The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival is the Largest Free, outdoor jazz music festival on the East Coast located in downtown Wilmington, DE. Rain or shine.

Schedule of Events

June 19, 2024

Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah
(formally Christian Scott)

Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott), is a two-time Edison Award winning and five-time Grammy Award nominated musician, composer and producer. He is the nephew of jazz innovator and legendary sax man, Donald Harrison, Jr. His musical tutelage began under the direction of his uncle at the age of thirteen. After graduating from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) in 2001, Adjuah received a full tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music where he earned a degree in Professional Music and Film Scoring thirty months later.

Since 2002, Adjuah has released twelve critically acclaimed studio recordings, three live albums and one greatest hits collection. According to NPR, Adjuah "ushers in new era of jazz". He has been heralded by JazzTimes Magazine as "Jazz's young style God."Adjuah is known for developing the harmonic convention known as the "forecasting cell"and for his use of an un-voiced tone in his playing, emphasizing breath over vibration at the mouthpiece. The technique is known as his "whisper technique."Adjuah is also the progenitor of "Stretch Music,"a jazz rooted, genre blind musical form that attempts to "stretch"jazz's rhythmic, melodic and harmonic conventions to encompass multiple musical forms, languages and cultures.

The 2015 release of the recording Stretch Music marked the partnership between  Adjuah's Stretch Music record label and Ropeadope Records. Critics and fans alike have praised the recording. Stretch Music is also the first recording to have an accompanying app, for which Adjuah won the prestigious JazzFM Innovator of the year Award in 2016. The Stretch Music App is an interactive music player that allows musicians the ability to completely control the practicing, listening and learning experience by customizing the player to fit their specific needs and goals.

Jonathan Michel: Black Wonders Quintet

Jonathan Michel, a native of Connecticut and son of Haitian immigrants, cultivated his passion for music from an early age under the guidance of his father, a talented singer and guitarist. Introduced to the guitar at four years old, Jonathan's musical journey commenced, eventually leading him to explore the piano and trombone before discovering his true calling with the electric bass at the age of nine.

Jonathan's upbringing in a musically enriched household laid the groundwork for his formal education in music at Central Connecticut State University. There, he immersed himself in coursework focused on Double Bass Performance. Complementing his academic pursuits, Jonathan pursued private studies under the mentorship of esteemed bassists such as Mario Pavone, Ron Carter, Charles Fambrough, Roy Wiseman, and Volkhon Orhon, enriching his understanding of the intricacies of the bass.

Following his academic pursuits, Jonathan embarked on a transformative journey through the dynamic jazz scenes of Philadelphia and New York City. Over the span of 15 years, he has emerged as a distinguished figure in the music industry, leaving an enduring mark as a bassist, composer, educator, and curator.

Jonathan's professional portfolio as a Bass Performer is both diverse and extensive. He has collaborated with a notable array of artists across various genres and styles, including jazz luminaries like Wynton Marsalis, vocal virtuosos such as Cecile McLorin Salvant, and Nigerian singer-songwriter Tiwa Savage. His experiences touring nationally and internationally have broadened his musical horizons and refined his craft to perfection.

As a Music Director, Jonathan has helmed performances for esteemed artists like Billy Paul, Melanie Charles, and Emeline Michel. His role as a curator and consultant has seen him spearhead transformative events at venues such as Chris'Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia and the renowned Smalls Jazz Club in New York City.

Jonathan's dedication to education is evident in his role as a Teaching Artist, fostering partnerships with prestigious institutions such as  Carnegie Hall and the Tri-C Creative Arts Music Program, as well as collaborations with the US State Department. Through these engagements, he shares his expertise and passion for music, enriching the lives of students and communities alike.

