The Clifford Brown

Clifford Brown

Clifford Brown , aka "Brownie," was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter. He died aged 25, leaving behind only four years' worth of recordings...

 Jazz Festival is a free jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

 music festival

Music festival

A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...

 held annually in June at Rodney Square

Rodney Square

Rodney Square is the public square in downtown Wilmington, Delaware named after American Revolutionary leader Caesar Rodney. A large statue of Rodney by James E. Kelly stands in the front of the square. The square was created in the early 20th century by John Jacob Raskob who worked for Pierre S....

 in Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...

. The first festival was held in 1989 on the open lawn in the center of the city, and has grown into the largest free jazz festival on the East Coast. The event is held to keep the memory of Clifford Brown alive; Brown died in a traffic accident in 1956 along with pianist Richie Powell

Richie Powell

Richie Powell was an American bebop jazz pianist.Powell was born into a musical family in New York City, and was the younger brother of Bud Powell...

. Pieces written by Brown and tribute pieces (like Benny Golson

Benny Golson

Benny Golson is an American bebop/hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger.-Biography:While in high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Golson played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and...

's "I Remember Clifford") are often played. Some acts have been staged at the Winterthur Museum and Country Estate, where a fee was charged.

Past acts

2011:

• Junior Mance Quintet
• Manifest 3
• Ninety Miles
• Avery Sharpe Quintet
• Soul of Summer
• Ronny Jordan Full Band
• Take 6
• Tizer
• The Metta Quintet
• Rufus Reid's Out Front Quintet
• Rene Marie
• Captain Black's Big Band

2010:

• John Pizarelli Swing Seven
• Champian Fulton
• Jerry Gonzales and the Fort Apache Band
• Omar Sosa Afreecanos Quartet
• Ravi Coltrane
• Cindy Blackman
• Marcus Miller and Christian Scott, "Tutu Revisited"
• USAF Satellite Ensemble
• Chick Corea Freedom Band
• Pyeng Threadgill
• Fostina Dixon and Winds Of Change
• Tony Williams Ensemble
• Mark Williams Quintet
• Jose Carmona III

2009:

• Kombu Kombo
• Roy Haynes and the Fountain of Youth Band
• Jason Moran
• Jazz Attack
• Kem
• Javon Jackson and Les McCann
• The Bad Plus
• Odean Pope Saxophone Choir
• Dumpstafunk
• Pete Escovedo
• Bio Ritmo
• Burnt Sugar, the Chamber Archestra

2008:

• Trio 3
• Helen Sung Group
• George Duke
• Crittenden
• Suzette Ortiz Jazz Ensemble
• Steve Turre and Sanctified Shells
• U of D Jazz Camp Graduates
• Dr. Guy's Musiqology
• Jumpin' Off A Cleff
• Huascar Barradas
• Raw Sugar Quintet
• Atiba's Dream
• David Sanborn Group
• Hiromi's Sonic Bloom
• Rashid Ali's Quintet
• Clifford Brown Tribute Band featuring Terell Stafford
• Maria Schneider Orchestra
• Dirty Dozen Brass Band
• Bonerama
• Barbara Walker
• Point Blank
• Mingus Big Band

2007:

• The Mahavishnu Project
• Skerik's Maelstrom Trio
• The Blue Method
  The Blue Method
  The Blue Method is a musical band formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2001 by musicians Mike Patriarca and Tom Long . The band added 3 other members: vocalist Brian Williams , drummer Theron Shelton, and bassist Rah Sungee.The sound of The Blue Method is a blend of traditional funk and soul...
  
  
• The Rhythm Council featuring Henry Butler & Papa Mali
• Big Chief Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias
• The Ed Palermo Big Band
  Ed Palermo Big Band
  The Ed Palermo Big Band is a big band that has been active for nearly 30 years playing the compositions and arrangements of their leader and namesake Ed Palermo. They are best known for the arrangements of the music of Frank Zappa that Palermo has prepared for them...
  
