Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival

Melton has performed with some of the top names in JAZZ including the Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Woody Herman Orchestra, Bobby Watson, Jaco Pastorius, George Cables, John Hicks, Charlie Mingus Dynasty,and Gunter Shuller, among many others. Mustafa has played in many of the international Jazz Festival which include the Playboy Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Ravina Jazz Festival, SS Norway Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Lugano Jazz Festival (Italy), Pori Jazz Festival, Charlie Mingus Epitaph Orchestra in Russia and many others.

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About MMJF

ABOUT MELTON MUSTAFA
Trumpet player extraordinaire, arranger/composer, producer and educator

Mustafa was a dedicated traveling artist and educator who made a lasting impact on jazz education. He served as the director of jazz studies at Florida Memorial University, where he taught music theory, jazz composition, and various jazz-related courses. His passion for fostering a vibrant jazz community led him to produce the Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival for over 17 years. Mustafa's legacy continues through his contributions to music and the festival he founded.

Some of the guest artists that have appeared at the Festival since 1996 were, Jon Faddis, Abraham Laboriel, Benny Golson, Dr. Nathan Davis, Dr. Grover Washington Jr., Dr. James Moody, Idris Muhammad, George Cables, Wallace Roney, Patrice Rushen, Geri Allen, Jimmy Owens, Billy Cobham, Herbie Mann, Dr. Billy Taylor, Clarke Terry, Curtis Fuller, Nestor Torres, Winard Harper, Najee, Randy Brecker, and others.Type your paragraph here.

The Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival/Workshop was started in December 1996: Supported by Dr. Alfred Pinkston, former Chairperson of Music at Florida Memorial University, and former Florida Memorial University President, Dr. Albert E. Smith.

The festival was designed to expose Middle School, High School and College level students to the educational component of Jazz Music and to help preserve this great original art form of America. 

The continuing mission of the Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival/workshop is: to provide an environment where students of Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges and Band Directors can participate and interact with professional jazz musicians for the purpose of fostering and enhancing their appreciation and support of Jazz in our community.

In recognition of some of the greatest names in jazz: Florida Memorial University has honored two jazz greats with Honorary Doctorate Degrees: Dr. James Moody and the late great Dr. Grover Washington Jr.

The following Jazz Artists have performed in concert at the Annual Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival: Najee-saxophone *  Clarke Terry-trumpet * Curtis Lundy-bass * Jon Faddis-trumpet * Benny Golson-saxophone * Obed Calvaire-drums * Ray Drummond-bass * Wallace Roney-trumpet * Herbie Mann-flute * Grover Washington Jr.-saxophone * Melton Mustafa-trumpet * Winard Harper-drums * Billy Cobham-drums * Nestor Torres-flute * Nicole Henry-vocalist * Curtis Fuller-trombone * Terri Lynn Carrington-drums * Kenny Drew Jr.-piano * Patrice Rushin-piano * Idris Muhammad-drums * Abraham Laborial-bass * Bobby Watson-saxophone * Jon Faddis-trumpet * Ira Sullivan saxophone * Dr. Billy Taylor-piano * Mark Whitfield-guitar * Dr. Nathan Davis-saxophone * Jesse Jones Jr.-saxophone * Orrin Evans-piano * Bobby Thomas Jr.-percussions * Dr. James Moody-saxophone * Jimmy Owens-trumpet * Gerri Allen-piano * Ray Drummond-bass * Ralph McDonald-percussions * Dr. David Baker-cello * Donald Byrd-trumpet * Donald Harrison Jr.-saxophone