Sacramento jazz fans, get ready. The second annual In the Flow jazz festival starts Friday and will be invading four venues on downtown's Broadway.

Last year's festival was held on the patio of True Love Coffeehouse. This weekend, Beatnik Studios, The Comedy Spot, R5 Records and Java Lounge are opening their doors for three days of live jazz performances.

"Sacramento has an incredible jazz scene. We have great players with great, original ideas that span all things jazz and beyond," said Ross Hammond, the main coordinator of the festival.

The idea for the festival was dreamt up during a coffee outing with Hammond, jazz musician Byron Blackburn and some of their friends. They wanted to hold a jazz festival that really represented Sacramento and would showcase new and creative music. From that desire, In the Flow was born.

The organizers of the event have been given a grant from the Sacramento Metro Arts Commission and sponsorship from the Greater Broadway Partnership, enabling them to not only expand the event this year but allowing all proceeds from tickets sales to go directly to more than 20 artists and groups performing throughout the weekend.

While all of the performances are worth checking out, some of the must-sees this weekend are Byron Blackburn's CD release, Vinny Golia, the Harley White Orchestra, Nagual, Tony Passarell's Thin Air Symphony and the poetry/music showcase.

"[In the Flow] is trying to push some musical boundaries while at the same time showcase all of the different kinds of jazz you'll find in the area," Hammond explained.

Also making a special appearance is George Holden, a light show extraordinaire that will be putting on the famed "Abercrombe Liquid Lightshow." Holden has been putting on his psychedelic light shows since the 1960s and has done lighting effects for bands like the Grateful Dead, Dooby Brothers and Carlos Santana. He's bringing his strobe lights, black lights, ink and gels to Broadway for the weekend to give a special performance at Java Lounge from 8 p.m. to closing Friday night and Beatnik Studios from 11 a.m. to closing Saturday and Sunday.

In the Flow differs from Sacramento's popular annual Jazz Jubilee, which focuses more on "Dixieland" jazz, the main form of jazz coming out of New Orleans and Chicago in the early 1900s. In the Flow will have something for almost every jazz fan, except smooth jazz followers, and will be showcasing a broad span of local and regional jazz musicians, artists and poets.

"We're planning on doing this festival annually, so just mark your calendars now for the next decade or so," Hammond advised.

Tickets are $20 for the entire weekend and can be purchased at R5 Records. R5 is located at 2500 16th St. in Sacramento.

For the complete festival schedule, visit myspace.com/intheflowfestival.

Photos are of last year's In the Flow festival and were taken by Tommy Van Wormer