About the Festival
The Calvin Jones BIG BAND Jazz Festival features three university big band jazz ensembles: University of the District of Columbia (dir. Allyn Johnson), Howard University (dir. Fred Irby, III), and the University of Maryland (dir. Mark Williams). The 2025 festival celebrates thirty-six years of world-class jazz. Produced by the University of the District of Columbia Jazz Studies Program and the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives, the festival has been overwhelmingly supported by area audiences since 1987.