Clifford Brown Jazz Festival is the biggest outdoor jazz event on the East Coast that is free for the public. Held on the open lawn of Rodney Square in the center of Wilmington, Delaware, the festival is a tribute to Clifford Brown, a legendary trumpet player, composer, entertainer, and Wilmington native. The event is organized by the City of Wilmington Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
Every June, Clifford Brown Jazz Festival gathers over 20,000 of jazz enthusiasts from around the region, flocking to see prominent jazz artists from all over the world. Previous lineups included Arturo Stable Quartet, Sharon Sable Quintet, Cintron, Gerald Chavis Quintet, Mike Boone Quartet, Barbara Walker, Johnathan Barber & Vision Ahead, Vertical Current, Jeff Bradshaw & Friends, Jamison Ross, Etienne Charles & Creole Soul, Alfredo Rodriguez, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Pablo Batista w/ Nestor Torres, The Jenkins Project, Christian Scott, Laila Biali, Matthew Whitaker, Alicia Olatuja, Theo Crocker, Karen Rodriguez, and others.
Beyond music on the main stage, the event offers vendors, food, wine and craft beer stands. Clifford Brown Jazz Festival also features an exhibit on Clifford Brown from the Delaware Historical Society. The exhibit includes original vinyl albums & covers, drawings, and personal items. Also, the public can hear a recording of Brown's nationally televised appearance on the "Soupy Sales Show."
