Snarky Puppy Masterclass and West End Mambo Amplify the 14th Annual Coltrane Jazz Fest The John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival has always been about more than great performances about connection, creativity, and community. This year, festival...
For bassist and educator John Brown, leading the NC Coltrane All-Star Band at the John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival isn’t just another gig—it’s a homecoming wrapped in legacy, love, and reverence. There’s something sacred about returning to a place...
Dyana Williams is a powerhouse whose voice has amplified Black music for over five decades. She co-founded what is now celebrated as African American Music Appreciation Month in 1979 alongside Kenny Gamble and Ed Wright. Her advocacy helped secure a White House...
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.’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...
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...
