31st Annual EAGLES AND IVORIES MUSIC FEST (Muscatine, IA) – Jan. 16-19
The 31st Annual Eagles & Ivories Music Fest is staged in Muscatine, Iowa, at five different locations. A free eagle watch takes place Saturday morning at Pearl City Station in Riverfront Park. The music will be performed by Ivory &Gold® featuring Jeff and Anne Barnhart, Andy Schumm, Josh Duffee, Marty Mincer, the Mad Creek Mudcats, and the Locust Street Boys. Special events include silent film accompaniment.
An entire four-day concert package costs $70; individual event admissions range from $5 to $20; children ages 16 and younger are admitted free to all events; for more information and tickets: muscatineartscouncil.org; (563) 263-9978; davidales@machlink.com.
TUCSON JAZZ FESTIVAL (Tucson, AZ) – January 17-25
A week-long, city-wide event with individually ticketed concerts at the historic Fox and Rialto theaters, as well as TCC Music Hall and Club Congress, with some free outdoor events around town. Acts of interest to TST readers include Emmet Cohen Trio, Gunhild Carling, Samara Joy, The Black Market Trust, Delfeayo Marsalis and The Uptown Jazz Orchestra w/Opening Act-New Breed Brass Band, and Caity Gyorgy. Adventurous readers can explore a dozen other acts.
Ticket pricing, festival schedule, and lodging information may be found at the festival website: tucsonjazzfestival.org; (520) 989-0720.
JAZZ FEST AT SEA (Caribbean) January 17-27, 2025
If you are a fan of Swing, Dixieland, Classic Jazz, Chicago Jazz, Traditional Jazz, in fact just about any style which emerged during the first half of the 20th century, plan to attend JazzFest at Sea – presented in a private jazz club atmosphere limited to 200 guests! Our cruise will be departing roundtrip Miami to St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Thomas, Dominican Republic and Ocean Cay on the MSC Divina for 10-nights of jazz and fun.
Scheduled artists include Allan Vaché – clarinet, Terry Myers – tenor sax, Houston Person – tenor sax, Davy Jones – cornet, Dave Bennett – clarinet, Mike Francis – piano, Kris Tokarski – piano, Jim Fryer – trombone, Jake Jones – guitar & banjo, Jon-Erik Kellso – trumpet, Mark Shane – piano, Danny Coots – drums, Charlie Silva – bass, Paul Keller – bass, Ricky Malichi – drums, with Vocalists Banu Gibson and Yve Evans.
Call us for more information! 1-800-654-8090 or visit www.JazzFestatSea.com
NORTH CAROLINA JAZZ FESTIVAL (Wilmington, NC) – Feb. 6-8
Wilmington gives a warm welcome to all the jazz lovers attending our 45th Annual North Carolina Jazz Festival! This historic city located on the banks of the Cape Fear River has many interesting shops, art galleries, museums and restaurants, as well as a movie studio, nearby beaches, plus Revolutionary and Civil War sites to explore during your days here. We will fill your evenings with exciting performances by some of the greatest traditional jazz musicians from around the globe!
Thursday Night Showcase: The Carlos Garcia Trio will open the evening with a performance dedicated to the music of Bill Evans. The Gregg Gelb Quartet will headline the opening night’s Special Event.
All concerts begin at 7:30 pm and are held at the Hotel Ballast ballroom. Friday and Saturday nights we will continue our celebration with All-Star musicians playing in the traditional seven sets of six or seven players, each set with a different leader. You will hear many of our favorite NCJF musicians plus new additions to our lineup. These will be 4 ½ hour concerts.
Scheduled musicians include Chuck Redd, Bruce Harris, Charlie Halloran, Herman Burney, Jonathan Russell, Lucy Yeghiazaryan, Nate Najar, Rossano Sportiello, Shaye Cohn, Kevin Bales, Emily Asher, Chris Gelb, Ken Peplowski, Bill Easley, and Jennifer Hodge.
Patron Brunch: On Saturday from 10:30 am until 2:00 pm we treat our patrons to a musical brunch, when all of our All-star musicians play for their pleasure while everyone enjoys a delicious meal. During the last hour we have a “jam,” when the patrons who are musicians have the opportunity to play with the All-stars. Fun for all!
Tickets are $65 each night for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each night tickets for military are $25 and are $15 for students. Patron tickets are $215, for the Friday and Saturday evening concerts plus the special patron brunch. Patrons receive preferred, reserved seating plus their names in the program. The $240 patron tickets include all the above plus tickets to Thursday evening’s Special Event. Tickets may be purchased from the festival website.
