DC Jazz Festival Says: ‘Let the Good Times Roll!’
By • April 21, 2022 0 1040
“Let the Good Times Roll” this Monday April 25 at Arena Stage’s Mead Center will honor Grammy Award-winner and Oscar nominated trumpeter Terence Blanchard, DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) Chair Emeritus Conrad Kenley, The Library of Congress’ jazz specialist Larry Appelbaum, vocalist Sharon Clark and The String Queens, devoted D.C. music educators and other assorted favorites.
DC Jazz Festival will be hosting “Let the Good Times Roll” on Monday at Arena Stage. Photo courtesy DCJF.
The event at 1101 6th St SW begins with a VIP reception at 6 p.m., awards ceremony at 7 p.m. and ends with an 8:30 p.m. Masquerade Dance Party featuring the rousing sounds of New Orleans’ Brass-A-Holics.
“This year’s Gala event will close out what has been a grand and glorious year for the DC Jazz Festival,” said President and CEO Sunny Sumter. “The evening will be a true manifestation of our credo of presenting jazz and its extensions and honoring those who’ve contributed their talents to this rich musical mosaic — we’re very happy to present it all at Arena Stage in what will soon be DCJF’s new home at the Mead Center.”
Proceeds from “Let the Good Times Roll” support the DCJF Education Program, which promotes musical education and appreciation for jazz. Their initiatives allow free, year-round programming for D.C. students, their teachers and families.
Sumter started at the DC Jazz Festival 15 years ago by leading partnerships and engagement initiatives for Charlie Fishman, who founded the festival. Sumter grew with the organization, eventually becoming managing director, executive director and now CEO.
The Georgetowner recently interviewed Sumter as part of our women cultural leaders of D.C. series. See our interview here.
The DC Jazz Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit service organization. More on DC Jazz Festival can be found here.
