The DC Jazz Festival said its Opening Night celebration of the 20th anniversary of DC JazzFest will take place on Aug. 28 at the new Australian Embassy at Scott Circle in Northwest.
Hosted by the Embassy of Australia, DC JazzFest Opening Night will feature three-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist and band leader Lakecia Benjamin, with special guest Australian jazz titan and multi-instrumentalist James Morrison. The international celebration highlights the universal appeal of jazz and its power to bring people from all corners of the world together.
“The 20th edition of DC JazzFest marks a significant milestone as we celebrate jazz as a global brand,” said Sunny Sumter, president and CEO of the DC Jazz Festival. “We are excited to kick off the festival in downtown Washington, D.C., alongside our friends at the Embassy of Australia.”
The Opening Night event presents a unique opportunity to enhance international relations and promote positive cultural diplomacy through jazz. Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Kevin Rudd AC, said it was an honor for the embassy to host the event.
“Having these two jazz greats performing together in the soaring atrium of our new embassy will be a truly electrifying experience,” Rudd said.
This year’s DC JazzFest will take place from Aug. 28-Sept. 1 with more than 100 performances in 12 D.C. neighborhoods. The event is the largest of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region and will feature an array of performers encompassing an incredible range of jazz/jazz-informed expressions, from District legends and emerging talents to international superstars.
For more information about the DC JazzFest and its activities, go to dcjazzfest.org.