For more information visit www.ncjazzfestival.org, e-mail ncjazzfest@yahoo.com, or call 910-399-6536.
TEAGARDEN JAZZ FESTIVAL for Young Musicians (Sacramento, CA) Feb. 8
The joy of New Orleans-style jazz is at the heart of this scholastic combo festival, which is dedicated to fostering a better appreciation of this classic American art form. Each year, scores of young musicians gather at the annual Teagarden Jazz Festival (formerly named Traditional Jazz Youth Band Festival) for experiences that take their musical skills to the next level. Don’t miss the Closing Concert featuring the Teagarden Jazz Festival All-Star Clinicians Band with guest artist Gunhild Carling.
General admission to the Jazz Festival for the public is $15 (students are admitted at no charge) and is valid all day. Tickets will be sold onsite. For band registration and tickets, call Patricia Jones at the SacJEF office: (916) 571-5533 or email: pjones@sacjef.org; write PO Box 661763, Sacramento 95866; or visit the festival website: TeagardenJazzfestival.org.
SOUNDS OF MARDI GRAS (Fresno, CA) – Feb. 13-16
The 41st edition of the Sounds of Mardi Gras in Fresno kicks off at the Doubletree by Hilton with a Thursday evening pre-party. The schedule picks up Friday with a themed parade, followed by the annual coronation of the Festival King and Queen, a Friday night swing dance, and a Saturday Night Mardi Gras Dance Party. Festivities include a Parasol Parade and Masquerade and Costume Parade in the grand tradition of Mardi Gras. This year one parade has a “1920’s Great Gatsby” theme.
Invited bands for 2024 include: Alpha Rhythm Kings, Groovus, Gino and the Lone Gunmen, Dave Stuckey and the Hot House Gang, Miss Jubilee and the Yas Yas Boys, San Lyon Swing Jazz Band, Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz Band, Yosemite Jazz Band, CJ’s Open jams, Brass Nichols Jazz Band, The Flying Eagles Jazz Band, the Reedley River Rats, and more to be announced.
Special festival room rates at the Fresno Double Tree by Hilton are available. For more information you can call Linda (209) 534-1924 or visit www.fresnodixie.com.
SAN DIEGO JAZZ PARTY (Del Mar, CA) Feb. 21-23
The 33rd annual San Diego Jazz Party is set to take place in Del Mar, Calif., 20 miles north of San Diego.
Performing at the 2025 Jazz Party will be Chuck Redd, Dan Barrett, Danny Coots, Denny Ilett, Duke Heitger, Harry Allen, Houston Person, Jr., Jason Fabus,Jason Wanner, John Allred, Jon-Erik Kellso, Josh Collazo, Ken Peplowski, Lizzy & the Triggermen, Nate Ketner, Peter Washington, Richard Simon, Rossano Sportiello, Sam Rocha,and Vinny Raniolo
Purchase passes on www.sandiegojazzparty.com or order by telephone (619) 787-8792; or write San Diego Jazz Party, 1632 Hillstone Avenue, Escondido, CA 92029-4332.
43rd annual JAZZ BASH BY THE BAY (Monterey, CA) March 7-9
The 43rd annual Jazz Bash By the Bay Monterey takes place March 7-9, 2025, in the beautiful Conference Center and Portola Hotel & Spa with eight venues.
Invited bands and artists for 2025 include After Midnight, Blue Stree, Bye Bye Blues Boys Band, Carl Sonny Leyland Trio, Chicago Cellar Boys, Crescent Katz, Dave Stuckey and his Hot House Gang, Dawn Lambeth Sextet, Ivory and Gold, Le Jazz Hot, Monterey Sax, Pacific Brass Band , Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, San Lyon, Sierra Stompers, Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Warehouse Reunion, and the Yve Evans Trio. Featured artists include: Paolo Alderighi, Clint Baker, Dave Bennett, Danny Coots, Bob Draga, Josh Duffee, Bobby Durham, Marilyn Keller, Pieter Meijers, T.J. Muller, Steve Pikal, Hal Smith, Matt Tolentino, and Stephanie Trick.
Badges can be ordered by phone at 831-754-8786 or 888-349-6879. More information online at jazzbashmonterey.com; Jazz Bash by the Bay, 177 Webster St., #206, Monterey, CA 93940.
