ASU Jazz Fest 2026
When a young Russell Thomas took the stage as host of Alcorn State University’s first annual jazz festival in April 1982, he had no idea that the artistic creation he had given birth to and enthusiastically nurtured in its earliest years would survive into a whole new century.
On Saturday, April 25, ASU celebrated its 44th year of annual jazz concerts. During these years, top of the line jazz pros like Clark Terry (1982), Ramsey Lewis (1986, 2000, & 2017), Max Roach (1991), and Dee-Dee Bridgewater (2019) have stood tall like majestic stone monuments radiating a musical aura that cannot be ignored and certainly deserves to never be forgotten.
WHALUM PERFORMS
During this year’s ASU Jazz Fest, veteran Broadway singer-songwriter Kortland Whalum held center stage at Vicksburg’s Convention Center, the home to the festival from its inception till now. He was accompanied by Terrence Brown on piano, JB Brownlee on guitar, Loren D. Clark on bass, and Henry Conerway III on drums. The star ensemble performed spectacularly on the opening number “All of Me” and kept the audience swinging, singing, and dancing for the next 90 minutes.
Whalum proudly says he is the living embodiment of a jazz heritage that just keeps growing and giving more to the honor and glory of Alcorn as the decades go by.
Whalum also reminded his audience, the group of 50-plus dedicated jazz lovers and ASU loyalists, that his uncle, saxophonist Kirk Whalum, had brought his quintet to a wildly-enthusiastic Vicksburg in 1999.
Jazz festival director Ryan Stransky reminded the guests and attendees that Alcorn has a long history of contribution to the arts and education. “The festival is a tradition of excellence in music, jazz, and education,” he said. “This tradition has been enriched and upheld by our past directors, Dr. Russell, Dr. David Miller, and Dr. Sean Daniels.
“Our Jazz Festival will continue to grow and leave an impact on the region and state,” Stransky added. “We join together with high school, community college, and university ensembles to showcase the talent and musicianship represented across the nation. We take pride in selecting guest artists that will contribute to the legacy of this festival, and Kortland Whalum is no exception.”
He urges every ASU Jazz Festival attendee to plan a return to the campus and Vicksburg’s Convention Center in April 2027, pointing out that both on-campus and downtown Vicksburg musical activities are parts of the festival.
