The revitalized Milwaukee jazz scene is bursting with talent, but will the people come?

Is jazz really dying? You wouldn't say so if you were following the scene in Milwaukee.

Within the past year, two new venues have opened up — Gibraltar and Chic Underground — and the scene's crown jewel, the Jazz Estate, has been richly remodeled and reopened with a busy and diverse concert calendar. The talent pool is also surging, with exceptional and adventurous young players moving in, or coming back to town from vibrant music cities, and creating something special here.

In terms of activity, Milwaukee hasn't had this much jazz in about 35 years. But is the audience large enough, and motivated enough, to keep the scene not just alive, but thriving?

I explored the state of the Milwaukee jazz scene for a Journal Sentinel front page story that ran yesterday, and that you can find at jsonline.com/music. You can also see two up-and-coming local jazz acts for free when Jazz in the Park hosts a "Fresh Faces of Milwaukee Jazz" concert at 6 p.m. tonight at Cathedral Square Park. Roxi Copland and Foreign Goods are on the bill.

THREE FESTIVALS TO SEE THIS WEEKEND

Like jazz, the guitar's peak popularity appears to be behind us, but artists are still doing exceptional things with the instrument, which you can discover for yourself at the Wilson Center Guitar Festival Thursday through Saturday, with Kevin Eubanks headlining on Saturday.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel a la Carte festival also returns for its 33rd year to the Milwaukee County Zoo, with Rusted Root (playing Friday) among the acts playing through Sunday.

And after taking 2016 off, local musician Myles Coyne has resurrected his Breadfest festival at Linneman's this Friday and Saturday, featuring Faux Fiction, the Fatty Acids and six other acts.

NEW CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie will be at the Riverside Theater Oct. 31 (without the other members of Fleetwood Mac), Macklemore will be at the Rave Nov. 3 (without Ryan Lewis) and Craig Finn will be at the Cactus Club Oct. 22 (without the Hold Steady). For more new concert announcements go to jsonline.com/music.

Rock on!

Piet