John Coltrane, often referred to simply as “Trane,” was a remarkable jazz saxophonist, composer and music innovator whose influence on the world of music remains profound to this day. Born in 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina, and passing away tragically young at the age of 40 in 1967, Coltrane’s brief life was nonetheless marked by groundbreaking innovations in jazz and an enduring impact on the genre. The Early Years Coltrane’s journey in music began as a saxophonist in various big bands, including those led by Dizzy Gillespie and Johnny Hodges. However, it wasn’t until he joined the Miles Davi ..read more

Get ready for a soulful journey at the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival! We are thrilled to announce the lineup for this year’s celebration. Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store: And that’s not all! We’re excited to share a special performance previewed by our local news partners. Dive into the mesmerizing tunes of the UNCG Spartan Jazz Collective right here: Join us for a weekend of unforgettable music, vibrant energy, and a shared love for jazz and blues. Book your tickets now! ColtraneFestival2023 #JazzLovers #BluesNights ..read more

April is Jazz Appreciation Month. Known as JAM, it was created at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History in 2001 to recognize and celebrate the history of jazz. JAM encourages people of all ages to embrace jazz music by attending concerts, joining discussion groups, listening to jazz on the radio and recordings, reading books and more.  WHY APRIL? April was chosen as the month to focus attention on jazz because so many of the iconic practitioners of the genre were born in this month. The array of artists is dizzying. Tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine was born o ..read more

Joy emanates from Grammy Award-winning contemporary jazz guitarist Norman Brown when he is playing. The guitar is simply an extension of him. The multi-platinum selling and chart-topping musician will take the stage on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at the 12th John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival.  With all of the accolades that Norman Brown has amassed the past three decades, including Grammy and Soul Train Music Awards, he has stayed the course for one reason. “Knowing that I’ve been commissioned by the Most High to channel a message of inspiration and motivation, brings me hap ..read more

Celebrating 40 years in music, NEA Jazz Master and three-time Grammy award-winning drummer, producer and educator, Terri Lyne Carrington will bring a special performance to the 12th John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. Terri Lyne Carrington started her professional career in Massachusetts at 10 years-old when she became the youngest person to receive a union card in Boston. After studying under a full scholarship at Berklee College of Music, Carrington worked as an in-demand musician in New York City, and later moved to Los Angeles, where she gained rec ..read more

A specific kind of excitement fills backstage when it is time to present those who won the John Coltrane Student Instrument Contest with their prize instruments and present the winners on stage. For many of the young people, the moment represents reaching a goal or at least attaining a needed component to help them reach a goal.   As one winner from 2021 wrote, “I would like to be the winner of this competition because with the school-issued trumpet I have now, there are notes and limits that I can’t reach and if I get a new trumpet, I will be able to reach those limits and other goa ..read more

Two Grammy Award-winning artists who have each embraced the cultural resonance of the Latin Jazz genre, bring the rhythm and swing to the 11th John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival. Internationally acclaimed vocalist and songwriter Aymée Nuviola will be joined by Marlow Rosado, pianist, composer and  arranger on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. AYMÉE NUVIOLA Aymée Nuviola is a Cuban-born singer, pianist, composer and actress, nicknamed “La Sonera del Mundo”. She is also known for portraying the “Queen of Salsa,” Celia Cruz, in a Colombian television series “Celia,” which brought Nuv ..read more

Jazz bassist Christian McBride took home his eighth Grammy Award at the 2022 ceremony. He won for Best Large Jazz Ensemble for his 17 piece Christian McBride Big Band album “For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver.” The project paid tribute to icons of their instruments, organist Jimmy Smith, guitarist Wes Montgomery and saxophonist/composer Oliver Nelson. Christian McBride and Inside Straight will co-headline the 11th John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival (JCIJBF) on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. Inside Straight includes pianist Peter Martin, vibraphonist  Warren Wolf, saxophonist Steve Wilso ..read more