Music

Jazz Fest Begins at School

Eau Claire Jazz Festival kicks off with events all over

Trevor Kupfer |

Despite it’s name, the Eau Claire Jazz Festival is not merely a weekend event about jazz music. Though the festival is still a month away, the free events throughout the Valley have already swung into full force, many of which involve the visual arts. For preschoolers, the festival organized Jump, Jive, and Read on March 5, March 31, and April 2, which includes a live music experience and take-home art project during LE Phillips Library’s normal storytimes. At 5pm on Tuesdays throughout March, jazz combines with poetry in the State Theatre’s lobby featuring Sue Orfield, The Walk-Klenz Sextet, and Mike Wolter Combo. Jazz has likewise made its way into area schools. A jazz combo visited Eau Claire middle schools recently to encourage the students to express themselves through art. North, Regis, and UWEC students will play jazz for shoppers on Wednesdays throughout March at Oakwood Mall. UWEC music historian Dr. Ryan Jones is presenting a jazz appreciation series with videos, recordings, and festival headliners Chris Potter and Jiggs Whigham. In previous weeks, local art classes have created jazz-inspired art, which is on display through April 5 at Porters, Acoustic Café, The Goat, State Theatre, InfiniTea, Heyde Center, LE Phillips Library, and middle schools. Not only will they feature the art of local students, but also Door County’s improv artist Tim Nyberg and New Orleans’ watercolorist Matt Rinard. We can only summarize these community-building offerings in the space allotted here, so visit www.eauclairejazz.com for more complete information.

    Eau Claire Jazz Festival Events • throughout March • various locations and times • all ages • www.eauclairejazz.com