Durham Spring/Summer 2015 Official Visitor & Relocation Guide

Bull City Jazz
With a growing local music scene, Durham is an
up and coming destination for jazz music.
One of the most exciting Durham jazz developments
is the Art of Cool Project, an organization that has
been instrumental (pun intended) in hosting frequent
concerts and educational programs around Durham.
The group also teamed up with NC Central University
last year to revamp the annual jazz festival that the
school has hosted since 1990. The second annual
Art of Cool Festival takes place on April 24-26, 2015,
with 30 performances at five indoor and two outdoor
locations (919-864-8161; www.theartofcoolproject.com).
North Carolina Central University also has a choir, a
Jazz Ensemble, and a Jazz Vocal Ensemble that delight
audiences with jazz arrangements. Both ensembles
have twice performed at the White House (919-490-
1121; www.nccu.edu/academics/sc/liberalarts/music/
ensembles.cfm).
To see live jazz music in Durham, check out
downtown’s Beyu Caffé (919-683-1058; www.beyucaffe.
com), a finalist for the Indy Week’s “Best Place to See
Jazz or Blues.” For more, head to Cuban Revolution
(919-687-4300; www.thecubanrevolution.com) on Friday
nights, or stop by The Durham Jazz Workshop (919-
486-5299; www.durhamjazzworkshop.org) or the Mary
Lou Williams Center for Black Culture (919-684-3814;
www.studentaffairs.duke.edu/mlw)
Bull City, Music City
In 2011, Merge Records added
a Grammy to their illustrious
catalogue of music when one of
their artists, Arcade Fire, won
album of the year, cementing a
legacy of critically adored music
from the Durham label.
But Merge, including their Durhambased
artists like the Mountain
Goats and Mount Moriah, is only
one part of a musically inclined
culture that permeates Durham.
Other local music makers include:
• Folk band Hiss Golden
Messenger and indie duo
Sylvan Esso, who released
albums in 2014 to much
critical acclaim
• Jazz musicians like the
legendary Branford Marsalis
and the six-time Grammynominated
Nnenna Freelon
• Shirley Caesar, a Gospel
songstress with 11 Grammy
awards to her name
• Rapper 9th Wonder, another
Grammy winner who has
produced songs for Jay-Z,
Erykah Badu, and Mary J. Blige.
Check out our YouTube playlist
of some of Durham’s best acts at
durh.am/playlist35, and then head
to Motorco, Pinhook, and Duke
Coffeehouse to see them (and
others!) live when you’re in town.
www.durham-nc.com
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