It's hard to believe that there was once a time when there was no such things as the North Carolina Jazz Festival. It was started in 1980 by Doctor Harry VanVelsor, and has been going strong ever since. As a lover of jazz, he wanted to bring that love to Wilmington, N. C. The accent is on traditional music and the New Orleans Dixieland style of music.
Throughout the years the event has steadily increased in popularity to the point where artists such as Houston Person, Bucky Pizzarelli and Ed Polcer have been booked to perform there. Past artists include the likes of Bobby Rosengarden and Tony DiNicola, so it was not as though the festival has ever struggled to find talent. The organizers are not scared of using young musicians either. When Jonathan Russell performed alongside the guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli he was only 11. Russell has also performed since while aged 12, 13 and 14.
Traditionally, the Wilmington Hilton has been used as the venue for the event. Although the founder wanted to keep the music focused on Dixieland and big band, lately the organizers have tried to appeal to a broader range of taste. To do this they have branched out into other forms of the genre. The purpose of this is obviously to gain more fans and allow for a broader cross-section of people to go, but also it lets people know that there is much more to jazz.
In the past several foreign musicians have graced the stage. Among them are Bria Skonberg and Jim Galloway of Canada, Anat Cohen of Israel and Derek Smith from England.
When Doctor Harry VanVelsor choose to end his participation in the event in 2006 it was already a big deal on the Wilmington calender. He was replaced by Sandy Evans, the former president of the Cape Fear Jazz Society. Evans has insured that the event continues to attract not only some great artists, but also bigger crowds.
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 shows are usually split into three sets, a morning/afternoon set, an afternoon/evening set and a nighttime set. The idea is to end each evening with a rousing stage set that the audience will not forget. Oftentimes the featured musicians will join each other on stage and have an 'all-star' session. These concerts usually last round four to five hours and are among the most popular. One feature that amateur musicians might like is the option of laying along with the professionals during the last hour of brunch.
Wilmington comes alive every year for the North Carolina Jazz Festival. It's not only a chance for musicians from around the world to play, it's an opportunity for tourists to enjoy the music, culture and history that the festival brings.
Throughout the years the event has steadily increased in popularity to the point where artists such as Houston Person, Bucky Pizzarelli and Ed Polcer have been booked to perform there. Past artists include the likes of Bobby Rosengarden and Tony DiNicola, so it was not as though the festival has ever struggled to find talent. The organizers are not scared of using young musicians either. When Jonathan Russell performed alongside the guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli he was only 11. Russell has also performed since while aged 12, 13 and 14.
Traditionally, the Wilmington Hilton has been used as the venue for the event. Although the founder wanted to keep the music focused on Dixieland and big band, lately the organizers have tried to appeal to a broader range of taste. To do this they have branched out into other forms of the genre. The purpose of this is obviously to gain more fans and allow for a broader cross-section of people to go, but also it lets people know that there is much more to jazz.
In the past several foreign musicians have graced the stage. Among them are Bria Skonberg and Jim Galloway of Canada, Anat Cohen of Israel and Derek Smith from England.
When Doctor Harry VanVelsor choose to end his participation in the event in 2006 it was already a big deal on the Wilmington calender. He was replaced by Sandy Evans, the former president of the Cape Fear Jazz Society. Evans has insured that the event continues to attract not only some great artists, but also bigger crowds.
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 shows are usually split into three sets, a morning/afternoon set, an afternoon/evening set and a nighttime set. The idea is to end each evening with a rousing stage set that the audience will not forget. Oftentimes the featured musicians will join each other on stage and have an 'all-star' session. These concerts usually last round four to five hours and are among the most popular. One feature that amateur musicians might like is the option of laying along with the professionals during the last hour of brunch.
Wilmington comes alive every year for the North Carolina Jazz Festival. It's not only a chance for musicians from around the world to play, it's an opportunity for tourists to enjoy the music, culture and history that the festival brings.
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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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