Jazz Fest Returns to West Chester University

WEST CHESTER —The Wells School of Music at West Chester University will once again host its annual Jazz Fest concert with world class entertainers performing from Wednesday, March 23 to Saturday, March 26.

The jazz festival was canceled the last two years due to the pandemic, which is winding down, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In celebration of the university’s 150th anniversary, the jazz festival is a tribute to the past, present, and future of the university’s Wells School of Music with performances featuring faculty, alumni and current students, as well as performances by jazz legends.


The student jazz ensemble, the Criterions, are among the many points of pride for the Wells School of Music, Jonathan Ragonese, director of jazz studies, noted.

Here is the lineup:

Wednesday, March 23, at the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre

• 12 p.m. – Larry Marshall Trio - An alumnus who started playing drums at the age of 5. His recording and touring career have taken him around the world to perform with some of the world’s great jazz artists. He’ll play her with fellow alumnus and bassist, Rob Swanson, and pianist Andy Roberts. No charge.
  
  
• 8 p.m. – WCU Faculty Jazz Group - Featuring Dan Cherry (trombone), David Cullen (guitar), Christopher Hanning (drumset), Marc Jacoby (vibraphone), Terry Klinefelter (piano), Peter Paulsen (bass), Jonathan Ragonese (Saxophone), John Swana (Valve Trombone/EWI) No charge.
  

Thursday, March 24 at the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre

• 8 p.m. – WCU Criterions Celebrate Alumni Director of Jazz Studies Jonathan Ragonese leads the Criterions in a celebration of alumni featuring all-alumni special guests. The evening opens with a performance by the Latin Jazz Ensemble led by Dr. Marc Jacoby.

Friday, March 25 at the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre

• 1 p.m. – John Swana Trio - An alumnus, Swana is from Norristown, Montgomery County and began studying the trumpet at age 11. Swana has performed or toured with the Mingus Big Band, and the Dave Holland Big Band and has also played and recorded with well-known jazz names from across the country and around the world. He plays with Philadelphia jazz guitarist, Steve Giordano, and trumpeter Dave Meash. No charge.
  
  

• 7:30 p.m. – David Liebman with the Dalí String Quartet at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, featuring the university’s Criterions Jazz Ensemble and quartet-in-residence, Dalí Quartet, in a concert with the university’s Criterions Jazz Ensemblewith the Dalí String Quartet at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center.

Cost: Tickets: $25 – 30 for adults/$15 students. Available at https://secure.uptownwestchester.org/2824/2825.

Saturday, March 26 Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre

• 10 a.m. High School Jazz Ensemble Showcase - Jazz ensembles from high schools around the region will perform in half-hour sets. Student ensembles will receive feedback from WCU faculty.

Cost: Tickets are $12/$7 students at www.wcupatix.com/schoolofmusic.

More information is available at www.wcupa.edu/jazzfest.