The University of Northern Colorado-Greeley Jazz Festival has brought numerous jazz musicians to Greeley for more than 50 years.
From big-name jazz musicians to up-and-coming ones, the festival provides a balance of musical options for jazz lovers and music lovers to indulge.
“We try to do things like that. We bring the established, the big heroes, with also younger, developing artists, who are having success,” said UNC associate director of music Erik Applegate.
This year, the three-day festival starts at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the UNC Campus Commons, 1051 22nd St., with a performance by rising jazz vocalist Ekep Nkwelle, who will be joined by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. The duo will also perform at 7:30 p.m.
At 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Campus Commons, the Count Basie Orchestra and Colombian percussionist Samuel Torres take the stage. There will also be a 7:30 p.m. performance.
Named after one of the most influential jazz musicians, the Count Basie Orchestra is currently directed by Scotty Barnhart, who has won 18 Grammy Awards during his career. In 2023, the orchestra won the Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble.
Applegate said he has seen the Count Basie Orchestra in concert a few times over the past few years and had nothing but rave reviews for them.
“They just play with such fire and enthusiasm, and they’re so much fun to hear,” he said. “They’re really sound.”
The UNC Compass Jazz Orchestra, the top student orchestra, will play alongside Torres.
Sullivan Fortner, a Grammy-winning jazz pianist, and the Jazz Festival All-Star Big Band featuring saxophonist Sarah Hanahan and trumpeter Wayne Bergeron take the stage at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Campus Commons.
Applegate said Fortner has established himself within the new generation of jazz musicians and listeners. Bergeron’s talents have been featured in movie soundtracks such as “The Incredibles” and the 2021 remake of “West Side Story” Applegate said. He said Hanahan worked her way up through the New York City music scene and is seeing the benefits of her hard work.
The festival’s music isn’t reserved for just the main acts, though. Applegate said 150 middle school, high school and college bands are set to play every day of the festival at the campus commons and the university center. The bands perform for guest adjudicators in a non-competitive setting where the adjudicators provide feedback.
There will also be sessions throughout the festival on instrument skills, techniques, jazz history and other musical areas. There will be question-and-answer sessions at the end of each session with the instructor.
“It’ll be again a very exciting three days,” Applegate said. “We always look forward to it.”
To purchase tickets for the mainstage acts and see the full list of events, go to arts.unco.edu/jazzfest.
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