The Annapolis Jazz & Roots Festival Has Deep Roots
Founded in Eastport, the Annapolis Jazz & Roots Festival extends to Historic Annapolis and other neighborhoods in 2025.
Maryland’s capital city did not host a jazz festival for two decades. Once a jazz and rhythm & blues stronghold, the area boasted concerts at Carr’s and Sparrow’s beaches; the King of France Tavern was a nationally prominent venue; and St. John’s College was home to the Annapolis Jazz Festival (iconic guitarist Charlie Byrd served as artistic director until 1996).
Guitarist Charlie Byrd
In 2020, business and cultural leaders got together to reinstitute a festival dedicated to jazz. Having produced numerous festivals and concerts throughout Maryland, Paulina Phillips was named executive director. Meetings with Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley and cultural leaders showed that a new jazz festival would be welcome. Then the pandemic struck and all planning came to a halt.
Mayor Gavin Buckley
One year later, without office, staff or financial backing, Phillips decided to move forward, aided by Annapolitan Theresa Sise. An advisory board was formed and an artistic director engaged. The festival took shape with a widened scope, matching cultural diversity with artistic excellence to serve a broader audience. Funding sources were obtained and an amazing group of volunteers stepped forward.
Paulina Phillips
The Annapolis Jazz & Roots Festival was launched in November 2022 with two weekends of free and ticketed events for adults and families. World class performers joined regional artists and lecturers at four sites in Eastport. The original Venue Partners have returned each year and new sites have been added. In 2025, there will be eight sites in all.
This year's theme is "World Travelers & Hometown Heroes." Held on weekends from November 7-16, the festival will highlight contributions of local musicians, dancers and visual artists whose work made national and international headlines in their lifetimes. We'll pay tribute to traditional dancer/ choreographer Eileen Carson Schatz, founder of Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, and legendary singer/guitarist Eva Cassidy. We'll invoke the spirit of jazz icon Quincy Jones and explore some local connections - and there's much more!
Annapolis Jazz & Roots operates as an affiliate under the umbrella of the Annapolis Community Foundation. We are grateful for support from government, business and community partners and the audience members who inspire and sustain us. We're excited about the lineup of talented artists for 2025 and the depth and variety of their offerings. We hope you will be too!