April 17, 2013
Enjoy the sounds of great national, regional and local jazz artists at the 51st Annual Fiesta Jazz Festival on the campus of St. Mary’s University.
The St. Mary’s Music Department and the San Antonio Fiesta Commission are the sponsors of the event, one of the oldest Jazz festivals in the nation. The Friday concert will kick off at 1 p.m., Friday, April 26, in the Pecan Grove with outstanding university and junior college jazz bands performing in the Fiesta University Invitational.
The Fiesta World Class Jazz Concert begins at 6 p.m. Friday with Ulterior Motive. Award-winning trumpeter and composer Hannibal Lokumbe, who has played with greats such as Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington, will perform with the Audra Menconi Trio at 7 p.m. Acclaimed jazz trombonist Bill Watrous and The Prime Time Jazz Orchestra take the stage at 8:30.
On Saturday, April 27, the Fiesta Jazz Band Festival will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in both the University Center and Treadaway Recital Hall. This event will showcase 30 Texas middle and high school jazz ensembles. Participants perform before a panel of jazz clinicians, with trophies awarded for outstanding performances and jazz clinics held throughout the day. This year’s judges and clinicians include Bill Watrous, Hannibal Lokumbe, Dr. James Polk, Dr. Keith Winking of Texas State, Morgan King of UTSA, Jim Waller of UIW, and Cecil Carter and Dale Schultz of St. Mary’s. The various groups perform throughout the day, with the awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
All events are free and open to the public. Parking is also free. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Schedule of events for Friday April 26
Fiesta University Invitational
1 p.m.: A-Jam Combo, Katharine Cartwright, director
2 p.m.: St. Mary’s Latin Jazz Combo, Joe Caploe, director
4 p.m.: St. Mary’s University Jazz Orchestra, Dr. John Rankin, director
5 p.m.: University of the Incarnate Word Jazz Ensemble, Jim Waller, director
Fiesta World Class Jazz Concert
6 p.m.: Ulterior Motive, featuring Steve Mohacey, Joe Caploe, Jim Kalson, Jean-Philippe Rominger and John Alexander
7 p.m.: Audra Menconi Trio, featuring Dr. James Polk and Michael Stevens
With special guest Hannibal Lokumbe
8:30 p.m.: Bill Watrous with The Prime Time Jazz Orchestra
Call the Music Department at 436-3421 for more information.