Jonathan has also made significant contributions as a Producer and Composer. His productions for artists like Willerm Delisfort and Mary Akpa have garnered acclaim, while his commissioned work with the internationally celebrated dance group iLuminate, featured on SHERRI, showcased his ability to transcend musical boundaries and collaborate across artistic disciplines. A pivotal moment in Jonathan's career came with the release of his debut album, "Jonathan Michel: MDR,"in 2018 on Imani Records, produced by Orrin Evans. This landmark achievement underscored Jonathan's prowess as a composer and performer, earning recognition within the music industry as a recording artist and bandleader. Notable highlights include Jonathan headlining the esteemed BRIC Jazz Fest in 2023, captivating audiences with his magnetic stage presence and exceptional talent. The same year marked the debut of "Jonathan Michel: Caribbean Diaspora Big Band,"with sold-out shows at Dizzy's Club in NYC, showcasing his innovative vision and musical depth. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, equity, and innovation, Jonathan Michel continues to shape the cultural landscapes of New York City, Philadelphia, and beyond. His enduring impact on the music scene resonates far and wide, promising a legacy of inspiration for years to come.

June 20, 2024

Joshua Redman Group featuring Gabrielle Cavassa

Joshua Redman is one of the most acclaimed and charismatic jazz artists to have emerged in the 1990's. Born in Berkeley, California he is the son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman and dancer Renee Shedroff. In 1991 Redman graduated from Harvard College summa *** laude and had already been accepted by Yale Law School, but deferred entrance for what he believed was only going to be one year. Instead, he moved to New York City and immediately found himself immersed in the city's burgeoning jazz scene. Five months later Redman was named winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition. Since then, Redman has worked and played with a vast array of jazz luminaries, released over twenty albums (Warner & Nonesuch), and has garnered top honors in critics and readers polls of DownBeat, Jazz Times, The Village Voice and Rolling Stone

Linda May Han Oh

Based in New York City, GRAMMY award-winning Linda May Han Oh is a bassist/composer who has performed and recorded with artists such as Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Terri Lyne Carrington, Steve Wilson, Geri Allen and Vijay Iyer.

Originally born in Malaysia and raised in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia, she has received many awards including a 2022 Deutscher Jazz Preis, 2nd place at the BASS2010 Competition, a semi-finalist at the BMW Bass competition and an honorary mention at the 2009 Thelonious Monk Bass Competition. She was voted the 2018-2021 Bassist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist's Association, as well 2022 Bassist of the Year in Jazztimes. Linda also was voted 2019 Bassist of the Year in Hothouse Magazine and was the 2020 recipient APRA award for Best New Jazz Work. In 2023 she received the prestigious Herb Albert Award for music.

Linda has had five releases as a leader which have received critical acclaim, her latest - a quintet album entitled The Glass Hours on Biophilia Records. Her latest commissions include "Littoral Tales" a solo piano piece in two movements for Gloria Cheng, and "Ephemeral Echoes" written for percussion trio and piano trio as well as "Mirrors and Shadows" written for piano and bass duo.

Linda has written for large and small ensembles as well as for film, participating in the Sundance Labs at Skywalker Ranch and composing for several of sociologist/film maker Sabrina McCormick. Linda also composed and produced music for a collaborative film project with non-profit, "Hoperaisers" based in Korogocho, Kenya by film-maker Kizito Gamba and contributed music to his latest documentary "Calling the Shots" co-directed by Kore Abong about aspiring African women in the film-industry.

Linda is currently Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music in the bass department and is also part of the Institute for Jazz and Gender Justice led by Terri Lyne Carrington. Linda was featured on bass in the 2020 Pixar movie "Soul" under the musical direction of Jon Batiste (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) alongside drummer Roy Haynes and was the model for the character in the film - bassist "Miho."

"her innovative range and stellar improvisations have made [her] one of the most dynamic rising stars in jazz today." The Wall Street Journal

Sarah Hanahan Quartet
(Boysie Living Jazz Residency Alumnus)

Sarah Hanahan is an up-and-coming jazz saxophonist in New York City. Sarah is a graduate of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of Music where she received her Bachelors degree in 2019, as well as The Juilliard School where she received her Masters degree in 2022. She has had the privilege of studying with well-known performers Abraham Burton, Nat Reeves, Steve Davis, Billy Drummond, and Marc Cary.

