02/09/2025
My Weekend at the John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival
High Point was buzzing this past weekend. The 14th annual John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival turned Oak Hollow Festival Park into two days of pure sound, improv chords, melodies, and soulful jazz. The stage kept shifting—jazz giants, gospel-infused harmonies, funk-driven legends, and yes, even yours truly sliding in behind the decks to keep the groove alive between sets.
Saturday lit the fuse. The festival opened with the John Coltrane Youth Jazz Workshop, setting the tone with fresh energy that reminded everyone why this tradition matters. Then came heavyweights: Nnenna Freelon, graceful as ever, sharing the stage with Take 6 and Clint Holmes for a heartfelt salute to Bill Withers and Stevie Wonder. The Headhunters cranked the funk up, Meshell Ndegeocello went deep with her layered sound, Lizz Wright brought her velvet voice to the park, and the day closed with a thunderclap—Snarky Puppy, a five-time Grammy-winning collective, stretching boundaries and leaving the crowd wide-eyed.
Sunday was no cool down—it was a full second wind. West End Mambo had people salsa-stepping before they even found their seats. The NC Coltrane All-Star Band—led by John Brown with special guest José James—reminded everyone that jazz here is alive and rooted. Ruthie Foster poured gospel heat straight into the crowd's bones, while The Baylor Project layered jazz with soul in a way that felt like church and club at the same time. Then came the smooth—Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, and Peter White sharing the stage, smooth jazz royalty in full swing. And to close it out, Stanley Clarke, a four-time Grammy-winning bassist, proved once again why he's untouchable.
Somewhere in that mix, I had my moment. I jumped in as the feature DJ, dropping a 45-minute set of classic R&B, funk, and disco—think of it as my Friday night show on 90.7FM WNCU, but under the open sky with thousands of people dancing shoulder to shoulder. From Chaka Khan to Earth, Wind & Fire, I kept the park moving while the stage changed over. Honestly, it felt less like "filling time" and more like threading the whole weekend together.
And now? No slowing down. I'm rolling right into hosting the next 1st Friday Playlist Concert Series at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St, downtown Durham. We kick things off Friday at 6 p.m.—live music, food and beverage vendors, and no cover charge. That's right, free. Bring a blanket, bring your crew, and let's turn downtown into our living room dance floor.
If you want to carry a little piece of the Coltrane festival with you, I've put together my smooth jazz playlist from the weekend, plus some of my original tracks. Download it anytime at www.MyFavoriteDJnc.com. Load it up, press play, and you're right back in the groove.
See you Friday. And if you skip it, don't worry—I'll cue up "some classic old school jams" just for you.
www.MyFavoriteDJnc.com