  
• The New Mastersounds
• Jean Luc Ponty
• Norman Brown's Summer Storm featuring Peabo Bryson
  Peabo Bryson
  Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
  
  , Jeff Lorber
  Jeff Lorber
  Jeff Lorber is an American Grammy Award-nominated keyboardist, composer, and record producer.After leading his own group, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, he went on to pioneer the smooth jazz genre....
  
   and Marion Meadows
  Marion Meadows
  Marion Meadows is an American tenor saxophonist, soprano saxophonist, composer, and smooth jazz recording artist of Native American, African American and Caucasian descent. Meadows has released a total of 9 albums to date.-Upbringing:...
  
  
• Sherry Winston
• Rob Swanson Quintet
• Stanley Clarke
  Stanley Clarke
  Stanley Clarke is an American jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and electric bass guitar as well as for his numerous film and television scores...
  
  
• Wallace Roney (replaced Freddie Hubbard) and the New Jazz Composers Octet
• Elegua
• Aquiles Báez
• Afghan Jazz Project
• Metta Jazz Quintet

2006:

• Count Basie Orchestra
  Count Basie Orchestra
  The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie. The band survived the late '40s decline in big band popularity and went on to produce notable collaborations with singers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella...
  
  
• Edward Simon
• Crimson Jazz Trio
• Rebirth Brass Band
• Wade in the Water Tour: Bill Summers, Troy Andrews, Mark Brooks, Jamal Batiste, Davell Crawford, Leon Brown, Donald Harrison
  Donald Harrison
  Donald Harrison, Jr. is an American jazz saxophonist from New Orleans, Louisiana.-Biography:Harrison studied at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Berklee College of Music. He played with Roy Haynes, Jack McDuff, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Terence Blanchard and Don Pullen in the...
  
  , Shaka Zulu, Frenchy Frechette
• Sandy Graham
• The Tiptons
• McCoy Tyner
  McCoy Tyner
  McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
  
   Trio
• The RAW Sugar Quintet
• Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers
• Fortune Vinson Cruse
• Jae Sinnett
• John Pizzarelli
• Curtis Fuller
  Curtis Fuller
  Curtis DuBois Fuller is an American jazz trombonist, known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributor to many classic jazz recordings.-Biography:...
  
  
• The Smithsonian Masterworks Jazz Orchestra
• Rayford Griffin
• Wilby Fletcher, Jr.
• Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert

2005:

• JazzReach Hangin' With the Giants
• Concert of Sacred Music featuring Duke Ellington's Sacred Music
• Michael Wolff and Impure Thoughts
• Diane Schurr featuring Dave Sammuels' Caribbean Jazz Project
• Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
• The Funky Meters
• Chris Brubeck's Triple Play
• The Headhunters
  The Headhunters
  The Headhunters are an American jazz-funk fusion band, best known for their albums they recorded as a backing band of jazz keyboard player Herbie Hancock during the 1970s. Hancock's debut album with the group, Head Hunters, is one of the best-selling jazz/fusion records of all time.-History:Herbie...
  
  
• Ingrid Jensen and Project O
• Lou Donaldson and Dr. Lonnie Smith
• Flora Purim and Airto Moriera
• Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
• JazzChords of Calloway
• Council of Jazz Advocates Wilmington Youth Jazz Band
• Kennedy Center Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Graduates
• Sherrie Maricle and The DIVA Jazz Orchestra with Rachel Price
• Irvin Mayfield
  Irvin Mayfield
  Irvin Mayfield, Jr. is an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He has been serving as Cultural Ambassador of the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana since 2003. He co-founded and has co-led the Afro-Cuban jazz group Los Hombres Calientes since 1998. Their debut album won Billboard's 2000...
  
   and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
• Judith Owen
• Louis Hayes
  Louis Hayes
  Louis Hayes is an American jazz drummer.-Biography:His father played drums and piano and his mother the piano and he refers to the early influence of hearing jazz, especially that of big bands, on the radio...
  
   and the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band
• Hugh Masekela

2004:

• T.S. Monk
• Dave Valentin/Hiltin Ruiz Latin Jazz Project
• David Sanchez
• Ahmad Jamal
• Ceceilia Smith and Jay Hoggard
• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
• Jimmy McGriff
• Stefon Harris and Blackout
• Regina Carter
  Regina Carter
  Regina Carter is an American jazz violinist. She is the cousin of famous jazz saxophonist James Carter.-Early life:...
  
   and Del Symphony
• Cassandra Wilson
  Cassandra Wilson
  Cassandra Wilson is an American jazz musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Jackson, Mississippi. Described by critic Gary Giddins as "a singer blessed with an unmistakable timbre and attack [who has] expanded the playing field" by incorporating country, blues and folk music into her...
  
