The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival is set to return this week (June 15-18) to Rodney Square in downtown Wilmington, celebrating its 35th year. This festival celebrates a brilliant trumpet player, unforgettable composer, dynamic entertainer, and Wilmington native, whose name and legacy are proudly celebrated at what has come to be named the largest FREE jazz festival on the East Coast. 

This year’s headliners will include names such as, Stanley Clarke, Chucho Valdés & Paquito d’Rivera, Stokley, Regina Carter, and the Rebirth Brass Band. The 2022 jazz festival mainstage performances will take place Wednesday through Friday beginning at 5 p.m. and on Saturday starting at 12 noon with Regina Carter performing at 1 p.m. This year, the festival will be co-hosted by special guest... Clifford Brown Jr.   

For a full festival line-up check the list below or visit cliffordbrownjazzfest.org.   

Performance Lineup for the 2022 Clifford Brown Jazz Music Festival: June 15-18 

 
Wednesday, June 15  
Main Stage Festival Concerts in Rodney Square with special guest host Clifford Brown, Jr. 

5:00 P.M. - The Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency Ensembles 

5:30 – 10:00 P.M. - Joe Chambers, Rayford Griffin, and Stanley Clarke 

Late Night Jams at Wilmington Public Library and House of Laffs  

10:00 P.M. – 1:00 A.M. 

Thursday, June 16  
Main Stage Festival Concerts in Rodney Square with special guest host Clifford Brown, Jr. 

5:00 P.M. - The Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency Ensembles  

5:30 – 10:00 P.M. - Cintron, David Sanchez, and Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera

Late Night Jams at The Nomad Bar, Le Cavalier at the Green Room and Wilmington Public Library  

10:00 P.M. – 1:00 A.M. 

CBJ Lineup 2022

CBJ Lineup 2022

CBJ Lineup 2022

Friday, June 17  
Main Stage Festival Concerts in Rodney Square with special guest host Clifford Brown, Jr. 

5:00 P.M. - The Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency Ensembles 

5:30 – 10:00 P.M. - Ernest Stuart & Thr3zus, Maysa, and Stokley 

Late Night Jams at The Nomad Bar, Le Cavalier at the Green Room and Wilmington Public Library   

10:00 P.M. – 1:00 A.M. 

Saturday, June 18 
Main Stage Festival Concerts in Rodney Square with special guest host Clifford Brown, Jr. 

12 Noon– 10:00 P.M. 

Regina Cater – Performing at 1:00 P.M. 

Tony Smith, Spartan Alumni Band, Lynn Riley and the World-Mix, Immanuel Wilkins, and Rebirth Brass Band

LATE NIGHT JAMS at The Nomad Bar and Wilmington Public Library    

10:00 P.M. – 1:00 A.M.  

Check out Some Places to Eat on Market Street

All ages are welcome to attend. Just a hint... be sure to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating as this event brings in quite the crowd. Rodney Square will be lined with food trucks and vendors throughout the week, so come out, eat, sit back and relax and let the music move you. Don’t forget to pick up this year’s festival t-shirt featuring the “35th Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival” logo, designed by local artist Jarret Harris (a.k.a. PosixArt).  

All festival announcements and updates can be found on the festival website and on the Facebook page @Cliffordbrownjazzfest.