Helen Daley

The Arizona Classic Jazz Festival (azclassicjazz.org) will take place Nov. 3 to 6  at co-sponsor Crowne Plaza Phoenix – Chandler Golf Resort, One San Marcos Place, Chandler, Ariz. This is a fantastic event you don’t want to miss.

Entertainment starts at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, and continues until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. Badges are available for the entire weekend at the discounted rate of $115 until Aug. 15. The price goes to $130 on Aug. 16, and that is also the cost if purchased at the door. Day badges are also available at the door on the day of the event but cannot be ordered in advance. In addition, an Afterglow will be offered at the hotel’s San Tan Room from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday for a cost of $40 per person, including dinner and music. Afterglow tickets must be ordered in advance. If you want to stay at the hotel at the Festival rate, contact them at 877-685-5594 before Oct. 1 and identify the name of the event.

The theme for this year’s special/educational sets is Imagine the ‘20s roaring again—the jazz age of the 1920s duplicated in the 2020s. The special programs will take place throughout the weekend. Cheryl’s Vintage Jazz will be presenting Louis Armstrong and will also back the Clarinet Trio with Pieter Meijers, John Clark, and Dan Levinson. Dick Maley’s WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) will bring the music of Duke Ellington to life. Queen City Jazz Band will showcase their own queen of jazz, Wendy Harston, highlighting the music of Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. The St. Louis Stompers will play the music of Jelly Roll Morton. Sentimental Breeze will play compositions of George Gershwin meets Bessie Smith. Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi, on dual pianos, will thrill the audience with Great Musicals of the 1920s. The Sun City Stomperz will play the music of Lil Hardin Armstrong. Tom Rigney will explain his life story with How Did I Get Here? The Wildcat Jazz Band will bring music lovers to their feet as the ‘20s Roar on Broadway. Wolverine Jazz Band will perform the music of Sidney Bechet.

“Big” B.A.D. Rhythm, Groovus, Something Doin’—the Big Little Ragtime Band, and We 3 + 1 will complete the lineup. Howard Alden, guitarist and banjoist, and reed player Pieter Meijers will play with various bands throughout the weekend. The Hot Peppers, led by Lynn Win Roberts, will present the Grand Finale on Sunday.

For more information or to order badges by credit card, call Helen Daley at 480-620-3941.