WESTFIELD – When you think of Newport, Rhode Island, images of stunning architecture and inspiring coastal vistas come to mind. For one local high school student and jazz musician, Newport will also be the opportunity of a lifetime to share a stage once graced by jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Miles Davis.
Carolyn Dufraine, a junior at Westfield High School, will perform at the annual Newport Jazz Festival with the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) All-State Jazz Band. Dufraine, an award winning trombone artist, was selected to perform with this prestigious group of musicians through an audition back in December 2012. Under the direction of jazz great Steve Houghton, the group was invited to perform in Newport earlier this year. The invitation was announced in March at the MMEA All-State Concert held at Boston’s historic Symphony Hall.
For Dufraine, the event is a dream come true. “Ever since my days playing for the South Middle Jazz Band, I have loved jazz music. The complex rhythms and personal interpretations allow me to “speak” through my instrument. I love that aspect of jazz. It is a unique form of music.” When asked what she enjoys the most about playing with the All-State Jazz Band she quickly responds “Playing with some of the best musicians in the state. We’ve only rehearsed a few times together, but it is awesome to perform, talk, and interact with such amazing musicians. We really push each other to perform at our highest level.”
The Newport Jazz Festival was founded in 1954 and was the first annual jazz festival in America. This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, August 3 and conclude on Sunday, August 4. Dufraine and the MMEA All-State Jazz Band will open Sunday’s festivities. Jazz legends Chick Corea, Eddie Palmieri, and Herbie Hancock are also slated to perform.
