As a growing list of concerts and festivals are being canceled or postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Wilmington’s premier annual summer jazz festival has found a way to connect with audiences where they are.
The 33rd Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival will be live-streamed from a local music studio next week over four days — Wednesday, June 24 through Saturday, June 27th.
The city’s first virtual jazz festival includes a robust line-up of 15 groups featuring 80 local and regional artists. Sets begin at 7 pm the first three nights and 3 pm on Saturday. Tune in to Facebook, YouTube and local tv stations listed below.
The concert is free, but donations are accepted. A portion of contributions to Cityfest, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit, will be directed to a COVID-19 Relief Fund to help local musicians affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz said for the first time, the festival may even reach new audiences who haven’t had the chance to visit the Rodney Square event.
The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival is an annual tribute to the late jazz trumpter Clifford Brown, who was born on Wilmington’s Eastside in 1930. Considered one of the 20th century’s greatest trumpet players, Brown died at the age of 25 in a car accident. His works still have considerable influence on jazz trumpeters today.
2020 Performance Lineup for the 33rd Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
7 pm – Pre-festival event featuring the Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency Program and graduates
Thursday, June 25, 2020
7 pm – Arturo Stable Quartet
8:10 pm – Sharon Sable Quintet
9:20 pm – Cintron
Friday, June 26, 2020
7 pm – Gerald Chavis Quintet
8:05 pm – Mike Boone Quartet
9:10 pm – Barbara Walker
10:15 pm – Jonathan Barber & Vision Ahead
Saturday, June 27, 2020
3 pm – Vertical Current
4:05 pm – “Voices for Healing” with Raye Jones Avery
4:55 pm – Terra Soul Project
6 pm – Dennis Fortune
7:05 pm – The Whitney Project
8:10 pm – Korey Riker Band
9:15 pm – Fostina Dixon & the Winds of Change
10:30 pm – Jeff Bradshaw Band
The city offers special thanks to Delmarva Power, ShopRite and the Kenny Family Foundation, Ken-Del Studios, DETV Channel 28, and Wilmington City Council’s WITN Channel 22.
