Jazz Summit 2024: Grand Finale Concert

Held annually the last weekend in February, the Jazz Summit features appearances by jazz musicians from throughout the nation and has even, on four occasions, attracted international artists (2000 - Delbert Bernabela, Ivan Quandus; 1994 - Jim Mair, Canada; 1995 - Delbert Bernabela, Ivan Quandus, and Carlos Bislip, Aruba and Victor Mestas, Venezuela; 1996 - Ignacio Berroa, Cuba). School jazz bands and enthusiastic jazz aficionados from throughout the Midwest flock to Coe College to get clinics from the guests and to hear them perform. The Jazz Summit was founded in 1992 and continues a tradition of jazz festivals at Coe College that stretches back to the 1970's. During this period, the festival has grown from an afternoon event with an evening concert, to a three-day festival encompassing clinics, workshops, a jazz band competition which accommodates almost 2000 musicians from ninety different high school and middle school jazz bands, an awards ceremony and the Grand Finale concert featuring the jazz ensemble from Coe College and performances by the guest artist. 

The predecessor of the Jazz Summit was called the Horizons Jazz Festival and featured artists ranging from Ed Shaughnessy and Count Basie to John Scofield and Rich Matteson. Coe also has a long history of hosting jazz events in a concert setting. Guests have included Danny Barber, The Motion Poets, Richard Stoltzman, The United States Army Jazz Ambassadors, The Either/Orchestra, Bobby Shew and Chick Corea with Bob Berg, John Patitucci and Gary Novak. And it's been a few years, but even the great Louis Armstrong has graced the stage of Sinclair Auditorium.