Jazz Guitar Festival

About the Series

The Denison University Department of Music proudly hosts the longest continually running Jazz Guitar Festival in the United States! Founded by Denison’s own Tom Carroll, jazz guitarist and coordinator of Jazz Studies, began the festival in 1997 to promote the virtuosity of jazz guitar playing. 17 years later the festival is stronger than ever.

Each festival features world-famous jazz guitarists from around the globe. These legendary performers also present workshops, concerts, receptions and lead open jam sessions for participants. Refreshments are complimentary and the public are invited and encouraged to meet the guitarists and join in the jam sessions. The highlight of each festival is the Grand Finale concert which typically features a concert with all clinicians and performers.

Series Archives

2023 - 2024

Fareed Haque

The 2023 Jazz Guitar Festival welcomes the Tony Monaco/Fareed Haque Trio.

Fareed Haque

Jazz guitarist Fareed Haque is hosting a guitar workshop.

Pasquale Grasso

The 2023 Jazz Guitar Festival welcomes Pasquale Grasso.

Pasquale Grasso

Jazz guitarist Pasquale Grasso is hosting a guitar workshop.

Zakk Jones

The Jazz Guitar Festival of 2023 will kick off with a performance featuring the Zakk Jones Trio.

2022 - 2023

Jazz guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg

The Department of Music proudly hosts the longest continually running jazz guitar festival in the United States.

The Department of Music presents a Jazz Guitar Festival Workshop.

Dan Wilson

The Department of Music proudly hosts the longest continually running jazz guitar festival in the United States.

The Department of Music presents a Jazz Guitar Festival Workshop.

Spin Cycle featuring Matt Chertoff

The Department of Music proudly hosts the longest continually running jazz guitar festival in the United States.

2021 - 2022

Gene Bertoncini

Denison University’s Department of Music proudly hosts the longest continually running Jazz Guitar Festival in the United States!

Denison University's 25th Annual Jazz Guitar Festival Workshops

Tom Carroll

Denison University’s Department of Music proudly hosts the longest continually running Jazz Guitar Festival in the United States!

2019 - 2020

Bobby Broom

The Department of Music presents the 23rd Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival closing concert, featuring The Bobby Broom Trio.

Eisner Center

The 23rd Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival holds guitar clinics on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Pete McCann

The Department of Music presents the 23rd Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival opening concert, featuring the Pete McCann Trio.

2018 - 2019

Pete Mills

The Denison University Jazz Ensemble presents a concert.

Pete Mills

The Denison University Jazz Ensemble presents a concert.

Man playing guitar

The Department of Music presents the 22nd Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival Concert II, featuring Matt Munisteri and Frank Vignola

Photo of guitarist Dave Stryker

The Department of Music presents the 22nd Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival Concert I, featuring guitarist Dave Stryker.

Man playing guitar

The Department of Music presents the 22nd Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival clinics.

2017 - 2018

Photo of a trumpet

Denison University's New Music Ensemble and Jazz Combo present a concert.

The Denison University Jazz Ensemble presents a concert.

The Denison University Jazz Ensemble and the Denison Jazz Combo present a concert.

Close-up of a person playing the guitar

The Department of Music presents the 21st Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival Concert II, featuring the Olli Soikkeli Trio.

Photo of Russell Malone

The Department of Music presents the 21st Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival Concert I, featuring guitarist Russell Malone.

Photo of Burke Hall in fall

The 21st Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival holds guitar clinics on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

2016 - 2017

Photo of Pete Mills

The Denison University Jazz Ensemble presents a concert.

The Department of Music presents the 20th Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival concert featuring Brazilian jazz legends Trio da Paz.

The Department of Music presents the 20th Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival concert featuring guitar legend Gene Bertoncini.

The 20th Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival holds guitar clinics on Saturday, Nov. 5. from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

2015 - 2016

The Denison University Jazz Studies Area welcomes Tom Carroll presenting a recital with B3 Organist Bobby Floyd and drummer Jim Rupp.

The Denison University Faculty and Student Jazz groups present a concert featuring trumpeter Dwight Adams.

2014 - 2015

The Department of Music presents a Spring Jazz Weekend featuring Richard Lopez, piano and Ryan Hamilton, trombone and Pete Mills, director.

Ed Laub, Bucky Pizzarelli and Frank Vignola

The Department of Music presents the 19th Annual Jazz Guitar Festival, with Bucky Pizzarelli and Ed Laub, guitar and Special Guest Frank Vignola.

Larry Coryell

The Denison Department of Music presents the 19th Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival under the direction of Tom Carroll.

Photo of the Martin Wind Quartet

The Department of Music presents a Denison University Jazz Ensemble Fall Concert with special guests the Martin Wind Quartet.

Photo of Tom Carroll, Howard Alden

The Department of Music presents the Duke Robillard Band in Concert, followed by the Grand Finale Concert with Tom Carroll and Howard Alden.

Photo of Jazz Guitar legend Howard Alden

The Department of Music presents an evening with Jazz Guitar legend Howard Alden.

Photo of two guitars

The Department of Music presents the 18th Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival Clinics.

2013 - 2014

Photo of Rick Peckham

The Denison Department of Music presents the 17th Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival over two days.

Photo of Bob Ferrazza, Rick Peckham, Jack Wilkins

The Denison Department of Music presents the 17th Annual Denison Jazz Guitar Festival over two days.

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