NCCU's jazz program becomes a national leader

MARCH 21, 2007 How N.C. Central's jazz program became a national leader By Roy Pattishall To call Ira Wiggins a big man isn't off the mark. Sure, there's his imposing physical presence when he takes the stage, and the big sound when he picks up his tenor sax. But there's a deeper truth, too, widely acknowledged by those familiar with the educator and his career. Under his unassuming guidance, the jazz studies program at North Carolina Central University has taken national shape, fulfilling much of the promise the program's founders dreamed about more than 30 years ago. It's a solid success story, and, like all such stories, it owes much to many people. But it owes mostly to its big talent and big heart. And those qualities can be traced directly to Wiggins, its current leader. In 1972, Central's jazz program was at zero. Now, it claims nine professors, 45 student majors, a new building and artists-in-residence such as Branford Marsalis. Official measures come backed by solid details: The school band toured Europe in 1996 and 1999 and appeared at the Clinton White House in 1997. Dozens of alumni have gone on to perform on some of the world's top jazz stages. And now, as NCCU Chancellor James Ammons announced in February, every June starting this year, the school's new Jazz Research Institute will host a Jazz Summit in Durham. In short, this is a big, big story... Complete Story (Photos/Links): Independent Weekly: Music: Feature: How N.C. Central's jazz program became a national leader

A reminder.