The North Carolina Central University/African American Jazz Caucus Research Institute (NAJRI) will host the Second Annual NAJRI HBCU Jazz Conference/Eighteenth Annual NCCU Jazz Festival which will be held April 16 – 19, 2008 on the North Carolina Central University campus in Durham, NC.

The conference will have special meaning as a result of two significant events:

• The Second Annual NAJRI HBCU Jazz Conference has been integrated with the Eighteenth Annual NCCU Jazz Festival. The featured festival artists will be tenor sax legend, David “Fathead” Newman and alto saxophonist, Wes “Warm Daddy” Anderson.

AND

• NAJRI will launch its Jazz Hall of Fame with the initial induction of jazz giants who are natives of North Carolina: Max Roach, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Percy Heath, Dr. Billy Taylor, Lou Donaldson, Nina Simone and Tal Farlow. In addition, Jimmy Heath, Albert (Tootie) Heath and the Honorable Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), will also be inducted in recognition of their contributions to jazz. The legendary pianist Cedar Walton and his trio will perform in concert at the ceremony.

The four day power-packed conference/festival offers:

• Symposia on issues uniquely affecting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) jazz education programs, the African American and Global communities.
• Developing Interdisciplinary K through Higher Education Jazz Curricula.
• Building a More Comprehensive Jazz Education Curriculum.
• Jazz, the Church and Community – Sacred versus Secular.
• The Role of Jazz Radio, TV, Print Media & the Internet.
• Master classes
• Continuing Education Credit workshops
• Welcoming reception
• Nightly jazz concerts
• Photo exhibit of jazz greats
• Nightly jam sessions
• Noted speakers

This conference will be a memorable and exciting event that will enrich the lives of the general public; jazz fans; everyone involved in jazz education; presenters; performers; the media; and business.

For additional conference information, click here.

To view the conference schedule, click here.