Lakeland Jazz Festival Celebrating 40th Anniversary This Weekend

The 40th annual Lakeland Jazz Festival is this weekend and it will feature performances from Grammy Award-winning performers, as well as local talent.

The festival opens today with performances from regional high school jazz bands.

The evening will end with a performance from bass player, composer and music professor at Youngstown State University Dave Morgan. He and his band will play Morgan's composition "The Way of Sly Man," which draws influences from music of the Middle East, India and Africa.

The music continues Saturday afternoon with sets from Cleveland State University, Oberlin College and the University of Akron's jazz ensembles.

Then, Grammy-winning jazz fusion group The Yellowjackets will offer a free clinic from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. before their headlining performance at 8 p.m.

The festival closes with a big band matinee 4 p.m. Sunday. It will feature performances from the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra and Dave Banks Big Band.

All performances are held in the Lakeland Performing Arts Center, which is at 7700 Clocktower Drive in Kirtland.

Ticket price varies depending on the performer. For tickets and information, visit Lakeland Community College's web site.