JON BATISTE, KEM, BOYZ II MEN, LEDISI, COCO JONES, BONEY JAMES, BRIAN CULBERTSON, and More
JUNE 28, 29 and 30, 2024
MARCH 20, 2024 – HAMPTON, VA: The Hampton Jazz Festival is returning this summer from June 28 – June 30 with an exciting lineup, a fresh look, and a new name: The Hampton Jazz & Music Festival. Tickets for all performances go on sale on Saturday, March 23 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hampton Coliseum Box Office or ticketmaster.com.
The 54th Annual Hampton Jazz & Music Festival, co-presented by the City of Hampton, Hampton University, and the Santangelo Group, Inc. and hosted by smooth jazz radio show host and jazz enthusiast Jay Lang, promises a dynamic fusion of genres, broadening the festival’s appeal across diverse age groups.
The annual festival has brought the best of jazz, pop, blues, soul, and R&B to the region since its first show on the campus of Hampton University in 1968 as part of a one-time celebration of the institution’s 100th birthday.
“We have been building off of the success of that first show with lineups that honor our music legends, introduce new artists, and celebrate the rich variety of sounds and styles from around the country,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams. “This year’s festival will continue the tradition of bringing a signature blend of world-class artists, solidifying its place as a “must-stop” destination on the summer festival trail.”
The Jazz Festival rebrand reflects a commitment to redefining the live performance experience, promising a truly unforgettable festival for all attendees.
“This is a nod to the changing times and will keep people excited to attend the festival for many years to come,” said Joe Santangelo, festival co-promoter. “The new name reflects the broad diversity of music that we are bringing to our fans – young and old – from jazz and R&B to funk and more.”
According to organizers, the rebrand signifies a crucial milestone in the growth of the festival.
“The last weekend in June brings thousands of visitors who travel to see the talented artists on stage,” said Hampton Coliseum Director Terri Vander Vennet. “The economic impact of the festival reverberates throughout the City of Hampton. The familiarity of this festival spans generations and reunites friends and family from across the country. We are excited about expanding the music genres and building a bridge between new artists and new festival goers.”
The festival, which has hosted every major jazz artist of this and previous generations, features a vendor fair, food trucks, and pop up shops showcasing small and local businesses from near and far.
“We are proud to have helped present this festival for decades,” said Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck. “The City of Hampton is proud to be home to many cultural offerings but none as historic as this jazz and music festival. Restaurants, hotels and businesses of all sizes experience the economic boon that’s driven by our local and visiting music-loving guests.”
Featuring a roster of more than two dozen musical groups, including festival debuts, the confirmed artists for this year’s Jazz Festival are as follows:
FRI., JUNE 28, 7:30 p.m.
KEM
Ledisi
Kingfish
Special EFX All-Stars
SAT., JUNE 29, 7 p.m.
Boyz II Men
Coco Jones
Boney James
Kustom Made Band
SUN., JUNE 30, 2 p.m.
Jon Batiste
Brian Culbertson
October London
The Fuzz Band
HAMPTON JAZZ & MUSIC FESTIVAL LINEUP:
FRIDAY, JUNE 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday’s show features the festival’s most requested artist, KEM, whose deeply personal neo-soul music is the all-time fan favorite. Also appearing will be New Orleans-native, actress and Soul Train Music award winner Ledisi, one of R&B’s top female performers. Making his festival debut is young blues sensation from Mississippi, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, whose rise in the blues world has been nothing short of meteoric and whose style is drawing comparisons to both B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix.
Rounding out the Friday show will be Special EFX All-Stars, a jazz group featuring Chieli Minucci with special guests Lao Tizer, Elliott Yamin, Brian Bromberg, Eric Marienthal.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29 at 7 p.m.
Saturday’s show features Boyz II Men, one of the most iconic R&B groups in music today, followed by Grammy award winner, Coco Jones, whose soulful music will certainly make her debut appearance at the Jazz Festival truly memorable.
Also appearing is another smooth jazz fan favorite, Boney James. Opening up on Saturday is a very popular local group, the Kustom Made Band.
SUNDAY, JUNE 30 at 2 p.m.
Sunday’s lineup is full of Jazz Festival firsts. Headlining will be Jon Batiste, former music director and pianist for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Nominated for five Grammy awards in various categories, Jon’s festival debut will surely be one that will be talked about for years. Brian Culbertson, another festival fan favorite, will be returning for another exciting show.
Also making his festival debut will be the new soul sensation October London. With a voice compared to Marvin Gaye, he has taken the music world by storm. Opening up on Sunday is local favorite, The Fuzz Band.
TICKET PRICES & PACKAGES
The ticket prices are structured to be accessible to a broad range of audiences, and are priced at $115, $105, and $95. Additional fees may apply. Prices are per ticket, per day.
Jazz Festival patrons can receive additional information by calling 757.838.4203 or www.hamptonjazzandmusicfestival.com. Travelers interested in lodging information should contact the Hampton Visitors Center at 1.800.800.2202.
Tickets for all three days of the festival go on sale on Saturday, March 23 at 10 a.m., at the Hampton Coliseum Box Office and at Ticketmaster.com.
ABOUT THE HAMPTON JAZZ & MUSIC FESTIVAL
The annual Hampton Jazz & Music Festival has brought the best of jazz, pop, blues, soul, and R&B to the Hampton Roads region for more than five decades. The first festival was held at Hampton University’s Armstrong Stadium in 1968 to celebrate HU’s 100th Anniversary. The best in jazz showed up to play, including Cannonball Adderley, Count Basie, The Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Herbie Mann Quintet, Thelonious Monk Quintet, Dionne Warwick, and Muddy Waters and his Blues Band.
The popular event was held again the following year, but moved to the newly-built Hampton Coliseum in 1970 where it has since become an annual tradition every last weekend in June. The lineup infuses a mix of talent, with local musicians from the Hampton Roads area acting as openers to nationally recognized headliners.
The three-day Festival is co-produced by the City of Hampton, Hampton University, and the Santangelo Group, Inc. Visit: www.hamptonjazzandmusicfestival.com.
ABOUT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1868, Hampton University has been the Standard of Excellence in higher education for over 150 years. Rich in history and tradition, Hampton University is recognized as one of the top historically Black colleges and universities in the world, and recently named Top Private University in Virginia. Hampton offers a broad range of technical, liberal arts and graduate degree programs. Hampton University is a tightly-knit community of learners and educators representing 49 states and 35 territories and nations. Visit: www.hamptonu.edu.
ABOUT THE HAMPTON COLISEUM
The Hampton Coliseum is a state-of-the-art coliseum equipped with versatile facilities that can accommodate up to 13,800 roaring fans. A real masterpiece, it sprawls over 75 acres of land. It provides business facilities with conference and meeting rooms. The convenient location in the heart of the city of Hampton is a landmark in itself and attracts tourists from all over. Visit: www.hamptoncoliseum.org.
ABOUT THE SANTANGELO GROUP, INC.
The Santangelo Group, Inc., founded in 1962 and led by owner Joe Santangelo, has promoted or co-promoted the Cincinnati Music Festival at Paul Brown Stadium since 2005 and the Hampton Jazz & Music Festival in Virginia. Visit: www.santangelogroupinc.com.