MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- The 19th annual Murfreesboro Main Street Jazz Festival kicks off Friday.
WMOT’s Greg Lee will MC again, as he has every year since the festival began. Greg says a unique feature of the festival is the inclusion of student bands.
“Virtually every high school in this area has a jazz band and all of them will be represented and will be performing Friday night and early Saturday.”
Middle Tennessee State also making a contribution. The MTSU Jazz Ensemble One will be on hand.
“(It’s) all students, and Jamey Simmons the director of it for a number of years. Just a terrific group.”
Greg says he’s also looking forward to meeting the headliner, jazz pianist Reggie Thomas, someone he’s never seen perform live. Of course, lots of great Middle Tennessee talent on stage this weekend, including jazz saxophonist Rock Williams.
“Fine saxophone player, and he moves an audience. Also, a group called Half-Brass, that’s a New Orleans second line…also jazz, funk, R&B type band that will really move an audience too.”
The festival gets underway Friday evening at 6 p.m. and Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. The event is free. Bring your camp chairs. Food will be available.
Stop by the WMOT booth if you get a chance.