56th Marshall University Winter Jazz Festival, Feb. 26 – 28, 2025: Featuring Guest Artist David Smith
David Smith is a sought-after trumpet player based in New York City. He has released three albums featuring his original compositions for Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records and Fresh Sound New Talent (Impetus, Anticipation, and Circumstance) and has appeared as a sideman on over sixty recordings, including on the 2020 Grammy-winning album Four Questions from Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Alan Ferber’s Grammy-nominated March Sublime and other albums, with Harry Connick, Jr., Glen Hansard, Jon Gordon, Manuel Valera, Tom Jones and many others. You can read all about David here: https://www.davesmithtrumpet.com/
Register Now! (Registration closes Feb. 14, 2025)
Thundering Herd All-Star Jazz Ensemble
The Thundering Herd All-Star Jazz Ensemble is comprised of some of the most talented young jazz musicians across our region and participation is by audition only. This year’s band will be led by our outstanding jazz guitar faculty member, Prof. Nick Vassar. The THASJE will open the festival’s final concert and students will get the opportunity to “sit in” with our guest artist during the concert’s finale. If you have students who are considering a career in music, this is an incredible opportunity for them to experience what playing in a collegiate ensemble is like, but in a safe, positive, and encouraging environment. Even if you do not plan on bringing your band to the festival, please encourage your students to audition.
Audition info can be found here. Audition submissions are due by Feb 14, 2025.
Festival History
The Marshall University Winter Jazz Festival is one of the oldest collegiate jazz festivals in North America. Founded in 1969 by Professor J.D. Folsom, the festival is held in February of each year and features performances by various MU Jazz Ensembles, the regions’ finest middle school and high school jazz bands, along with clinics and performances by world-renown jazz artists and educators, as well as members of the MU jazz faculty. High school & middle school jazz ensembles/combos of any size are invited to participate. Each group will receive written feedback, as well as an individual clinic by one of the festival clinicians. School groups will also have the opportunity to work with and witness some of the best professional jazz musicians and educators in the country. Past guest artists include The Count Basie Orchestra, The Stan Kenton Orchestra, Woody Herman and his Thundering Herd, Maynard Ferguson, Clark Terry, Gary Burton, Art Pepper, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra with Sherrie Maracle, The USAF Airmen of Note, Bill Watrous, Paquito D’Rivera, Steve Turre, Jim Snidero, and The Sean Jones Quintet.
Past Guest Artists
- 2024 – Earl MacDonald
- 2023 – Joseph Jefferson
- 2022 – Pete Mills B3 4tet
- 2021 – Ryan Adamsons (virtual clinician)
- 2020 – Monika Herzig and The Time Flies
- 2019 – Rob Parton & The Columbus Jazz Orchestra
- 2018 – Bob Thompson & Tom Hildreth
- 2017 – Steve Turre & Ashlin Parker
- 2016 – Jim Snidero & Reggie Watkins
- 2015 – Sean Jones Quartet, Mark Sherman
- 2014 – Butch Miles, Blue Wisp Big Band
- 2013 – USAF Airmen of Note
- 2012 – Dirty Dozen Brass Band
- 2011 – Chris Vadala, Vince DiMartino
- 2010 – Greg Abate, Bob Thompson
- 2009 – Sergio Mendes, Dave Dickey
- 2008 – The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra
- 2007 – DIVA Jazz Orchestra with Sherrie Maracle
- 2006 – Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band with Paquito D’Rivera
- 2005 – The Columbus Jazz Orchestra with Byron Stripling
- 2004 – Arturo Sandoval
- 2003 – James Depogny
- 2002 – Conrad Herwig
- 2001 – Denis DeBlasio, James Olcott
- 2000 – Terry Gibbs
- 1999 – Marty Erickson
- 1998 – Alvin Batiste, Blake Wallace
- 1997 – Bill Prince, Steve Rehbein
- 1996 – Dave Valentin, Michael Golden
- 1995 – Vaughn Nark, Dom Famularo
- 1994 – Eddie Daniels
- 1993 – Bill Watrous
- 1992 – Tactical Air Command Jazz Ensemble
- 1991 – Chris Vadala, Hank Marr
- 1990 – Tactical Air Command Jazz Ensemble, Bob Thompson Trio
- 1989 – Vaughn Wiester, McHenry Ellis
- 1988 – Bob Thompson Trio, Dwayne Dolphin
- 1987 – Mike Vax, Gary Carney
- 1986 – Jim Rupp, Vaughn Wiester
- 1985 – Patti Coker, Bob Breithaupt
- 1984 – The Count Basie Orchestra
- 1983 – Larry McWilliams, Vincent DiMartino
- 1982 – Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra with Buddy Morrow
- 1981 – Dominic Spera, Kent Wehman
- 1980 – Gary Burton Quartet, Ed Soph
- 1979 – Herbie Mann and his Orchestra
- 1978 – Woody Herman and his Orchestra
- 1977 – Stan Kenton and his Orchestra
- 1976 – Maynard Ferguson and his Orchestra
- 1975 – Jamey Aebersold, Rich Matteson
- 1974 – Gary Burton, Art Pepper
- 1973 – Clark Terry, Roger Pemberton
- 1972 – Phil Wilson, Jerry Coleman
- 1971 – Joe Farrell
- 1969-1970 – No guest artists for the first two years (numbering began in 1970)