  
• Lincoln Center’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra

2003:

• Roy Hargrove
  Roy Hargrove
  Roy Anthony Hargrove is an American jazz trumpeter. He won worldwide notice after winning two Grammy Awards for differing types of music, in 1997, and in 2002...
  
  
• Terrell Stafford
• Randy Brecker
• David Weiss
• The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
• Barbone Street Jazz Band
• Arturo Sandoval
• Rolando Matias and Afro-Rican Ensemble
• Kenny Barron
• Greg Osby
• The Masters of Groove
• Lalah Hathaway
• Herbie Hancock
  Herbie Hancock
  Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
  
  
• Wynton Marsalis
  Wynton Marsalis
  Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
  
  /Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra

2002:

• Cab Calloway Orchestra
• Claudia Acuna
• Onaje Allan Gumbs Septet
• Take 6
• Nnenna Freelon
  Nnenna Freelon
  Nnenna Freelon, , is an American jazz singer, composer, producer, and arranger. She has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for her vocal work, and has performed and toured with such top artists as Ray Charles, Ellis Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall,...
  
  
• Omar Sosa Octet
• Robert Jospe
  Robert Jospé
  Robert Jospé is a Charlottesville, Virginia based jazz drummer.Jospé is the band leader and drummer with the band Inner Rhythm, which received positive reviews in the Washington Post....
  
  
• The Langston Hughes Project-Ask Your Momma
• Terrence Blanchard with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra
• Nestor Torres
• John Scofield
• Bootsie Barnes Quintet

2001:

• The Afro-Rican Ensemble
• The Navigators
• Chuck Mangione
  Chuck Mangione
  Charles Frank "Chuck" Mangione is an American flugelhorn player and composer who achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-pop single, "Feels So Good." Mangione has released more than thirty albums since 1960.-Early life and career:...
  
  
• Fred Hughes Trio
• Barbone St. Jazz
• Fortune Vinson Cruse
• Melissa Walker
• Airmen of Note
• Branford Marsalis
  Branford Marsalis
  Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
  
  
• Cintron
• Lenora Zenzalai Helm
• Groove Collective

2000:

• Ingrid Jensen
• Nicholas Payton’s Louis Armstrong Centennial
• Regina Carter
  Regina Carter
  Regina Carter is an American jazz violinist. She is the cousin of famous jazz saxophonist James Carter.-Early life:...
  
  
• Joshua Redman
• Stefon Harris
  Stefon Harris
  Stefon Harris is an American jazz vibraphonist. In 1999, the Los Angeles Times called him "one of the most important young artists in jazz" who is "at the forefront of new New York music" and "much in demand as a star sideman"...
  
  
• Dianne Reeves
  Dianne Reeves
  Dianne Reeves is an American jazz singer. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado.-Early life:Reeves was born in Detroit, Michigan to a very musical family. Her father, who died when she was two years old, was also a singer. Her mother, Vada Swanson, played trumpet. A cousin, George Duke, is a...
  
  
• Cecila Smith
• Mary Kadderly
• Cyrus Chestnut
  Cyrus Chestnut
  Cyrus Chestnut is an American jazz pianist, songwriter, and producer. In 2006, Josh Tyrangiel, music critic for Time Magazine, wrote: "What makes Chestnut the best jazz pianist of his generation is a willingness to abandon notes and play space." Chestnut enjoys mixing styles and resists being...
  
  
• Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown Big Band
• Michael Brecker
• McCoy Tyner with Michael Brecker

1999:

• Lou Donaldson Quartet
• The Jazz Messengers: The Legacy of Art Blakey
• Benny Golson
  Benny Golson
  Benny Golson is an American bebop/hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger.-Biography:While in high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Golson played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and...
  
   and Randy Brecker
• Steve Turre
  Steve Turre
  Steve Turre is a trombonist, recording artist, arranger, and educator. In 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2006 he won the Down Beat Reader's Poll for best trombonist....
  
    and Mulgrew Miller
  Mulgrew Miller
  Mulgrew Miller is an American jazz pianist who performs in a number of jazz idioms. He began his career as member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.-Biography:...
  
