Clark College will host its 60th annual jazz festival in a three-day celebration of jazz, running from Jan. 24 to Jan. 27.
School-age jazz ensembles from across Washington and Oregon will compete in this year’s festival, which will also feature a number of concerts. Daily admission is $10 per person. The event will take place at Gaiser Student Center, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.
Grammy Award-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band, known for its individual musicianship and tight ensemble performance, will kick off the festival in a special ticketed fundraising concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24. The Clark County Jazz Band will open the performance. Only 400 seats are available. Tickets at the opening concert can be purchased at the door for $25 cash-only, or online at clarkbookstore.com/site_theatre.asp for $22.
Competitions will begin at 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 and run throughout the day. The second day’s competitions will begin at 9 a.m., Friday Jan. 26. The third day’s competitions will begin at 8 a.m.
The Clark College Jazz Band will perform periodically throughout the festival. The first day’s competition will close with a performance by the band at 8:15 p.m. on Jan. 25 under the direction of festival director Dr. Doug Harris. The band will perform again at 7:45 p.m. on Jan. 26 with guest trumpeter Allen Vizzutti and again at 12:15 p.m., Jan. 27.
The 2023 Sweepstakes Band — Mountain View High School Jazz Band — under the direction of Sam Ormson, will hold the spotlight during a concert at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 27.
The Clark College Jazz Festival began in 1962, when Hudson’s Bay High School band director, Don Cammack, organized a one-day high school stage band invitational for schools from Clark and Skamania counties. For more information about the event, visit Clark College’s website at clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/music/jazz_festival/.
