Doctor Harry VanVelsor founded the North Carolina Jazz Festival because he loved the music so much. At first he wanted to use it as a showcase for big band music and for Dixieland, as these were the types of music he liked. The whole thing has helped put the city of Wilmington squarely on the map.
The event has grown in popularity to such an extent that in the past they're had musical greats such as Keter Betts, Bobby Rosengarden, Kenny Davern and Tony DiNicola. More recently, lots of talented artists have performed including: Ed Polcer, Wycliffe Gordon, Bucky Pizzarelli, Houston Person and Duke Heitger. They're not averse to showcasing young talent either; Jonathan Russell was aged 11 when he performed alongside Bucky Pizzarelli, the legendary guitarist.
Lately the types of music being played has changed a little. In order to attract more people, the organizers felt it imperative to branch out a little and have a little be-hop playing. The event will still keep its Dixieland and big band roots, but it's important to show people that jazz has a wide variety of sounds and not just two.
The festival is noted for the numbers of foreigners that come across and play. There are too many to mention all of them but Anat Cohen from Israel and Jim Galloway from Canada are just two. It just goes to show how prestigious and event it really is.
The founder of the festival withdrew from actively participating since 2006, with control on the board going over to Sandy Evans, the Cape Fear Jazz Society ex-president. The North Carolina Jazz Festival is a not-for-profit organization and is run by non-paid volunteers. Its tradition of bringing excellent artists to the area will remain despite the leadership change.
Most people didn't know much about Wilmington as a city before it had a musical event like this. The city itself is along the Cape Fear River, so apart from the music, people are drawn to the riverside bars, restaurants and the beach. However, for those who like a little bit of culture as well as Jazz, there are art galleries and museums. If history is your thing then you might like the Civil War sites. The point is there is something in it for every type of tourist.
The festival has a format that means you'll be able to come along and take in the music at almost any time. The morning/afternoon slot is great for those who like to get up early, have a late breakfast or early lunch and take in some music. The afternoon/evening set is perfect for those how prefer to spend their nights by the beach or in a restaurant. And the night slot rounds off an evening about as well as could be expected.
The North Carolina Jazz Festival has been going for over three decades and is still going strong. It provides an opportunity for musicians all over the world to congregate in the idyllic town of Wilmington. It also gives amateurs a unique chance to play on stage with some of the featured artists.
The event has grown in popularity to such an extent that in the past they're had musical greats such as Keter Betts, Bobby Rosengarden, Kenny Davern and Tony DiNicola. More recently, lots of talented artists have performed including: Ed Polcer, Wycliffe Gordon, Bucky Pizzarelli, Houston Person and Duke Heitger. They're not averse to showcasing young talent either; Jonathan Russell was aged 11 when he performed alongside Bucky Pizzarelli, the legendary guitarist.
Lately the types of music being played has changed a little. In order to attract more people, the organizers felt it imperative to branch out a little and have a little be-hop playing. The event will still keep its Dixieland and big band roots, but it's important to show people that jazz has a wide variety of sounds and not just two.
The festival is noted for the numbers of foreigners that come across and play. There are too many to mention all of them but Anat Cohen from Israel and Jim Galloway from Canada are just two. It just goes to show how prestigious and event it really is.
The founder of the festival withdrew from actively participating since 2006, with control on the board going over to Sandy Evans, the Cape Fear Jazz Society ex-president. The North Carolina Jazz Festival is a not-for-profit organization and is run by non-paid volunteers. Its tradition of bringing excellent artists to the area will remain despite the leadership change.
Most people didn't know much about Wilmington as a city before it had a musical event like this. The city itself is along the Cape Fear River, so apart from the music, people are drawn to the riverside bars, restaurants and the beach. However, for those who like a little bit of culture as well as Jazz, there are art galleries and museums. If history is your thing then you might like the Civil War sites. The point is there is something in it for every type of tourist.
The festival has a format that means you'll be able to come along and take in the music at almost any time. The morning/afternoon slot is great for those who like to get up early, have a late breakfast or early lunch and take in some music. The afternoon/evening set is perfect for those how prefer to spend their nights by the beach or in a restaurant. And the night slot rounds off an evening about as well as could be expected.
The North Carolina Jazz Festival has been going for over three decades and is still going strong. It provides an opportunity for musicians all over the world to congregate in the idyllic town of Wilmington. It also gives amateurs a unique chance to play on stage with some of the featured artists.
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When you want information on the North Carolina jazz festival, visit the web pages online at www.rowanbluesandjazz.org today. You can see details about schedules and locations at http://www.rowanbluesandjazz.org now.
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