Jazz festival wraps up this weekend

By Jack Kintner

The annual String of Pearls, a concert of much-loved jazz standards, is the evening concert set for at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Blaine’s performing arts center. Jazz festival faculty will jam, followed by Greta Matassa reprising her Wednesday night performance of Cole Porter tunes.

Admission Thursday evening for adults is $20, for students and seniors $10, and students accompanied by a paying adult are admitted free. Admission to all other following events is free.

At noon earlier that day, pianist Jon Mutchler will team with Martin Kuuskmann for a jam on the G Street Plaza, followed by a film at the library about Billie Holiday with special guest Vijay Singh.

On Friday, the jazz camp faculty led by guitarist Chris Woitach will put on a free Rockin’ Friday the 13th concert at noon, followed by a free faculty and student showcase that evening at 7:30 p.m. in the PAC.

Saturday begins at 11 a.m. with the students in the Let’s Rock section of the jazz camp performing in the middle school cafeteria.

A street fair on Peace Portal Way begins at 1 p.m. and all students will perform on the G Street plaza. Festivities include a mural painting contest with cash prizes for different age groups.

For more information, visit www.blainejazzfestival.org or call 360/332-6484.