JAZZfest 2009 starts Feb. 16 at ASU

Jon Thornton, Audioform highlight annual event

The festival will feature Jon Thorton with the Todd Wright Quartet, the Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Tour, Audioform and more. All events will be held on the Appalachian State University campus.

The festival is sponsored by the Department of Student Programs, the Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, and the Hayes School of Music Jazz Studies Department. Support for this festival is also provided by the Plemmons Student Union.

According to Alan Mueller, assistant director of student programs at ASU, “For the 2009 JAZZfest, we really wanted to branch out and show our students and the region the many diverse faces of jazz. This year’s festival features everything from smooth jazz and swing to Latin jazz; we even have a funk oriented fusion group out of Charlotte called Audioform that I’m very excited about.”

The festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 with a scholarship benefit dinner and concert by Jon Thornton with the Todd Wright Quartet. Proceeds from the dinner concert go to ASU’s jazz program fund. The week will continue with concerts by Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary Tour, Con Clave and Audioform. Rick Simerly with the ASU Jazz I Ensemble will bring an end to the festival at 8 p.m. on Feb. 21.

For details and ticket information, visit www.jazzfest.appstate.edu or call (828) 262-3032.