Jumaane Smith: Celebrating Louis Armstrong and the Spirit of Swing!

Saturday. August 23, 2025 - 8:45 pm - 10:15 pm
Main Stage

Join us for a historic celebration at the Northwest Jazz Festival as acclaimed trumpeter, vocalist, and composer Jumaane Smith honors the 100th Centennial of Louis Armstrong’s groundbreaking Hot Five recording in Chicago in 1925—a moment that revolutionized jazz forever. This special headliner event will spotlight the music of the most celebrated figure in jazz while drawing from the rich canon of the genre to echo the vibrant, swinging spirit that began a century ago.

Jumaane Smith has left an indelible mark on the world of jazz. Performing on 5 GRAMMY Award-winning records under his belt—selling over 60 million copies—2 Emmy Award-nominated TV performances, and performances that have graced the GRAMMY Awards with Stevie Wonder, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, The White House, and popular TV shows like Oprah and Good Morning America, his career is a testament to excellence. For the past 18 years, he has toured as the lead trumpeter and vocalist with Michael Bublé, showcased his talents with Harry Connick Jr.’s house band on the syndicated show “Harry,” and even served as the featured guest soloist for Jackie Evancho’s “Songs of the Silver Screen” world tour backed by a 60-piece symphony orchestra.

Smith’s own band has performed at prestigious venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, and major international jazz festivals, captivating audiences with his critically acclaimed albums—I Only Have Eyes For You, When You’re Smiling, and his widely praised third album, Come on Home. As a composer, he has scored films like Handsome Harry and the documentary Being in the World, collaborating with jazz luminaries such as Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, and Alicia Keys. A full scholarship recipient at the Juilliard School of Music’s Jazz Studies program, where Wynton Marsalis was his primary trumpet teacher, Jumaane Smith embodies both the tradition and innovation of jazz.

This is an unmissable opportunity to experience live jazz that bridges the past and present—a night where the legacy of Louis Armstrong meets the dynamic artistry of one of today’s brightest jazz stars. Reserve your seats now and be part of an evening that promises to transport you through the golden age of swing into the modern era of jazz brilliance.