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.
The Hilton Wilmington in downtown Wilmington is usually where the show takes place. Lately, it's tried to branch out a little from its Dixieland roots. Lately they've moved into doing a little be-hop but they probably won't stray far from their Dixieland roots. However, in for such events to expand, they do need to appeal to a broader range of tastes. The idea is to let people know that are more than one or two types of jazz out there.
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.
Dr Harry VanVelsor retired from participating in the event in 2006. He handed over control to Sandy Evans, who was previously the Cape Fear Jazz Society president. The festival is a non-profit entity and is solely run by people that are not paid. Despite the loss of it's founder, the event continues to go from strength to strength and their reputation of bringing some of the best musicians to the area should remain intact.
The festival has really put the city of Wilmington on the map. Wilmington is situated along the banks of the Cape Fear River, and aside from the festival there are several other attractions such as restaurants and museums. It even has a movie studio and beaches, as well as historic Civil War sites, so it's ideal for tourists that like a bit of culture to go with their music.
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.
The Hilton Wilmington in downtown Wilmington is usually where the show takes place. Lately, it's tried to branch out a little from its Dixieland roots. Lately they've moved into doing a little be-hop but they probably won't stray far from their Dixieland roots. However, in for such events to expand, they do need to appeal to a broader range of tastes. The idea is to let people know that are more than one or two types of jazz out there.
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.
Dr Harry VanVelsor retired from participating in the event in 2006. He handed over control to Sandy Evans, who was previously the Cape Fear Jazz Society president. The festival is a non-profit entity and is solely run by people that are not paid. Despite the loss of it's founder, the event continues to go from strength to strength and their reputation of bringing some of the best musicians to the area should remain intact.
The festival has really put the city of Wilmington on the map. Wilmington is situated along the banks of the Cape Fear River, and aside from the festival there are several other attractions such as restaurants and museums. It even has a movie studio and beaches, as well as historic Civil War sites, so it's ideal for tourists that like a bit of culture to go with their music.
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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