Western New Mexico University will host The 2nd Annual WNMU Southwest Jazz Festival March 13 – 15, 2008. The festival will be sponsored in part by Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold. The feature artists will include The John Fedchock New York Sextet, The Jeff Hamilton Trio and The WNMU Faculty Jazz Project. John Fedchock’s sextet will serve as the festivals adjudicators and both bands will present clinics throughout the festival. The WNMU Faculty Jazz Project will again kick off the festival with a March 13, Jeff Hamilton’s trio will perform March 14 and The John Fedchock New York Sextet will perform March 15. All concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. followed by a “Jazz Jam Session” hosted by New York City (and Silver City) tenor saxophonist John Tank.
Daytime performances will include college, high school, middle school and amateur bands performing for comments and/or trophy placement in Big Band, Jazz Combo and Vocal Jazz divisions. Bands from Arizona, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico are scheduled to perform this year.
Festival passes are $25. Day passes are $10 per day. Passes/tickets may be purchased in advance at the music department in Parotti Hall on the WNMU campus, at Gila Hike & Bike, (103 East College St) or at the door.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Jim Carey, Director of the Jazz Festival at: 575-538-6226.