NNENNA FREELON

NNENNA FREELON

Nnenna Freelon, the six-time Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist with deep ties to North Carolina, returns to the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival to perform with Take 6 and Clint Holmes in a musical tribute to Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers. Their...
RICHARD ELLIOT

RICHARD ELLIOT

Richard Elliot, a Grammy® nominated saxophonist, who has been a defining force in contemporary jazz for over four decades will perform at the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 with guitarist Peter White and trumpeter Rick...
RUTHIE FOSTER

RUTHIE FOSTER

Ruthie Foster won her first Grammy Award this year for Best Contemporary Blues Album for the release Mileage. Her journey is as eclectic and vibrant as her soulful voice. Foster will perform songs from that album and many more of her blues, gospel, and folk tinged...
Inspired Student Contest Winners

Inspired Student Contest Winners

High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson speaks with the 2024 Student Instrument Contest Winners on stage at the Coltrane JazzFest. A group of North Carolina middle and high school student musicians stood on stage, beaming with pride, next to the instruments they’d won in the...
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Jazz Speaks for Life”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Jazz Speaks for Life”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy extends far beyond his pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. His profound admiration for jazz music and its power to unite people across racial divides had a significant impact on the jazz musicians of his day and the...