The Nashville Jazz Workshop (NJW) announces that the 20th anniversary of its exciting annual fundraiser, Jazzmania, will be a virtual event this year. Jazzmania 2020, the group’s first-ever global online listening party, fundraiser and evening of world-class jazz, will take place on October 24th, 2020 at 7:00pm CT.
The 90-minute streaming Jazzmania 2020 program will be hosted by renowned Memphis saxophonist Kirk Whalum and will feature an all-star lineup of jazz artists – including Kandace Springs, Victor Wooten, Rachael and Vilray (Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive), Beegie Adair, Keb’ Mo’, Jeff Coffin with Viktor Krause and Jordan Perlson, Peter Bernstein, Champian Fulton, Jeff Hamilton, Donna McElroy, Chester Thompson, Rod McGaha, Rufus Reid, and Choro Das Tres. Rachael Price and Kandace Springs are both former NJW students.
The event has been transformed to a virtual concert so that NJW patrons and artists as well as jazz fans locally, nationally and internationally can tune in to hear world-class music, celebrate the non-profit’s 20th Anniversary, and raise donations and awareness for the Workshop’s two decades of community outreach and music education.
“Our mission is to enrich people’s lives through jazz education and performance,” said Nashville Jazz Workshop’s Executive Director Eric Dilts. “For our 20th Anniversary – and in this crazy year in particular – we felt it was even more important to do something special and do it safely. So we decided to throw an epic virtual party for jazz lovers everywhere.”
The talent at this year’s event represents a combined 20 Grammys, 5.7 million social media followers, 41+ million streams and hundreds of TV appearances and world tours. Most of the artists appearing at Jazzmania 2020 have previously performed, taught or studied at the NJW.
Beginning October 25, a recorded version of the event will be available to stream on-demand for 60 days. Proceeds from the event will support the NJW’s Music Education, Performance Series and Community Outreach, and are fully tax deductible.
For more information, to register and donate, or to sponsor Jazzmania, visit jazzmania.nashvillejazz.org.