THE HISTORY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA JAZZ FESTIVAL  

This festival was started in 1980 by Dr. Harry VanVelsor, a local dermatologist, and consummate jazz lover.  Harry’s devotion to Dixieland and Traditional style jazz greatly influenced the structure of this new event in Wilmington.  

Over the years the greatest of Traditional Jazz artists have brought their musical talents here to be a part of this festival.  Names like Art Hodes, Milt Hinton, Kenny Davern, Keter Betts, Bobby Rosengarden, Tony DiNicola, and Johnny Frigo are among the late greats who have passed this way.  

In recent years we have hosted an array of talents from around the nation and the world---Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Ed Polcer, Houston Person, Wycliffe Gordon, Duke Heitger and Ken Peplowski, to name just a few.

We have introduced some young newcomers to our area also--- Jonathan Russell, the jazz violin prodigy from N.Y.C., who played here at ages 11 & 12 , will be back again in 2011.  His performance with the legendary jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli was a show stopper!   

Those internationals who have followed their love of jazz to its’ homeland and to the North Carolina Jazz Festival include  Antti Sarpila (Finland); Nicki Parrott (Australia); Derek Smith (England); Bria Skonberg,  Peter Appleyard, Jim Galloway and Randy Reinhart (Canada).  In 2009 we added Rossano Sportiello ( Italy ),and Anat Cohen ( Israel ) to our international list, and in 2011 we will introduce Adrian Cunningham, reeds and flute player ( Australia ) to our NCJF audience.  

The history of the NCJF and its’ musicians is impressive!  We look forward to continuing the tradition of bringing to the area the highest standard of jazz excellence, in the style of our founder Dr. Harry VanVelsor (Feb. 1924 – Feb. 2010).   NCJF is a non-profit organization, staffed solely by volunteers.  

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A  FOND FAREWELL  TO A WILMINGTON JAZZ  HERO

                                             Dr. Harry Van Velsor  Feb. 1924 – Feb. 2010     

When Harry VanVelsor was attending Albany Medical School , and then did his internships at St. Lukes and Columbia Presbyterian hospitals in NYC, he often dropped into clubs or bars where jazz was being played.  An avid pianist and saxophonist, Harry loved JAZZ!  There were times when he was privileged to “sit in” at these jazz spots.   

In 1952 Dr. VanVelsor moved to Wilmington , NC where he opened his dermatology practice in 1954.  Still playing jazz for his own pleasure, and looking for opportunities to play more jazz, he and some other local jazz devotees started a group called the “Dixieland Society of the Lower Cape Fear”.  This band was the premiere Dixieland band in the area.

In the winter of 1979, while visiting Chicago , Harry stopped in a local bar for a “quick warm-up”.  The only other person in the bar was the bartender, and the drinks warmed him up to the point of bravery (his words taken from the 2006 NCJF program).  As a result, he asked the bartender if he could play the old piano sitting against the wall---he played. After a few tunes, someone tapped him on the shoulder and asked “Can I join you?”  The stranger sat down and they played together.  Suddenly Harry looked at the gentleman and realized—“Oh, my God!  I’m playing duet boogie-woogie with the great Art Hodes!”

Six months later Harry and his Wilmington friends booked Art Hodes at the Blockade Runner Hotel.  With Art’s help, Harry lined up some other great musicians for the first North Carolina Jazz Festival in 1980.  

For the next 25 years Harry brought some of the world’s greatest traditional jazz musicians to Wilmington to perform at the North Carolina Jazz Festival.  His love of and devotion to traditional jazz has created a special niche in the cultural scene of the Cape Fear area.  The festival has grown over the years and has enticed jazz lovers from across the U.S. and Canada to visit our city.  Year after year they return to enjoy this very special 3-day jazz event.  

Dr. Harry VanVelsor is a hero to us here in the port city, and to jazz lovers around the globe.  We will continue the event we call the North Carolina Jazz Festival in his honor.

Thanks, Dr. Jazz, you are our hero!.