  
• Buster Williams and Carl Allen
• Nnenna Freelon
• Gonzolo Rubalcaba Trio
• Alex Bugnon
• Najee
• Earl Klugh
  Earl Klugh
  Earl Klugh is an American smooth jazz/crossover jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and composer.At the age of 13, Klugh was captivated by the guitar playing of Chet Atkins when Atkins made an appearance on the Perry Como Show. Klugh was a performing guest on several of Atkins' albums...
  
  
• Patti Austin
• David Sanborn
  David Sanborn
  David Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
  
  
• Ivan Lins
• !Cubanisimo!

1998:

• Dizzy: The Man and His Music
• Featuring: Ignacio Berroa
  Ignacio Berroa
  Ignacio Berroa is a jazz drummer.In 1980 Ignacio left his country during the Mariel Boatlift, moved to New York and joined Dizzy Gillespie’s quartet in 1981 becoming the drummer of all the important bands Gillespie formed until his death in 1993.Ignacio Berroa has been recognized by many as one of...
  
  , Cyrus Chestnut
  Cyrus Chestnut
  Cyrus Chestnut is an American jazz pianist, songwriter, and producer. In 2006, Josh Tyrangiel, music critic for Time Magazine, wrote: "What makes Chestnut the best jazz pianist of his generation is a willingness to abandon notes and play space." Chestnut enjoys mixing styles and resists being...
  
  
• Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton
• Antonio Hart
  Antonio Hart
  Antonio Hart is a jazz alto saxophonist. He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, studied with Andy McGhee at Berklee College of Music, and has a master's degree from Queens College, City University of New York. His initial training was classical, but he switched to jazz in college...
  
   and John Lee
• Pat Martino
• Nancy Wilson
  Nancy Wilson (singer)
  Nancy Wilson is an American singer with more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards. She has been labeled a singer of blues, jazz, cabaret and pop; a "consummate actress"; and "the complete entertainer." The title she prefers, however, is song stylist...
  
  
• Heads Up Super Band: Kenny Blake, Joe McBride and Gerald Veasley
• The Rippingtons with Russ Freeman
• Joyce Cooling
• Gato Baribieri
• Lee Ritenour
• Clarence Fountain and the Five Boys
• Staple Singers

1997:

• Stanley Clarke
• Spyro Gyro
• Roy Hargrove
• Ramsey Lewis
• Jonathan Butler
• 4th World with Flora Purim and Airto
• Marlena Shaw
• Kevin Mahogany
• Tom Grant
• Manny Oquendo and Libre
• Edgando Cintron and Tiempo Noventa
• United Nations Jazz Orchestra
• Paquito d’Rivera

1996:

• Sonny Rollins
  Sonny Rollins
  Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins is a Grammy-winning American jazz tenor saxophonist. Rollins is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. A number of his compositions, including "St...
  
  
• Betty Carter
• Terrence Blanchard
• Boney James
• Norman Brown
• Poncho Sanchez
• Tania Maria
• Rick Braun
• Keiko Matsui
• Bela Fleck and The Flecktones
• Tuck and Patti

1995:

• Clark Terry
• T.S. Monk
• Geri Allen
• Wallace Roney
• Randi Crawford
• Pieces of A Dream
• Hiroshima
• The Caribbean Jazz Project
• Randy Brecker and Denis SiBlasio
• Mario Grigorov
• John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
• KoKo Taylor and Her Blues Machine

1994:

• Raye-Avery Jones
• Judith Kay with First State Ensemble
• Wayne Krantz
• The Duke’s Men – Former members of Duke Ellington's Orchestra
• Dave Schiff and Quartet
• Harry Spencer and Vaneisa

1993:

• Lou Rawls and Band
  Lou Rawls
  Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
  
  
• Ray Baretto Jazz Ensemble
• Angela Bofill
• Benny Goldson and The All Star Band featuring Helen Merrill