The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival's 24th Year!

The GCTJF, which launched a very successful 23rd year in Wallingford, will be moving in 2010 but not far away. The 2010 Great Connecticut Jazz Festival will be held July 30, 31 and August 1 at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel at 275 Research Parkway in Meriden, just moments from I-91 and Routes 5 and 15.

There will be four venues, two indoor and two outdoor, with more than a dozen great traditional jazz bands from all over the United States plus an international band with members from the US and the UK. For the first time at TGCTJF, Stephanie Trick, an amazing young stride pianist, will perform all three days. Our own Youth Band, the Sugarfoot Jazz Band has been successfully performing at festivals and concerts in the last couple of years, and produced their 3rd CD last year.

This Spring, we are bringing talented young jazz musicians from Connecticut middle and high schools who can read music and play in tune into a tenderfoot Jazz Band, to gradually feed into the Sugarfoot Jazz Band. Interested students can contact director Art Hovey by email at [email protected].

For more information about the Sugarfoot Jazz Band and The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival go to greatctjazz.org or call 1-800-HOT-EVENt. The Festival also sponsors Horns for Kids (hornsforkids.org) which takes used instruments, refurbishes them and gives them to CT schools.