The band includes trombonist Tim Sessions, pianist David Berkman, bassist Dwayne Burno and drummer Dion Parson. The sextet and its members perform workshops in area high schools and play in varying contexts throughout the week. On Wednesday, Feb. 24, flutist Galen Abdur-Razzaq presents a 3 p.m. lecture on Women in Jazz at the Frank Porter Graham Student Union Cabaret. A concert and jam session follow that evening at the same location at 8 p.m. In performance, Abdur-Razzaq, who has performed with such jazz masters as tenor saxophonist Houston Person, pianist Billy Taylor and Sun Ra's Arkestra, will be joined by the John Sneider Sextet and students from the UNC and NCCU Jazz Studies program.
Admission is free for both events.
The North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra presents a program of compositions by Billy Strayhorn on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. in Memorial Hall. Strayhorn, a native of Hillsborough, is often referred to as Ellington's musical alter ego. Much of the program will consist of rare Strayhorn charts recently recorded for the first time on the Dutch Radio Jazz Orchestra disc, Portrait of a Silken Thread. Based on their brilliant performance of Ellington's Sacred Music in 1995, the performance should be memorable. The UNC and NCCU Jazz Bands will perform in Memorial Hall on Friday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. The UNC Jazz band, under the direction of Festival organizer Jim Ketch, has been acclaimed by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis in his recent book, Sweet Swing Blues on the Road.