We are very pleased to announce that Mr. Clyde Edgerton has donated his original oil painting of jazz musicians, to be the object of our 36th Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival benefit raffle. Edgerton was chosen as the North Carolina Azalea Festival artist for 2015, when his delicate white azalea blossom was their official artwork for that year, so it is fitting that he continue to be connected to local festivals through his art. This year’s NCJF painting will be one done from a photograph of Ma Rainey and her Georgia Jazz Band, from the early 1920’s.

Clyde Edgerton is probably best known for his works as an author, of which he has ten novels, a book of advice, a memoir, short stories and essays. Three of his novels were made into movies. He has been a Guggenheim Fellow and five of his novels have been New York Times Notable Books. He is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers and is the Thomas S. Kenan III Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at UNC Wilmington.

As a musician Edgerton has performed with Jim Watson, Mike Craver, Jack King, Matt Kendrick and others. You may not recognize the names of these musicians, as they are not jazz musicians, and Clyde’s music is not jazz, but does represent a unique segment of North Carolina music, with a mixture of country and gospel and some very non-traditional subjects. He has written the words and the music for many of the songs that he has recorded.

Clyde, his wife Kristina, and their children reside in Wilmington. Be sure to stop by the artist’s table at the festival to chat with the him – he will have more of his jazz paintings available there also.

The North Carolina Jazz Festival has recently added to its Jazz Education Program a partnership with Dreams INC, a local non-profit organization which provides youth in need, with high quality classes in the literary, visual, and performing arts. This is done through afterschool programs and this year we added a summer jazz program for students.

Our participation in this program is to fund local professional jazz musicians to give monthly workshops under the direction of local guitarist Roger Davis, teaching artist at Dreams. We have had an exciting year so far…In January, we had local musician and UNCW professor, Mike Waddell, come and teach the students all about the clarinet and saxophone. In February, we had Jack Krupicka educate the students on piano. March, we had Vince Stout bring his steel drum and he perform everything from classical music to jazz and everything in between! And in April, we had local bassist Doug Irving show how the bass is played, and encourage the students to practice, practice, practice…

This summer, we had local drummer Paige Ashley Zalman give basic drum lessons to students at Dreams and local musician/band director/teacher David Tyson played recognizable numbers on his trumpet and did lessons on guitar as well.

We are pleased to be able to take part in spreading the artistry of jazz to students who might not otherwise have this opportunity, and at the same time recognize the high level of musicianship in our local jazz community.

It is our mission to inspire the next generation of jazz enthusiasts and students through free workshops and professionally led master classes.

North Carolina Jazz Festival (NCJF) is pleased to announce being the recipient of the following grants for 2016
• North Carolina Grassroots for $3,000
. Landfall Foundation for $2,000

North Carolina Jazz Festival will use this money for three educational programs consisting of seven free Master Classes for music students, a concert/workshop at Snipes Academy, and one at D.C.Virgo Preparatory Academy.  Over 650 students in all are expected to participate.  These programs will help the music students and middle school students learn more about jazz music from professional musicians, add to their enjoyment of learning and create audiences of the future.  For some students, this will be their initial introduction to jazz and may encourage them to play a musical instrument or at least expand their understanding and appreciation of jazz.  Following the master classes, those students will be invited to attend the Friday evening performance (at no charge) where they will see/hear their master class teachers, along with the other all-star musicians of the North Carolina Jazz Festival, present world class jazz!

MASTER CLASS SUPPORTERS:

I would like to contribute $_________toward tickets for a student(s) who participates in the NCJF Student Master Class program to attend that evening’s concert.

The students who participate in the Master Classes appreciate and have a great respect for the “world-class musicians” who donate their time to teach these jazz classes.  After the Master Classes, students can have an opportunity to see the musicians performing live on stage.  The students benefit greatly by watching these musicians play jazz together and to see what the North Carolina Jazz Festival is all about!

This year’s master class teachers will be Nate Najar (guitar), Bria Skonberg (trumpet), Adrian Cunningham (reeds), Dion Tucker (trombone), Jonathan Russell  (violin), Chuck Redd (percussion), and Herman Burney (bass).

In many instances the North Carolina Jazz Festival will be the first time these young musicians will have been exposed to a live jazz event.  So we thank you for making this possible, for it may have a direct influence on a budding talent and help keep the future of jazz alive!

All Master Class Supporters will be listed in the 2015 NCJF program booklet as donors to our jazz youth program.  If you prefer not to have your name  included in the list please note.

Donor Name_______________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________

E-mail address______________________________________________________

Phone #___________________________________________________________

Please note here if you do not want to be listed as a donor__________________  

 Please make checks payable to NCJF, with a notation “for master class students”                                     

NC Jazz Festival @ Wilmington president Sandy Evans presents Bucky Pizzaarelli with his plaque

World renowned musicians, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and cornetist Ed Polcer were honored at this year’s Patron’s Brunch with the presentation of individually crafted plaques created by local artist Justine Ferrari of Creations by Justine. 

Ed Polcer

This was Bucky’s 12^th appearance at the festival and Ed’s 21^st.  The NCJF board of directors made this presentation as a token of our appreciation of the gift of jazz excellence that these musicians have given and continue to give to audiences around the globe, but particularly here in Wilmington, NC.

Continuing in our efforts to bring different styles of jazz to the North Carolina Jazz Festival’s opening night each year, the NCJF will present a tribute to the great Brazilian Jazz musician Antonio Carlos Jobim on Thursday night, at our 34^th annual event.

Headlining this segment will be Brazilian born vocalist Maucha  Adnet, who sang with Jobim for 10 years.  A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she now resides in New York City, where she is a busy performer.

Joining  Maucha for this salute to Brazilian Jazz will be NYC’s Harry Allen on tenor sax; Israeli born Ehud Asherie – piano; Tampa native Nate Najar – guitar; Australia/NYC’s Nicki Parrott – bass; and internationally acclaimed, U.S. born, Chuck Redd on drums.  This great American Heritage, JAZZ, is loved and played world-wide, and we are proud to bring some of the best international jazz musicians together on our stage to perform a style of jazz nurtured in Brazil.

Just a few of the other all-star performers for our 2014 jazz weekend will be trumpeter/vocalist  Bria Skonberg, formerly from  British Columbia, now living in NYC; Aussie reedman Adrian Cunningham, cornetist Ed Polcer (NYC & NOLA) and America’s favorite guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.

Friday and Saturday nights will feature our traditional 6 or 7 sets, each with a different leader.