The 30th Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival | Feb. 4th – 6th, 2010

Since its inception in 1980, the North Carolina Jazz Festival (a 2010 Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event) continues a tradition of bringing world-class jazz musicians to Wilmington, North Carolina. During the weekend of February 4 through 6, 2010, the North Carolina Jazz Festival will celebrate 30 years with concerts by more than a dozen traditional jazz artists who perform in a cabaret-style setting at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside’s newly renovated ballroom.

Fans can see and hear their favorite traditional jazz musicians perform live, along with opportunities to meet and mingle with the artists.

To celebrate 30 years, this year’s North Carolina Jazz Festival kicks off on Thursday night with a “Styles of Jazz” concert vocalist Stephanie Nakasian & the Hod O’Brien Trio; New Orleans style jazz by the Duke Heitger Sextet; and local favorites Grenaldo Frazier (piano, vocals)and Kevin Kolb Quartet, . On Saturday morning festival patrons will enjoy a musical birthday cruise along the Cape Fear River with New Orleans style jazz and North Carolina barbecue.

On Friday and Saturday nights the festival features 14 world-renowned musicians,including guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli (www.benedettoguitars.com/players_bucky.php, Butch Miles on drums(www.butchmiles.com , pianist Hod O’Brien (www.hodobrien.com), and DukeHeitger on trumpet (www.dukeheitger.com). Other all-star jazz musiciansinclude: Mark Shane (piano; www.shanepianojazz.com Frank Tate (bass;www.atlantajazzparty.com/Tate.html Tom Fischer (reeds;www.tomfischermusic.com and John Allred (trombone;www.myspace.com/johnallredmusic. Back by popular demand are festivalfavorites Anat Cohen (reeds; www.anatcohen.com Ed Polcer (trumpet/cornet; www.edpolcer.com); Joe Ascione (drums;www.joeascione.com John Cocuzzi (vibes and piano;www.johncocuzzimusic.com/music.html Herman Burney (bass;www.hermanburney.com and Stephanie Nakasian (vocalist;www.stephanienakasian.com

“This year the North Carolina Jazz Festival is pleased to present some of our very talented local musicians, as well as 14 all-star musicians from across the nation, to bring to Wilmington a very exciting weekend of live jazz, ” states Sandy Evans, Chairman of the N.C. Jazz Festival.

Presented in partnership with the Cape Fear Jazz Society, the North Carolina Jazz festival is the only traditional jazz festival of its size from Virginia to Georgia. Advance reservations are recommended, as this event often sells out.

Individual concert ticket prices vary:Thursday ($30 per person; $15 student rate); Friday and Saturday ($50 general admission; $25 military rate; $15 student rate, each night). Patron tickets ($175 each) include admission to Friday/Saturday concerts and the Patron’s Musical Brunch with all-star musicians (Saturday). Patrons may include Thursday night’s special event concert for a total ticket price of $200. For tickets and information about the N.C. Jazz Festival, call 910-793-1111 or visit www.ncjazzfestival.com. Tickets may also be purchased at Audio Lab (5732 Oleander Dr.,Wilmington; 910-392-1200). With the exception of the Patron’s Birthday Cruise, all events take place at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, the festival’s host hotel (301 N. Water Street, Wilmington). For hotel reservations and special festival room rates, call 910-763-5900 or visit www.wilmingtonhilton.com.