Trumpets, saxophones, trombones, pianos, tubas and drums in addition to musicians from all over the country will all be a part of the next annual jazz festival.Organized by WCU professor, Matt Niess, the week will be held Monday Feb. 16 through Friday Feb. 20 and will feature 10 different groups and ensembles on campus. Some of the groups have performed all over the country and are professional musicians.
Sponsored by the Friends of Jazz, an organization formed by local people in the community who donate money towards the Friends of Jazz fund, and the School of Music, excluding the Duke Ellington Orchestra Concert on Friday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m., all events are free and open to the public.
The week begins at noon on Monday with the Don Glanden Quartet in Swope Hall and in the evening the Jazz Faculty of WCU will be performing at 8 p.m. On Tuesday, Gloria Galante and Odean Pope will perform at noon and the Criterions and the Army Blues with perform at 8 p.m. Wednesdays events include the Mark Adler Quintet at noon and the Capitol Bones and High Phive at 8 p.m. The Matt Hochmiller Quartet will perform on Thursday Feb. 19 at noon, followed by The Dixie Power Trio at 8 p.m. The week will conclude on Friday Feb. 20 with The Tom Lawton Trio at noon and the Duke Ellington Orchestra at 8 p.m. Neiss said students should attend because, “They should come because its great and its free.” For more information about the festival, call x2379 or go to www.wcupa.edu.