Dr. David Miller works each year to bring the world’s top musicians to Vicksburg for the Alcorn State University Jazz Festival. The free event has featured the likes of Roy Hargrove, Esperanza Spalding, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington and Grace Kelly.

If you go

The 30th annual Alcorn State University Jazz Festival is set for April 17 at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Admission is free. The schedule:

• 8 a.m. — Vicksburg High

• 8:30 — Terry High

• 9 — Newton High

• 9:30 — Laurel High

• 10 — Alcorn Jazz Ensemble

• 10:30 — Mississippi Valley State Jazz Ensemble

• 11 — Southeastern Louisiana Jazz Ensemble

• 11:30 — Southern Miss Jazz Ensemble II

• Noon — Jackson State Jazz Ensemble II

• 12:30 — Southern Miss Jazz Ensemble I

• 1 — Jackson State Jazz Ensemble I

• 1:30 — Mississippians, Ole Miss

• 2 — University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

• 2:30 — Jackson State Vocal Jazz Ensemble

• 3 — Southern University Jazz Ensemble

• 3:30 — Student award ceremony

• 4 — McCoy Tyner workshop

• 5 — Student reception

• 7 — Concert by Mississippi Jazz Educators

• 8 — McCoy Tyner Trio

For Miller — who spent his spring break trying to run down a 9-foot Steinway piano for the headlining artist — the payoff for all his efforts is exposing world-renowned artists to an area where they aren’t household names.

“It’s always gratifying to me each year when I see that blank look on peoples’ faces when I tell them who’s coming, and I know they have no idea who I’m talking about,” said Miller. “And then the next time I see them, not only do they know who these musicians are, but they’re usually new fans.”

To mark the 30th anniversary of the ASU Jazz Festival, Miller has recruited pianist McCoy Tyner — who got his start with John Coltrane in the 1960s and has released nearly 80 albums, earned four Grammys and has been honored as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts — to headline the April 17 festival. 

“To get an icon like McCoy Tyner is really a historic event. Someone recently pointed out to me that this is probably the one time that he will play in the state of Mississippi,” said Miller. “At 71, he’s still a phenomenal performer — and he’s still in tremendous demand.”

Not only will Tyner be performing at the festival, he’ll also be conducting a musical workshop that’s open to everyone.

“I guarantee any kid that comes to it will never forget it and will talk about it for the rest of their lives,” said Miller of the chance to meet and interact with Tyner. “I’d really love to see a lot of students come out, musicians and non-musicians, to take advantage of what is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

As always, admission to all festival events is free. Tyner’s workshop will take place at 4 p.m., and his MyCoy Tyner Trio featuring special guest saxophonist Gary Bartz will take the stage at 8 p.m. This year’s ASU Jazz Festival bill also boasts a record number of regional high school and collegiate bands, who will perform all day long, beginning with Vicksburg High at 8 a.m.

“We had so many requests this year that we actually had to turn some away,” Miller said of the daytime acts.

Miller said he began courting Tyner for a Vicksburg appearance about three years ago. The festival finally fit into Tyner’s schedule this year, however, that didn’t secure an appearance. There was still the issue of finding a 9-foot Steinway piano, Tyner’s instrument of choice.

“It turns out there’s not one to be rented in the entire state of Mississippi. The closest we could have gone to get one was New Orleans or Shreveport, but the cost was way out of our range,” said Miller, noting the 9-foot Steinway at City Auditorium dates to 1951 and was simply not reliable enough to put Tyner behind. “I ended up talking him into using a 7-foot Steinway, and I got one from Jackson exclusively for his use.”

About 700 jazz newcomers and aficionados filled the convention center last year to see the all-star line up of Spalding, Bridgewater, Kelly, Allen and Carrington. The five — all headlining acts in their own right — had never played together. Miller said the musicians decided to join forces once again for the first time since their Vicksburg performance, and will be putting on a show at the John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in May. The fact that Vicksburg hosted the supergroup’s first show together astounds even Miller.

“There is truly nothing like this festival anywhere in the region,” said Miller. “This is truly all about the music, and it’s strictly jazz. We’ve thought about bringing in some more well-known musicians who are marginal jazz artists, but I’ve resisted that. I feel like I’m on a mission, and I believe bringing these musicians to Mississippi is bringing a whole new cultural aspect to the state that really benefits everyone, especially our young musicians.”

The Festival had paired with Riverfest, which will take place the same weekend, for four years before the two cut ties in 2008. While the events have drawn different audiences, Miller said the rapid growth of the ASU Jazz Festival might lead him to approach Riverfest again.

“With everyone that’s interested in participating now, I’ve finally run into the problem I’ve wanted to have for a long time, and we need to consider expanding the festival to two stages or maybe even adding an additional day,” he said. “Pairing with Riverfest again would give us that second stage and allow us to move the festival outdoors again, which I would love. That’s a collaboration I’d like to see happen again.”

Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com