Recently, Sarah has worked with many renowned musicians including Jeff "Tain" Watts, Nat Reeves, Peter Martin, Emmet Cohen, Steve Davis, Billy Hart, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Marc Cary and many others. Sarah tours both nationwide and internationally with her own band, and plays regularly in renowned venues around NYC such as Dizzy's, Smoke Jazz Club, Smalls, and more.

She also recently had the opportunity to play for the 2023 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert at the Kennedy Center honoring Sue Mingus with the Mingus Dynasty Band. Sarah has toured nationwide and around the world with Joe Farnsworth, Peter Martin, Ulysses Owens Jr. and Generation Y, Sherrie Miracle and the Diva Orchestra, and the Grammy award-winning Mingus Big Band.

Sarah was recently featured in the first-ever class of NPR Jazz Night in America's Youngbloods alongside Samara Joy, Immanuel Wilkins, Isaiah J. Thompson, and Sean Mason. The series features "five up-and-coming jazz geniuses who are revolutionizing their genre" - all of whom are under the age of 30. She is a generational talent on the rise. Her debut album, Sarah Hanahan: Among Giants, featuring Marc Cary, Nat Reeves, and Jeff Watts will be released under Jazz at Lincoln Center's label, Blue Engine, on June 21st, 2024.

June 21, 2024

Incognito

Incognito is a British acid jazz band that has been active since 1979 and has released 24 albums worldwide.Their music spans a variety of genres, including jazz-funk, acid jazz, jazz, soul, and pop. The band has had several hit singles in the UK, including "Always There", "Don't You Worry ‘Bout A Thing", "Everyday", "Jump To My Love", and "Out Of The Storm". Incognito has also collaborated with many international artists, such as George Benson, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Philip Bailey, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Paul Weller, and Mario Biondi.

Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick is the band's leader, singer, guitarist, composer, and record producer. Born in Mauritius in 1957, Bluey moved to the United Kingdom when he was ten years old. Over the course of their 30-year career, Bluey has worked with more than 1,000 musicians and vocalists from many different countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, India, Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Some other key members of the band include drummer Richard Bailey, bassist Francis Hylton, and keyboard player Matt Cooper.

Dupont Brass

DuPont Brass is a one-of-a-kind, brass-driven supergroup from the D.C. Metropolitan Area. Originally composed of five music majors from Howard University trying to raise money for tuition during the Christmas season, they have grown to a 9-piece ensemble consisting of brass, a rhythm section, and vocalists. Gaining popularity from playing at local Metro stations, DuPont Brass started professionally playing for weddings, banquets, and other private events in the surrounding area. Thanks to the foundation laid in their earlier years, DuPont Brass has had the opportunity to perform in conjunction with the D.C. Jazz Festival, The Washington Performing Arts Society, The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, and The National Cannabis Festival. Consistently touching the community's hearts with their heartwarming testimony, DuPont Brass has been featured on WPFW's "Live at Five" three times and the Washington Post Newspaper six times. Recently, they made their local television debut on WHUT's "DMV the Beat" on PBS. Through their training in classical and contemporary styles, DuPont Brass has developed a sound they've coined "Eclectic Soul" that mixes varied genres of music, including jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. In their latest effort, Music Education, DuPont Brass shows us why they are qualified to excel in both the education and performance arenas of the music industry. Filled with a diverse arsenal of musical styles, they present a catalog made with every kind of listener in mind.

The Dwonztet
(Boysie Living Jazz Residency Alumnus)

The Dwonztet, consists of all Hartford based musicians that attended either the Artist Collective, the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts or the Hartt School of Music (Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz). I'm grateful to say that I attended all of these places and the Dwonztet is the result of the connections and friendships made a long the way.

Throughout the pasted 10-15 years, I have been performing in the Hartford area with many different groups. The same goes for the other members in the Dwonztet. We all have a deep connection with the Hartford music scene and community, specifically in jazz.

I am the leader of the Dwonztet but every member is a leader in their own right. We all have a trust and love for one another and I'm grateful to continue to nurture our relationship through performing and recording together as the Dwonztet.

