This month's Northern Michigan University Jazz Festival will be preceded by a presentation on the history of jazz at NMU to coincide with the university's 125th anniversary and feature opening and closing concerts with guest artist Matt Wilson, a drummer, band leader and educator. The annual festival brings middle and high school students from throughout the region to campus for performances and clinics.
Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center Director Dan Truckey will discuss the little-known history of the first jazz performers in Northern's dance halls, gymnasiums and auditoriums during a free public presentation at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in Mead Auditorium.
The NMU Jazz Festival opening night concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, in Reynolds Recital Hall. It features Wilson, who has released 13 albums as a leader, appeared on more than 400 as a sideman, and performed with some of jazz's most legendary musicians. He will be accompanied by the NMU Jazz Band and NMU Jazz Combo. Friday's closing concert, featuring Wilson and the same ensembles, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 21, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Tickets for each are $12 and can be purchased at the door or in advance at tickets.nmu.edu.
The festival runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Registered school ensembles will perform in scheduled time slots, receiving feedback and working with festival clinicians. On Thursday, performances and clinics will run from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch and a guest artist clinic led by Wilson at 1 p.m. Ensembles will continue performing from 2 to 5 p.m., with a jam session in Hedgcock Atrium before the evening concert.
Friday's schedule includes ensemble performances from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch and another guest artist clinic with Wilson at 1 p.m. Additional ensemble performances will take place from 2 to 5 p.m., with another jam session from 5:30 to 7 p.m. before the second evening concert.
NMU has hosted numerous jazz clinics and concerts over the past 50 years, but the current NMU Jazz Festival began in 1998 when the NMU Friends of Jazz invited legendary trumpeter Clark Terry to perform with the NMU Jazz Band. Several local high school bands participated in clinics alongside the event, and positive responses led to the festival becoming an annual tradition.