed out,” Andaya said. “The race starts around six o’clock, but we’re done at the downtown stage by 5:45.”