We released our first album "Wonderful World" in 2019 and we will be releasing our second album "A Year and a Day" July 1st, 2022.

June 22, 2024

Adam Blackstone Legacy

On TV, radio or at a live concert at your favorite stadium, the Adam Blackstone sound has certainly permeated your eardrums. Blackstone is not only a multi-faceted bass player, musician, Emmy Award Winning Music Director and Grammy award winning writer, he is the musical mastermind behind the live shows of many of today's biggest artists.

He has served as the Musical Director for acts such as Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Eminem and recently he cultivated the Super Bowl 54 Halftime Show alongside Shakira & J-Lo. With each new endeavor these artists become family and fall in love with Blackstone's easy demeanor and standard for excellence. Blackstone's TV legacy continues to expand as Music Director and On-screen personality. His expertise has shaped today's biggest shows, including the Oscars, NBC's "The Voice," the Grammy Awards, numerous BET, VH1 and MTV specials and as the Music Director for The hit Fox shows "The Four" and "The Masked Singer."

Blackstone was born in Trenton, New Jersey and it was here that he began to hone his craft under the guise of his father and Jazz musician Rod Blackstone, who remains one of his greatest musical influences. It was in a church playing drums at the age of 6 that his father discovered he had rhythm and perfect pitch. Once his family moved to Willingboro, NJ which has never been short on talent, he picked up bass in high school and the rest is history.

After earning a scholarship to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, it didn't take long for Blackstone to become engulfed in the soul music pulse that was flowing through the city at that time. Beginning as a session musician, shortly after his start, he was touring the world.

In 2009 Blackstone partnered with his wife to start company BASSic Black Entertainment, LLC (BBE). BBE is a broad based music service company that specializes in live music production, connecting musicians and studio production. Under the same moniker, they launched the BBE Record label in 2013.

Adam Blackstone's versatility and musical ability keeps him on stages and screens across the world but his faith and family keep him on the ground as he continues to create his own musical legacy.

Clifford Brown Festival Orchestra featuring Wycliffe Gordon

Wycliffe Gordon experiences an impressive career touring the world performing to great acclaim from audiences and critics alike.  

Last year, Jazz Journalists Association named him 2022 "Trombonist of the Year" for the record-breaking 15th time, and he's topped Downbeat Critics Poll for "Best Trombone" for an unprecedented six times (2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012).   Recent awards include the "Louie Award", the International Trombone Award and the Satchmo Award, among others.  Wycliffe is a prolific recording artist and is extremely popular for his unmatched signature sound, plunger technique and unique vocals.  He can be heard on hundreds of recordings, soundtracks, live DVD's and documentaries, and has an extensive catalog of original compositions that span the various timbres of jazz and chamber music.  His arrangement of the theme song to NPR's "All Things Considered" is heard daily across the globe.   

In addition to a successful solo career, Gordon tours regularly leading the International All Stars performing at festivals and performing arts centers worldwide.  Gordon is also one of America's most persuasive and committed music educators and is highly sought after as a clinician and guest speaker.

Wycliffe Gordon is a Yamaha Performing Artist and has his own line of Wycliffe Gordon Pro Signature Mouthpieces by Pickett Brass.

Grace Kelly

An unequivocal musical prodigy, singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer and band leader Grace Kelly has rocked the jazz world with sold-out concerts, 14 acclaimed albums and a resume that includes performing at the Hollywood Bowl as well as being part of the house band for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" - all before reaching her mid-twenties. As of Oct 2022 she has become the youngest member of the Board of Trustees of Berklee College of Music.

Kelly's early career featured performances at Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration at age 16 and at age 14 as a soloist with the Boston Pops playing an original composition arranged for the legendary orchestra; she has since then played over 1000 shows as bandleader in 35 countries at venues like the Kennedy Center and Moscow Symphony Hall and for the Montreal, Newport, and Montreux international jazz festivals. Touted for her scorching saxophone stylings and purring vocals, Kelly has performed and recorded with renowned artists including Lin Manuel- Miranda, Dave Brubeck, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Huey Lewis, Harry Connick Jr., Gloria Estefan, Questlove, and Wynton Marsalis.

