Jazz Things Up for April
04/09/2008
Contact Info :  Jessica Orr
Email :  Jessica.A.Orr@ncmail.net
Phone :  (919) 807-6520

April is National Jazz Month, an important month to a state whose citizens have been so integral in making jazz what it is today. North Carolinians continue the jazz tradition by using the old forms to invent new music. Some of the most famous jazz musicians to ever play have their roots in North Carolina--legends such as John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk whose beginnings helped them revolutionize music.

Explore North Carolina's musical roots and take the opportunity this April to listen to the cultural heritage of jazz. Below are some events to help jazz up your month. Look at what's going on in your area through www.ncarts.org/events.

N.C. Central University/African American Jazz Caucus Jazz Research Institute (NAJRI) HBCU Jazz Conference/Festival
April 16-19
North Carolina Central University, Durham
This four day conference and festival is primarily intended for educators but includes some nightly jazz concerts and jam sessions that are fun for general public. Conference topics include the role of jazz in the community, unique issues affecting jazz education programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), vocal and instrumental clinics, master classes and continuing education credit workshops. The featured artists will be Terence Blanchard and Dee Dee Bridgewater.
(919) 530-6295, cwinston@nccu.edu

Duke Jazz Ensemble
April 11, 2008, 8 p.m.
Baldwin Auditorium at Duke University, Durham
Under the direction of John Brown, the Duke Jazz Ensemble performs at Balwin Auditorium with a special guest, to be announced soon. The Duke Jazz Ensemble is comprised of some twenty musicians presenting a full schedule of concerts each year, in which they are joined by guest artists who have included jazz greats Louie Bellson, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Ellis Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, T.S. Monk, and Branford Marsalis.
(919) 684-4444, www.tickets.duke.edu

4th Annual JAZZ & BLUES Fest
April 11-12
New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, New Bern
This year's fest will consist of two nights of entertainment. Enjoy Blues Night on Friday with an opening performance by Teresa James featuring Melvin Taylor. Saturday is Jazz Night with an opening performance by John Brown, Jr. featuring Nnenna Freelon.
(252) 633-1861, www.newbernjazzandbluesfest.com

Cool Jazz Music Festival
April 26
New Hope Park, Hillsborough
A festival featuring jazz where musicians such as Nnenna Freelon, The John Brown Quintet, The Michael Bennett Group, Marcus Mitchell and Company, Equinox, Cedar Ridge High, Orange High, A.L. Stanback Middle School, Stanford Middle School and others perform throughout the day at New Hope Park (Blackwood Farms).
(919) 245-2660, Jhester@co.orange.nc.us, www.co.orange.nc.us/RecParks/special_events.asp

Jazz on George
April 19
100 Block of S. George Street, Downtown Goldsboro
Featuring live jazz performances by Shawnette Beatty, Starlight Dance Band, and Julia Dixon, antique car show, food, fun, and more.
(919) 735-4959, llanders@ci.goldsboro.nc.us, www.dgdc.org/

The UNCA Jazz Festival & Jazz Choir
April 19
Lipinsky Auditorium at UNC-Ashville, Asheville
Fifth Annual Invitational Jazz Festival featuring high school jazz ensembles performing for clinicians throughout the day. The UNCA Jazz Lab Band will perform at 5 pm with this year's guest artist.

The Billy Taylor Jazz Festival
April 24-26
Locations at and near East Carolina University, Greenville
This annual festival offers three public concerts, a free jam session, critiquing sessions for eight or more high school and middle school jazz bands, and opportunities for jazz friends to mingle and celebrate.
http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cfac/music/jazz/jazz-festival/index.cfm

About the North Carolina Arts Council

The North Carolina Arts Council works to make North Carolina The Creative State where a robust arts industry produces a creative economy, vibrant communities, children prepared for the 21st century and lives filled with discovery and learning. The Arts Council accomplishes this in partnership with artists and arts organizations, other organizations that use the arts to make their communities stronger and North Carolinians—young and old—who enjoy and participate in the arts. For more information visit www.ncarts.org.

About the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources

The N.C. Arts Council is a division of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, which annually serves more than 19 million people through its 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, the nation’s first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the N.C. Arts Council, and the State Archives.

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources serves as a champion for North Carolina’s creative industry, which employs nearly 300,000 North Carolinians and contributes more than $41 billion to the state’s economy. To learn more, visit www.ncculture.com.