For the annual Buzzards Bay Musicfest, organizers decided to jazz things up a bit this year.

The 18th annual concert series opens Wednesday, July 9 and for the first time will feature a jazz concert alongside classical and chamber music performances.

“We decided we wanted to try something new and add a new dimension,” said Sally Conkright, who serves as president on the Musicfest’s board of directors.

After a strategic planning session held last year, board members decided it was time to make a change.

“We decided that a jazz component might be attractive to some people in the community who are not avid fans of classical music,” Conkright said.

The jazz concert begins at 8 p.m. on Friday in Hoyt Hall at Tabor Academy’s Fireman Performing Arts Center on Front Street. Admission to all concerts in the series is free.

Jazz trumpeter Sean Jones will perform with his quartet along with pianist Orrin Evan, bassist Lucques Curtis and a drummer yet to be named.

Jones is an accomplished musician and composer who has been the lead trumpeter of Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for the last five years.

His music can be heard on Nancy Wilson’s album “Turned to Blue,” which won a Grammy Award.

Filling out the quartet are Evan, who was twice nominated for a Grammy, and Curtis, who trained at the Berklee College of Music.

Of the six songs to be performed, three will be original compositions penned by Jones.

While the jazz concert will bring a new sound to the Musicfest, Conkright noted that an old friend will be missed.

The concert’s founding Artistic Director Russell Patterson passed away in August at the age of 81. The 18th season of the Musicfest will be dedicated in Patterson’s memory and a musical selection will be played to honor his work with the Musicfest, Conkright said.

This year’s guest conductor will again be Antony Walker who joined the concert series for the first time in 2013.

“He was fabulous last year and we’re so glad he’s returning,” Conkright said.

Walker made his debut in Sydney, Australia. Currently, he is the music director of the Pittsburgh Orchestra and has conducted more than 200 operas throughout the world.

A prolific recording artist, Walker has credits on more than 30 classical albums and DVDs. His collaboration with Teddy Tahu Rhodes earned the ARIA award Best Classical Music Album of the Year

Conkright said he fit in immediately with the musicians at last year’s concert series.

Concerts are set for Wednesday, July 9, Thursday, July 10, Friday, July 11 and Saturday July 12 at 8 p.m. Sunday’s concert will be held at 2 p.m. All concerts will be held in Hoyt Hall at Tabor Academy’s Fireman Performing Arts Center on Front Street.

For more information, visit www.buzzardsbaymusicfest.com.