One of the oldest jazz festivals in the country, the North Carolina Jazz Festival, will present the 43rd edition February 2, 3, & 4, 2023. This 3-day event, held in the ballroom of the Hotel Ballast (formerly The Wilmington Hilton Riverside), features internationally known jazz musicians from across the U.S., Australia, and Italy.

Thursday Night Showcase (7:30 – 10:30)
Special Event – STYLES OF JAZZ:
The Steve Washington Trio
I am now especially honored to be the opening artist of the Wilmington NC Jazz Festival. I'm truly looking forward to it. Presenting to new audiences in new venues is especially good fun. What an adventurous and hopeful way to start off a new year.
Lenore Raphael Trio
Surprise Bonus Set
Professor Cunningham’s Traditional Jazz Jam

On Friday and Saturday nights we will have thirteen jazz all-stars playing seven sets of traditional and classic jazz each night, with a different leader on each set.
All concerts begin at 7:30pm, Thursday is a three-hour concert,
while Fri. & Sat. concerts go until midnight.

Ticket prices, including tax, are Thurs. $45 gen. adm., Fri & Sat. gen. adm. $65. Each night $25 military, $15 students. Our patron tickets are $215. and include Fri. & Sat. evening concerts plus our special patron brunch at 10:30 Sat. morning, where the all-star musicians will play and socialize with our patrons, then patron/musicians will be invited to “sit in” with the all-stars. Patrons receive preferred, reserved seating plus their names in the program. The $240 patron tickets include all of the above plus tickets to Thursday evening’s Special Event. Tickets may be purchased from our website, E-Tix or at the AudioLab at 5732 Oleander Dr., Wilmington. For more information, please check our website www.ncjazzfestival.org, e-mail to ncjazzfest@yahoo .com or call 910-793-1111.

The North Carolina Jazz Festival has an extensive jazz education program, taking our All-Star musicians to 3 local schools, plus giving 8 free master classes to students during this weekend. During the school year we also take local jazz musicians to schools to introduce them to this style of music called JAZZ, which is truly our American Heritage.

To learn more about The North Carolina Jazz Festival, our story, and our supporters please go to www.ncjazzfesival.org

Now in its 43rd year, the North Carolina Jazz Festival, Inc. is going strong and continues to bring to the Cape Fear area talented world renown musicians and jazz lovers who spend their evenings listening to their favorite style of music and their days exploring the historic area, the museums, shops, galleries, and restaurants of Wilmington. This time of year is not usually busy for tourism here, but because of our “jazz beat”, things are “hopping” in Wilmington during our NC Jazz Festival weekend! Come celebrate our 43rd anniversary with us.