This is one of the largest traditional jazz festivals in the Southeast and a STS Top 20 Event.
We will open Thursday night featuring 3 hours of different styles of jazz. Friday and Saturday nights we will return to our 7 sets of traditional jazz with a different leader for each set.
Our all-star musicians are all world renowned and include guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, Dion Tucker on trombone, vocalist Nicki Parrott, John Royen, a powerful pianist from New Orleans.
Wilmington gives a warm welcome to all of the jazz lovers attending our thirty-second annual North Carolina Jazz Festival!
This historic city located on the bank of the Cape Fear River has many interesting shops, art galleries, museums and restaurants, as well as a movie studio, nearby beaches, plus Revolutionary and Civil War sites to explore during your days here.
We will fill your evenings with exciting performances by some of the greatest traditional jazz musicians from around the globe!
Thursday Night Showcase
This year’s opening night event, featuring different styles of jazz, will showcase local piano-man Grenoldo Frazier, then the “beauty & the bass” duo of Melva Houston and Herman Burney. After a brief intermission, we will present two sets of rousing classic jazz with nine of our world class All-Stars, to complete the three hour concert.
The All-Stars performing opening night will be Harry Allen, Herman Burney, John Cocuzzi, Adrian Cunningham, Kevin Dorn, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ed Polcer, Bria Skonberg and Dion Tucker. Click on their photos to learn more about them and their music!
Friday and Saturday Nights
On these evenings we will feature our All-Star musicians in seven sets each night, and each set with a different leader, playing their versions of classic jazz tunes. Concerts start at 7:30 and go until midnight! Cash bar available in the concourse.
Our musicians – this year we will have two vibes players – John Cocuzzi and Chuck Redd. Chuck will also play drums and John will play piano and do some vocals. We have some of the best, most versatile musicians playing today! Bucky Pizzarelli will be back as our senior jazz anchor with his wonderful guitar renditions. On the horns we will have another of our anchors, Ed Polcer, direct from commutes between New York City and New Orleans, plus the talented, vivacious young lady from British Columbia, Bria Skonberg, who also sings. Newcomer to NCJF this year will be Dion Tucker on trombone – Dion plays with Harry Connick Jr.’s band, as well as the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. We welcome back tenor saxophonist Harry Allen and Australian jazzman, Adrian Cunningham, who was new to NCJF in 2010, and plays clarinet, alto & tenor sax, and flute. The rhythm section is covered by drummers Kevin Dorn and Chuck Redd, bassists Herman Burney and another Aussie import Nicki Parrott (Nicki will also give us some of her entertaining vocal renditions)! Other newcomers to NCJF this year are John Royen, a powerful stride pianist from New Orleans, and Patrick Harison, a talented young jazz accordianist from Minneapolis, Minn.
For additional festival information and reservations 910-793-1111 or [email protected]
Hilton Wilmington Riverside
301 N. Water Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
www.ncjazzfestival.com
