Conrad Herwig, considered the "best trombonist on the planet," will join the NAU Jazz Ensemble One for a concert on Feb. 23. Click here to hear Herwig playing.

Big bands and big names
at NAU Jazz Fest

Ardrey Auditorium will be the cool place to be during the NAU Jazz Festival.

Entering its 45th year on the Mountain Campus, the NAU Jazz Festival from Feb. 22-24 promises three days of music from more than 60 jazz bands, clinics for musicians led by notable jazz instructors and an evening performance with NAU's Jazz Ensemble One and world-renowned trombonist Conrad Herwig.

"It's the place to be for jazz students, teachers, musicians and fans to come perform, learn and network," said Joel DiBartolo, festival director and director of NAU Jazz Studies. "It's an amazing event with a great reputation."

The festival draws about 1,500 attendees and provides an arena for middle-school through college jazz bands to perform in a relaxed atmosphere that "promotes education as opposed to competition," DiBartolo said.

Student jazz bands will perform daily at Ardrey Auditorium for public audiences. These free performances are recorded and critiqued by a guest faculty composed of celebrated jazz educators and performers, who will offer numerous free music clinics for students.

Bands will perform in Ardrey Auditorium every half hour from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

"Students not only get the opportunity to learn more about music by some of the industry's best, they get to know other musicians and about other music programs," DiBartolo said. "We encourage the public to come sit in on some these outstanding up-and-coming jazz musicians' performances."

Schools from Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico will attend the festival.

For information, call (928) 523-3779 or visit nau.edu/jazzfest.

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