Kelly was named the winner of "Song of the Year" for her single "Feels Like Home" in the 2018 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and has been named nine times consecutively in the Annual Downbeat Magazines Critics Poll "Rising Star Alto Saxophone" from the age of 17 in 2009 and winning the poll in 2017 (Youngest ever named to Downbeat critics poll in 2009.). She has also won multiple ASCAP Composer Awards, Boston Music Awards, and International Songwriting Awards. She has also appeared as a featured performer in films and television, including acclaimed documentary "Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story", Amazon's Emmy-nominated original series "Bosch", and featured in the 2017 Emmy-winning Yamaha production "The Right Note"

Endea Owens & The Cookout

Known as one of Jazz's most vibrant emerging artists, Endea Owens is a Detroit-raised Recording Artist, Bassist, and Composer. She has been mentored by Jazz Icons the likes of Marcus Belgrave, Rodney Whitaker, and Ron Carter. She has toured and performed with Wynton Marsalis, Jennifer Holliday, Diana Ross, Rhonda Ross, Solange, Jon Batiste, Jazzmeia Horn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Steve Turre to name a few.

In 2018, Endea graduated from The Juilliard School, and joined the Late Show with Stephen Colbert as a member of the house band, Stay Human. Since then, Endea has won an Emmy, Grammy Award, and a George Foster Peabody Award. Endea's work has appeared on Jon Batiste's Grammy Award-winning album "We Are", Oscar-nominated film Judas and the Black Messiah, and H.E.R's widely acclaimed Super Bowl LV performance.

Endea has a true passion for philanthropy and teaching. She has taught students across the United States, South America, and Europe. In 2020, Endea founded the Community Cookout, a non-profit organization birthed out of the Covid-19 pandemic that provides meals and music to underserved neighborhoods in New York City. To date, Endea's organization has helped feed close to 3,000 New Yorkers and has hosted over a dozen free music concerts.

In 2022, Endea composed an original piece about the life of Ida B. Wells entitled "Ida's Crusade" for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and was also performed by the NYO Carnegie Hall Orchestra. Endea has written for brands such as Pyer Moss and Glossier. Endea is set to premiere a newly commissioned work with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and will serve as the 2023 MAC Music Innovator with the organization. In addition, to her work with the Cinncinati Symphony Orchestra, Endea is the curator for the National Arts Club and also afellow for"Jazz is Now!" with the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, where she presents original compositions, curates series, and headlines performances for the 2022-2023 season. Endea's debut album "Feel Good Music" is set for release in early 2023.

Momentum
(Boysie Living Jazz Residency Alumnus)

Mystic, kinetic, clear and deep - Momentum is united by the
joy and freedom of jazz communicated through the sounds that pulse along the airwaves of today and tomorrow. A New York based collective in pursuit of becoming more human by drawing forth compassion, empathy and courage in listeners.

The collective consists of Kobi (drums), Jared (bass), Joy (vocals), Noah (keys) and Grady (vibes). Each member continues to reach a deeper flow of artistry while pushing and testing the boundaries within music. Striving to play the unknown and uncomfortable in order to not feel attached to the comfort of what's familiar. Looking out into the horizon, reaching to serve the music and the moment, while always coming home in the end.

Momentum recently released their first two singles entitled, Aséna and Scream, which have been met with great excitement. Their most recent release, "The Changes", featuring JSWISS, is a fusion of hip-hop rhythms and jazz colors. The song embodies how challenging it is to find the constant within the flux of life.

The Collective recently performed at WildflowerFestival 2022, Bar LunÀtico, and the S? Percussion artist series Brooklyn Bound. They're looking forward to upcoming performances, which include
WildflowerFestival 2023, Nublu, and Room 623.

Date:
June 19-22, 2024

Location:
Rodney Square, 1000 N Market St
Wilmington, DE 19801

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