Featured Performances @ the 15th Annual John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
Three-time Grammy® Award winner Meshell Ndegeocello – the singer, songwriter, spoken word artist, and musician who plays bass, keyboards, drums and guitar – has joined the lineup of the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival. She will perform on Saturday,…
THE HEADHUNTERS
The Headhunters, the legendary jazz-funk band who broke new ground in the 1970s will bring that energetic sonic innovation to the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. Founded in 1973, The Headhunters emerged during a pivotal…
RICK BRAUN
Rick Braun, a luminary in the world of contemporary jazz, has carved a remarkable path with his soulful trumpet melodies. Braun will perform with saxophonist Richard Elliot and guitarist Peter White on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 at the John Coltrane International Jazz and…
PETER WHITE
Over the years, Peter White has maintained a reputation as one of the most versatile and prolific acoustic guitarists on the contemporary jazz landscape. He will join Smooth Jazz elites – saxophonist Richard Elliot and trumpeter Rick Braun – to perform at the John…
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…
TAKE 6
The Harmonious Legacy of Take 6 Take 6, the quintessential a cappella sextet, is a masterclass in vocal harmony and artistic excellence. Originating in Huntsville, Alabama, this Grammy-winning group blends gospel, jazz, R&B, and pop into a sonic tapestry that…
CLINT HOLMES
Captivating and versatile, Clint Holmes has an electrifying stage presence and a voice that resonates powerfully, mesmerizing audiences. Holmes will join Take 6 and Nnenna Freelon for an imaginative tribute to Bill Withers and Stevie Wonder called “Withers to Wonder.”…
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 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
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 2024 John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival Student Instrument Contest. Their families and thousands in the…
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…
Dyana Williams: Media and Cultural Architect
This past June, Dyana Williams photo was on the cover of HITS Magazine with the caption “The Mother of Black Music Month.” Williams and her associates spearheaded the effort to have the cultural and creative contributions of African American artists…
Gregory Porter
Gregory Porter performances are such a hybrid of jazz, gospel, blues, and soul, that he draws audiences from across divergent demographics; age, ethnicities, and genres. It is with great joy that we announce his return for the 2024 John Coltrane International Jazz and…
Brian Culbertson
Over the course of crafting a 25-album catalog an d architecting nearly 40 Billboard No. 1 singles as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, Brian Culbertson has charted his own unique course in music. Label him jazz and he makes a funk record. Call him an…
Bilal
Bilal Sayeed Oliver is a truly independent artist. A singer, songwriter, and producer who has always been ahead of his time – the Grammy Award-winning artist blends jazz, afro-futurism, classic soul, alternative R&B, rock and classical in his vocals and…
Incognito
British band Incognito, is anything but. The group’s high energy performances, synergizing funk, soul, hip hop, as well as jazz have sealed their identity as a band known for its “must see live” performances, pumping out irresistible grooves and a message that’s…
Bill Charlap Trio
Since 1997, Grammy Award-winning pianist Bill Charlap has led the Bill Charlap Trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. The trio, recognized as one of the leading groups in jazz, will highlight the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues…
The Lao Tizer Band
Three Emmys, two Grammys, one alum of The Voice, an American Idol phenom, and a DownBeat “Jazz Group of the Year ” nominee — all that and more are in the embodiment of the Lao Tizer Band. A veteran performer of the Coltrane JazzFest, Tizer and his current band…