Mavis Staples will headline a new music series at Discovery Green this year. Photo: Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed Photo

R&B and gospel legend Mavis Staples will headline a new concert series starting this spring and running into the summer, presented by Discovery Green, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership and the Emancipation Park Conservancy.

Jazzy Sundays in the Parks kicks off April 2 -- not a Sunday, technically, but a great booking -- at Discovery Green with Staples, who last played Houston three years ago at Miller Outdoor Theatre for its annual Juneteenth concert. Houston's Marcos Varela will open the show.

Each Sunday in April, Discovery Green will host a show in partnership with arts organization Da Camera in honor of Jazz Appreciation Month. In May, the Jazzy Sundays series will continue at Buffalo Bayou Park and then in June at Emancipation Park. These events, like those at Discovery Green, also include weekly children's music workshops. The Kinder Foundation provided funding for the series.

All events are free.

Here is this year's schedule for Jazzy Sundays:

April at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney. Workshops begin at 3 p.m., concerts begin at 4 p.m. EXCEPT for the series opener

April 2: Mavis Staples and Marcos Varela, 7 p.m. start time

April 5: Sam Dinkins III Quintet, Boomtown Brass

April 12: Woody Witt Quartet, Darrell Lavigne Quartet

April 19: Raquel Cepeda, Marlon Simon

April 26: Jose-Miguel Yamal

May at the Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, 105 Sabine. Workshops at 3 p.m., concerts at 4 p.m.

May 3: Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band

May 10: Barbara Lynn and Jewel Brown

May 17: Lavelle White

May 24: Milton Hopkins

May 31: David Caceres Quintet

June at Emancipation Park, 3018 Emancipation Avenue. Workshops at 3 p.m., concerts at 4 p.m. EXCEPT June 13

June 7: Conrad Johnson Orchestra

June 13: Juneteenth Celebration with Diunna Greenleaf (workshop at 2 p.m., concert at 3 p.m.)

June 21: Keesha Pratt

June 28: Peterson Brothers