The Bill Evans Jazz Festival was recently held at the Columbia Theatre in downtown Hammond. The festival featured guest artist Laura Dreyer and performances from various ensembles, including the University Jazz Ensemble and high school bands. The festival, has been a staple in the Hammond community for over 20 years. It is named after Evans,.
The Bill Evans Jazz Festival was recently held at the Columbia Theatre in downtown Hammond. The festival featured guest artist Laura Dreyer and performances from various ensembles, including the University Jazz Ensemble and high school bands. The festival, has been a staple in the Hammond community for over 20 years. It is named after Evans,.
The 20th anniversary of the Bill Evans Jazz Festival will commence on Wednesday, April 14 through Saturday, April 17, to showcase university student and faculty jazz performances in addition to a guest artist and other school groups from around the region.
After last year’s festival was canceled, Director of Jazz and Percussion Studies Michael Brothers set out to plan this year’s celebration and was able to get the event approved by the university with several new restrictions in place.
Brothers said the event usually allows for up to 25 groups from schools around the region to register for performances as a part of the university’s partnership with the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education. Less than 15 groups are participating this year, but Brothers said the schools, as well as Southeastern, are grateful for the opportunity.