Jazz Festival celebrates 45 years of music and education

It’s a sapphire anniversary for the Rowan Jazz Festival as it celebrates 45 years of focusing on education, encouragement, and enjoyment for young musicians…in addition to offering entertainment for jazz aficionados of all ages with From Sinatra to the Stones, a gala concert on Friday, February 13.

Festival director and faculty member Denis DiBlasio, himself celebrating his 20th year leading the event, is proud of the unique tone behind what Rowan does.

“Almost every college does a jazz festival but the style of this is different,” he notes. “Nobody wins, nobody loses. It’s not about competition.”

Indeed, the three-day festival, hosted by Rowan’s Maynard Ferguson Institute of Jazz Studies from February 11 - 13, will bring in middle school and high school bands from around the region. Nearly 13 bands a day, each day, will mean almost 1,000 student performers visiting the campus. This year’s event draws groups from across New Jersey, as well as Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York. While here they experience adjudication sessions, clinics, and performances aimed at improving their skills, while also showcasing their talent.

“It’s a very welcoming environment,” DiBlasio adds, pointing out that, during daytime sessions with the individual ensembles, the professionals (faculty and guest musicians) often join in.

“I like the idea that we get to sit in and work with the students,” he says. “You see their eyes light up and that’s the impact you can’t put into words.”

This year one of the pros on hand will be guest artist and renowned trombonist Mike Davis, who will be right there alongside DiBlasio and other faculty in working with the young musicians.

A previous guest at the 32nd festival in 2002, Davis also headlines the closing night concert – which takes its title from his career - on February 13 at 8:00 p.m. in Pfleeger Concert Hall.

Regarded as one of the premier trombonists on the contemporary music scene, Davis has enjoyed a diverse and acclaimed career. Widely known as the trombonist for The Rolling Stones, his gig before that was touring and recording with Frank Sinatra from 1988 to 1994. Aside from that, Davis has released 10 recordings of his own, composed over 150 works and authored 10 books, in addition to playing on more than 500 CDs and film soundtracks. The list of jazz and pop luminaries he has worked with includes Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, Jay Z, Sarah Vaughan, Sting, Beck, Branford Marsalis, Peter Gabriel, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett, Paul Simon, David Sanborn, Terence Blanchard and scores of others.

Offered this year as part of the College of Performing Arts’ Marie Rader Presenting Series, the closing concert takes place in Pfleeger Concert Hall. General admission tickets are $15; and $12 for seniors/non-Rowan students/staff/alumni/military. Rowan students are admitted free with valid ID. For tickets or additional concert information, call the box office at (856) 256-4545 or purchase online at rowan.tix.com.

The daytime schedule - from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Rowan’s Wilson Hall - features free one-hour jazz clinics at 11:45 a.m. which are open to the public. For more information on the daily schedule, contact DiBlasio at 856-256-4500, ext. 3528.

The 45th Annual Rowan Jazz Festival is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.