The Jazz Academy of Music (501c3) is proud to announce the first annual Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival (MAJF), to take place at The Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center. Produced by saxophonist/educator Paul Carr, Executive Director of The Jazz Academy of Music, the MAJF will reignite the Festival in the flavor, style and spirit of the former East Coast Jazz Festival (founded in 1992 by the late vocalist/educator Ronnie Wells). With a commitment to jazz education and a desire to present the exceptional level of talent of the DC metro area, the MAJF will offer Festival attendees an entire weekend of the finest local/regional artists, and national artists such as Mulgrew Miller, Bobby Watson, Lewis Nash, Terell Stafford and Marc Cary, coupled with a host of budding high school ensembles, jazz workshops, master classes, jazz film screenings, and much, much more. All under one roof! In a recent JazzTimes feature on The MAJF Carr explained that, the talent is coming from everywhere, but we intend to embrace the real sense of community. I know that the DC area has so many great musicians. They'll always be a big part of this Festival. Hey, I live here, I know."
The MAJF attracts thousands of jazz fans and industry folks from across the Eastern Seaboard, including New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Maryland and Virginia, etc. The MAJF provides an affordable weekend getaway that will delight audiences of all ages and is guaranteed to chase away the winter blues," said Artistic Director Willard Jenkins. For the industry crowd, The MAJF fills a void left by the demise of the IAJE Convention, offering a similar setting for networking, fellowship with colleagues, and the opportunity to be exposed to the current and future waves of important jazz artists.
For the jazz community (fans and artists alike) of the DC Metro area, the Festival has been sorely missed (the last East Coast Jazz Festival was presented in 2007). Under the late Ronnie Wells' direction, The ECJF provided a much-anticipated mid-winter jazz escape where you could hear the music as it was (classic sounds in the tradition), as it is (the current scene), and as it will be (the next generation)! The Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival is now primed to continue in that spirit and tradition.
About The Jazz Academy of Music The Jazz Academy of Music Inc, a non-profit 501c3 organization, established in 2002, is a manifestation of a longtime dream of Paul Carr, its Executive Director, to extend the music education opportunities afforded him, as an inner city youth, to others. The Jazz Academy programs draw from and build upon the disciplines of music education Carr experienced in his youth.
The mission of the Academy is to advance and preserve jazz music through education. The Jazz Academy makes available instructional opportunities to children and adults who have an interest in developing their, talent and knowledge about music. While the emphasis is on the jazz genre, the Academy offers instruction for beginners who are just being introduced to the art form.
About The Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Business and leisure travelers visiting the Washington DC/Rockville, MD area will experience well-appointed comfort & impeccable service at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center, an atrium-styled hotel and event venue. The hotel features a staff committed to excellence, extraordinary dining options, and an outstanding location near the Metro Red Line (Twinbrook Station), which provides convenient door-to-door access for travelers arriving via Amtrak (Union Station) or Vamoose Bus (Bethesda Station). For those interested in shopping, world class merchants can be found only one stop away at White Flint Mall (White Flint Station).
The Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Schedule of Events:
FRIDAY - February 19
Jazz Academy Orchestra - 7:00 PM Featuring: Dick Smith, Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
Bret Primack, The Jazz Video Guy - 7:30 PM Jazz Video Screening, Film Screening - Washington Room
A Tribute to Ronnie Wells - 8:30 PM Featuring: Janine Carter, Bonnie Harris, Felicia Carter, and the Chris Grasso Trio Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
Mulgrew Miller - 9:00 PM WPFW's Rusty Hassan interviews Mulgrew Miller, Interview - Washington Room
The Paul Carr Quintet - 10:00 PM Featuring: Terell Stafford, Mulgrew Miller, Michael Bowie, Lewis Nash, Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
Bobby Watson - 10:15 PM Jazz Times Before and After (Live) --WPFW's Larry Applebaum facilitates blind critique w/Bobby Watson Critique - Washington Room
MAJF Midnight Jam Session with the Wes Biles Trio - 12:00 AM Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
SATURDAY - February 20
Jazz Academy Ensemble - 10:00 AM Performance - Atrium
Sherwood High School Jazz Ensemble - 11:00 AM Performance - Atrium
Whitman High School Jazz Ensemble - 12:00 PM Performance - Atrium
The Eric Byrd Trio with the Brother Ray Band - 12:00 PM Featuring: A tribute to Ray Charles, Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
TBD - 1:00 PM Drums Master Class, Master Class - Washington Room
Blake High School - 1:00 PM Performance - Atrium
TBD - High School Jazz Ensemble - 2:00 PM Performance - Atrium
The Anderson Twins - 2:00 PM Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
Terell Stafford - 2:00 PM Trumpet Master Class, Master Class - Washington Room
The Blues Alley Youth Orchestra - 3:00 PM Performance - Atrium
The Jolley Twins - 3:00 PM Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
Paul Carr, Bobby Watson, Bruce Williams - 3:00 PM Saxophone Master Class sponsored in part by Vandoren, Master Class - Washington Room
Walter Johnson High School - 4:00 PM Performance - Atrium
Imani - 4:30 PM Featuring: The Pepe Gonzalez Trio, Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
DC Jazz Orchestra - 7:00 PM Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
Bret Primack, The Jazz Video Guy - 7:30 PM Jazz Video Screening, Film Screening - Washington Room
Marc Cary FOCUS Quartet - 8:30 PM Featuring: Marc Cary, Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
Janine Carter, Bonnie Harris - 9:00 PM WPFW's Miyuki Williams interviews Janine Carte and Bonnie Harris, Interview - Washington Room
The Word on Bird: Saxophone Summit - 10:00 PM Featuring: Bobby Watson, Bruce Williams, Fred Foss, Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
Marc Cary - 10:15 PM Jazz Times Before and After (Live) - WPFW's Larry Applebaum facilitates blind critique w/Marc Cary Critique - Washington Room
MAJF Midnight Jam Session with the Wes Biles Trio - 12:00 AM Performance - Ronnie Wells Main Stage
SUNDAY - February 21
Sharon Clark Jazz Brunch with Sharon Clark, Performance - Atrium
For more information contact Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity.