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Jazz Coverage

NC Central University's Jazz Band won first place at the Lincoln Center in New York City, earning the school 10 thousand dollars. 

NC Central Jazz Band wins 2023 "Jack Rudin Jazz Championship" in New York City

NC Central Jazz Band wins 2023 "Jack Rudin Jazz Championship"

The North Carolina Central University Jazz Ensemble will compete in the Jack Rudin Championship, a two-day band competition, this weekend at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

NC Central Jazz Ensemble to compete at New York City competition

North Carolina Central University

A jazz robot can team up with live bands and create new songs.

BOUNDARIES OF AI PARTNERSHIPS. HUMANS AND ROBOTS HAVE BEEN WORKING SIDE BY SIDE IN FACTORIES FOR YEARS. BUT NOW ENGINEERS ARE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF HOW THE 2 CAN PARTNER AND MORE ARTISTIC WAYS. THIS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, JAZZ ROBOT COULD BE THE ANSWER AS IT TEAMS UP TO PLAY WITH LIVE BANDS AND CREATE NEW SONGS. IT'S GOING TO BE. >> THE JAZZ ALGORITHM WHICH WOULD BE COOLING JAZZ WELL, JT JT IS A FUTURISTIC, A MUSIC PRODIGY. >> FACULTY AT ENGLAND'S UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON HAVE LOADED COUNTLESS JUST SONGS ONTO ITS DATABASE, SPANNING FROM THE 1920'S TO MODERN DAY AND JT DOES THE REST USING SPECIAL ALGORITHMS TO FORM NEW SONGS FROM ITS ARCHIVE AND PERFORM THEM AS IMPROVISED SOLOS SELECTS. THE BEST BETS AND LEARNS FROM IT. >> AND THEN USING THE COLTS, THE HARMONY WHICH WE USE IN JAZZ. IT THEN CREATES HIS OWN VERSION OF SOME OF THOSE JT NOW PLAYS ALONGSIDE THE UNIVERSITY'S JAZZ ORCHESTRA, HELPING MUSICIANS EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY TO EXPAND THEIR CREATIVITY BUT AS ROBOTS BECOME MORE INTEGRATED INTO EVERYDAY LIFE, IT CAN CAUSE PEOPLE ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES TO QUESTION THEIR JOB. SECURITY FOR NOW, SOME MUSICIANS VIEW THE TECHNOLOGY AS AN ENHANCEMENT. WHAT YOU

'More interesting jazz': Newly-developed robot gives puts new light on classic genre

'More interesting jazz': Newly-developed robot gives spin to classic genre

"Everyday that I live and I'm doing something positive is Black History Day," Durham jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon told WRAL News.

<p>LICENSE TO STRICT &gt;&gt;&gt; A SIX-TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE, HER FIRST ALBUM MORE THE DECADE, TIME TRAVELER, ALSO UP FOR A GRAMMY. WE FIND OUT ABOUT HER LIFE, CAREER AND GREATEST JOY. &gt;&gt; Reporter: THE VOICE IS UNMISTAKABLE. NINA IS A STORYTELLER STEEPED IN TRADITIONS OF JAZZ MUSIC. A PASSION AT AN EARLY AGE GROWING UP IN CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS. &gt;&gt; THE IMPROV IMPULSE, THE IMPULSE TO SAY TELL A STORY YOUR WAY. TELL A STORY WITHIN THE SONG RELEVANCE TO YOU. &gt;&gt; Reporter: HER LOVE AFFAIR WITH JAZZ MUSIC WAS LESS ABOUT A MOMENT IN TIME AND MORE OF A PROCESS. &gt;&gt; FALLING IN LOVE. DISCOVERING, BEING CURIOUS. FINDING FLOWERS. &gt;&gt; Reporter: THE LATEST GRAMMY NOMINATED ALBUM TIME TRAVELER IS A LOVE LETTER TO HER LATE HUSBAND WHOSE LONG LIST OF CREDITS INCLUDE THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN- AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE. &gt;&gt; MUSIC WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING WE SHARED. IT WAS THE PLACE I COULD GO AND MEET HIM. TIME TRAVELER MEANS JUST THAT. &gt;&gt; Reporter: SHE IS HONORED BY THE RECOGNITION OF HER WORK WHICH IS SO DEEPLY PERSONAL. IT TOUCHES SO MANY. &gt;&gt; I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT ME. MY PAIN AND MY JOY AND MY EXPERIENCES. TO GET THE RECOGNITION LET'S ME KNOW THAT IT IS BIGGER THAN ME. &gt;&gt; Reporter: SHE SAYS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS NOT A FINITE EXPERIENCE. FOR HER IT IS A LIFESTYLE. &gt;&gt; EVERY DAY THAT I LIVE AND I AM DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE, IT IS BLACK HISTORY DAY. &gt;&gt; Reporter: SO WE HONOR NNENNA</p>

Durham vocalist, Grammy nominee connects on 'Time Traveler'

Durham vocalist, Grammy nominee connects on 'Time Travler'

Durham jazz vocalist uses music to connect with late husband through time, pain

Nnenna Freelon

"Give the Drummer Some," that's the name of a benefit concert Sunday at North Carolina Central University in Durham. The concert is hosted and curated by world-traveling jazz drummer and NCCU teacher Thomas Taylor.

. >> THE DRUMS CHOSE ME. >> Reporter: WITH A BANG. THOMAS TAYLOR, THE ABSOLUTE SYMBOL OF DELIGHT. >> I GREW UP BANGING ON POTS AND PANS AND SHOE BOXES AND SUITCASES. AND THE LITTLE ICE CREAM CUPS. >> Reporter: HE MIGHT HAVE HIT QUARTERBACKS TOO ON THE BALL FIELDS OF ELIZABETH CITY. >> YES. EXTRA EAST IS WHAT I CALL THAT. >> Reporter: HE HAS TRAVELED. >> I HAVE PERFORMED AND TAUGHT ON FIVE DIFFERENT CONTINENTS. >> Reporter: FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE. HIT IT. FOR THOMAS TAYLOR IS A JAZZ MAN. >> I FEEL LIKE JAZZ CHOSE ME AS WELL. . >> Reporter: IT STRUCK A CHORD. THE MUSIC AND THOSE DRUMS. >> THE IMPORTANT THING THAT I HAD TO REALIZE IS I WASN'T NEARLY AS GOOD AS I THOUGHT I WAS. AND I STARTED TEACHING AT COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOLS. >> Reporter: HE TAUGHT AND PRACTICED. AND PRACTICED. >> SO THAT WAS THE GENESIS. AND THEN THERE WERE OTHER MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOWED ME TO TAKE OFF. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I TOOK A FLIGHT. >> Reporter: HE PERFORMED IN JAPAN. >> WITH SOME OF THE HEAVY WEIGHTS. >> Reporter: HIS NAME SLOWLY BEGAN TO RESONATE. WHAT DO YOU TRY TO BRING TO THE PERFORMANCE? >> A POWER THAT IS BEYOND ME. I TRY TO BE A VESSEL FROM GOD SO THAT WHATEVER SOUNDS GREAT THAT COMES THROUGH ME IS FROM GOD. IT'S NOT ME. BUT IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS MESSED UP, THAT'S ME. . >> Reporter: FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS NOW, HE'S TAUGHT AT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY IN DURHAM. . >> THE PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL'S JAZZ PROGRAM. PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. MAGIC, SPIRIT-MOVING MUSIC. BUT IT'S MORE THAN MUSIC. IT'S BEING ABOUT SOMETHING GREATER THAN YOURSELF. AND FOR ME, I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION WITH MORE THAN MYSELF. THE GREAT I AM. >> Reporter: THOMAS, THAT IS POWERFUL. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ENJOY IT. >> I DO. I DO FOR SURE. >> OH, MY GOSH.

'The drums chose me': World traveling jazz drummer, NCCU teacher hosts benefit concert 

Ellis Dyson and the Shambles, a Dixie jazz band group formed in Chapel Hill, performs outside the WRAL studios. The band will perform at Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh on Saturday night

Dixie jazz group Ellis Dyson and the Shambles performs at WRAL

A new jazz studies program awarded to two students at N.C. Central University carries the name of a legendary jazz singer.



Two NCCU jazz students awarded Ella Fitzgerald scholarship 

A new jazz studies program awarded to two students at N.C. Central University carries the name of a legendary jazz singer.


NCCU jazz scholarship funded by Ella Fitzgerald

Renee Todd is the band director. They will be performing community concerts in November at the Raleigh Little Theater and at Kings in downtown Raleigh. Learn how you can support the band at ligonband.com.

Ligon Middle School Jazz Ensemble visits WRAL

Events this week: Art of Cool, Bluegrass, Durham Night Market,

Dropkick Murphys rock Red Hat Amphiteater

John Coltrane is a jazz musician who was born and raised in North Carolina. Every year, Coltrane's hometown of High Point honors him with the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival. Visit coltranejazzfest.com for details.

High Point festival honors jazz musician John Coltrane

Live concerts in elevator at Alaska's Anchorage Museum give patrons an uplifting experience.

Cool! Jazz musician provides live elevator music

It's another big weekend in the Triangle!



Weekend best bets: SunFest at Dix Park, Goo Goo Dolls and Weird Al

Field of sunflowers at Dix Park in downtown Raleigh

Whether it's a long weekend for you or not, there's plenty to do right here in the Triangle! Here are our best picks.

Weekend best bets: Eno River Festival, New Kids On The Block

Eno Festival

Weekend best bets: Art of Cool, Wide Open Bluegrass

2017 Wide Open Bluegrass

The Cameron Village underground is hoping to be revived with a new jazz club under the Fresh Market next year. In the subway tunnel underneath the market, York Properties said it will bring live music daily for those looking to relax and enjoy Raleigh nightlife. 