Alcorn’s annual Jazz Festival scheduled for April 22 (1980 hits)
Some of the country’s most skilled jazz bands will display their abilities at Alcorn State University’s acclaimed annual musical showcase.
The 37th annual Alcorn State University Jazz Festival will be held Saturday, April 22 at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The free, all day event will kick off at 9 a.m. and will conclude at 9:30 p.m. Jazz musicians and university, college and secondary school jazz ensembles from across the country will perform at the event.
The day’s events will begin with a number of performances by high school and university jazz ensembles from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ramsey Lewis will conduct a workshop from 4 to 5 p.m. The music will continue with a performance by the Mississippi Jazz Educators from 7 to 7: 45 p.m. The festival will conclude with a performance by Lewis and his band from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Ramsey Lewis and His Electric Band is the festival’s featured band. Lewis, a NEA Jazz Master, has been an iconic leader in the contemporary jazz movement for over 50 years. He is a three time Grammy winner, has recorded over 70 albums and has joined forces with countless other artists to create new and innovative music.
Lewis is no stranger to performing at Alcorn’s annual event. Dr. David Miller, director for the Jazz Festival, is excited to bring him back to this year’s event. He applauds him for his outstanding work as a musician.
“Ramsey has performed at the festival twice, so it’s always been a tradition to bring him back whenever we could. He’s a really significant jazz musician. He’s had lots of commercial success, so he will generate a large audience of people.”
The students, according to Miller, will receive a plethora of knowledge that will enhance their musical abilities.
“The young bands will benefit tremendously from performing at the festival because they will get a chance to watch bands from other regions of the country perform,” said Miller. “Students will get an opportunity to mingle with other bands and perfect their craft by attending the workshops.”
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Alcorn State University is a premier comprehensive land-grant university that develops diverse students into globally competitive leaders, and applies scientific research through collaborative partnerships that benefit the surrounding communities, state, nation, and world.
