Schedule:

Thursday, June 8, 2023

6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m: Jazz Festival Appetizer Jazz Dinner at Casa Rustica
Casa Rustica fuses Old-World Italian cuisine with the fresh flavors of the High Country, much like jazz fuses elements from many different musical styles to create its own space. Todd Wright and Andy Page perform live jazz every Thursday night at the restaurant. We Highly Recommend Reservations.

7:00 p.m: Screening of La La Land at Appalachian Theatre
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star as Mia and Sebastian, an actress and a jazz musician pursuing their Hollywood dreams and finding each other in a vibrant celebration of hope, dreams, and love. Tickets: $6 each (taxes and fees included).

Friday, June 9, 2023

11:00 a.m: Jazz Lecture, Blowing Rock Art and History Museum
The Jazz Swing Feel: From Count Basie to Emmet Cohen  
This hour session led by Professor Todd Wright, the coordinator of Jazz Studies at Appalachian State University, will musically trace what it means to swing in jazz.

5:30 p.m: Will Boyd Quintet, Concerts on the Lawn at the Jones House Cultural Center
Hailing from Orangeburg, S.C. by way of Queens, N.Y., Will Boyd now lives in Knoxville, TN, where he received his Master of Jazz Studies degree. A multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, and educator, Will has played with artists across many genres, including Leslie Odom, Jr., Doc Severinson, the Four Tops, and the Harry James Big Band. Will co-leads the group with his wife, Kelle Jolly, who is a jazz radio host and founder of Knoxville Women in Jazz Jam Festival.   

7:30 p.m: The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, Directed by Scotty Barnhart, with guest vocalist Carmen Bradford at the Appalachian Theatre
The preeminent 4/4?Swing band.?Mixing blues and 4/4 swing rhythms?with?a driving beat, bands in Kansas City?were the precursors and the standard bearers of the Swing Era and Modern Jazz.?Taking band members from two KC bands and starting his own,?the Count Basie Orchestra remains a driving force in the?Jazz?world?today with an ensemble featuring band members hired by the legend himself.?

10:00 p.m - Midnight: High Country Jazz Festival Jam Session at the Beacon Butcher Bar
Late-night jam sessions - that’s when the hep cats really start to swing
Head over to The Beacon Butcher Bar after the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra performance for even More jazz. Hot licks, cool jazz, and blue notes - you could hear it all, and you never know who may show up to groove.

Saturday, June 10, 2023

11:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m: Marquee Jazz Under the Marquee at the Appalachian Theatre
Students from the Appalachian State University Hayes School of Music Jazz Studies program play in the grand tradition of street performers at this year’s Mast General Store High Country Jazz Festival.  

7:30 p.m: Emmet Cohen Trio at the Appalachian Theatre
Emmet Cohen, the leader of the Emmet Cohen Trio, is an internationally acclaimed jazz artist and winner of the 2019 American Pianists Awards.?He appears regularly with jazz greats Benny Golson, Tootie Heath, and Lea DeLaria among others. During the?2020 pandemic lockdown,?he gained fame and revived the jazz genre with weekly live-streamed performances featuring a wide berth of jazz works.

10:00 p.m - Midnight: High Country Jazz Festival Jam Session at the Beacon Butcher Bar
Late-night jam sessions – that’s when the hep cats really start to swing. Head over to The Beacon Butcher Bar after the Emmet Cohen Trio performance for even More. Jazz. Hot licks, cool jazz, and blue notes – you could hear it all, and you never know who may show up to groove.

Sunday, June 11, 2023

11:30 a.m - 2:00 p.m: Jazz Brunch featuring the Todd Wright All-Stars at Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock
The Green Park Inn is the grande dame of fine hotels in the High Country. Sitting astride the Eastern Continental Divide, you’ll enjoy a sense of history as you enjoy a sumptuous Sunday Brunch while enjoying a wide repertoire of jazz standards performed by the Todd Wright All-Stars. We Highly recommend reservations.

4:00 p.m: Shane Chalke on the Patio at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock
Shane is a regular performer during the summer season in the High Country. He dishes up a large serving of straight-ahead jazz, Cool Jazz, and many jazz standards from the ’60s and ’70s. It’s a perfect time to enjoy a snack, a cocktail, or an early meal accompanied by the silky sounds of Shane’s High Country ensemble.

5:00 p.m: Reggie Buie Group Under the tent at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock
A resident of Winston-Salem, Reggie Buie began his musical journey at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. From there, he attended Florida A & M and was a member of the famed?“Marching 100.” He has earned both writing and recording?credits on the national level while living in Miami. Now, the Reggie Buie Group is a?regular on stage in Greensboro, Charlotte, and Raleigh swinging between smooth jazz and?standards.?

Date: June 8 - 11, 2023

Location: various Venue, Boone, NC 28607

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