JAZZAFFAIR (Three Rivers, CA) April 11-13
The 5-th annual Jazzaffair, hosted by the Sierra Traditional Jazz Club, takes place at three venues in Three Rivers: the Lions Club Arena, the Memorial Building, and St. Anthony’s Retreat.
Bands will include the Sierra Stompers, Blue Street Jazz Band, Dave Bennett Quartet, The Memphis Speed Kings, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Gino & The Lone Gunmen, Holland & Coots Quintet, Brian Holland & the Ragabonds, Sonny’s Boogie Woogie Boys, St. John’s Riverboat Jazz Band, Bob Schulz Barbary Coast Band, Okie Weiss & the Zydeco Playboys, and Nathan’s Fearless Five. With Special Guests: Jan Sutherland, Dave Stuckey, Jim Martinez and more surprises!
Also Featuring: Zydeco Dance Lessons, Special Events Nights, Thursday’s Kickoff Dinner, Friday’s Rowdy Breakfast, and Dance floors at all three venues.
Visit the Sierra Traditional Jazz Club online and download the order form: www.threeriversjazzaffair.com S.T.J.C., PO Box 712, Three Rivers, CA 93271. Call or text Jazzaffair Director: Linda McKee Amaral at (559) 303-5193
ZEHNDER’S 30th Annual RAGTIME FESTIVAL (Frankenmuth, MI) – April 23-25
Zehnder’s 30th Annual Ragtime Festival featuring the pride of Michigan, pianist Bob Milne, will be staged at Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, 730 S. Main St., in the colorful city nicknamed Little Bavaria. Also called “Muth” for short, the city is located in Saginaw County, in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, about 22 miles south of Lake Huron. Events include Lunch Concerts on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Vaudeville Night on Thursday, and Friday Night Festival Grand Finale.
By the way, Zehnder’s serves a world-famous chicken dinner along with tantalizing breads and pastries. Performers for 2024 included Bob Milne along with Jeff and Anne Barnhart, Bill Edwards, Terry Parrish, Andrew Ratajczak, Dave Majchrzak, and Bill Edwards. 2025 performers will be announced soon but the meal plan is already on the website to wet your appetite.
Ticket prices for individual events range from $34 to $70. Reservations are required for lunch, brunch, and all dinner concerts. For more info or reservations call (844) 288-1484; or visit zehnders.com.
51st WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OLD-TIME PIANO PLAYING CONTEST & FESTIVAL (Oxford, MS) – May 23-25
Every year over Memorial Day weekend in Oxford, Mississippi, the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest is held to provide an opportunity for pianists to compete and learn in a stimulating atmosphere and to educate people about old-time piano music written prior to 1940.
Through the years, the contest has provided more than $60,000 in prize money to more than 500 piano players from across the United States and from five foreign countries. Players in 2020 will compete in three divisions—Regular, Junior & Senior—as they vie for over $6,000 plus trophies—as well as the New Rag Contest, where aspiring composers present their original tunes.
A variety of other activities include workshops, guest artist performances, silent movies, an old-time sing-along, a double-decker bus tour of historic Oxford, and after-hours events every night on the Oxford Square.
For more information, write: Old Time Piano Contest, 350 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655; oldtimepianocontest@olemiss.edu; telephone 662-801-2251; oldtimepianocontest.com.
SCOTT JOPLIN INTERNATIONAL RAGTIME FESTIVAL (Sedalia, MO) May 28-31
The 50th anniversary Scott Joplin festival last year was an amazing time for all. The 51st annual event promises to keep the good time rolling. For the most current information, please visit www.scottjoplin.org.
AHOY VINTAGE CRUISES: Matt Tolentino and his Orchestra (Southampton, UK – New York, NY) May 16-23, 2025 / Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra (Southampton, UK – New York, NY) Sept. 26-Oct. 3, 2025
Ahoy Vintage Cruises is celebrating 100 years of Art Deco with two exclusive trans-Atlantic crossings. We will start off with a few days touring era-influenced sites in Paris, the birthplace of Art Deco in 1925. After a quick jaunt in London, we’ll board the iconic RMS Queen Mary 2 for a seven-night crossing.
Each crossing, departing from Southampton and arriving in New York City, features a renowned orchestra playing Deco-era music for nightly dances.
Enjoy dining, drinking, and dancing your way across the Atlantic in the delightful Deco style. Live your best vintage life for this trip. Is it 1925 or 2025? It’s a dream come true. ahoyvintagecruises.com
