The Eau Claire Jazz Festival – running April 21 and 22, 2017 – is a staple in our community’s music scene, bringing jazz musicians, students, and fans from all over the region to Eau Claire for a few unforgettable nights. Some of the best jazz talent in the world stops by to make music, and this year’s slate of headliners looks to continue that trend. You might recognize headliner Doc Severinsen from leading the NBC Orchestra on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show in the late 1960s. Severinsen is known for his flashy performances and comedic wit, and he’s won Grammy’s and put out more than 30 albums in his career. The second main headliner is Carl Allen, a Milwaukee-born drummer who has performed alongside legends like Joe Henderson and J.J. Johnson. Allen is a former instructor at the Juilliard School and served as Artistic Director of Jazz Studies from 2008-2013. Both headliner performances are at the State Theatre, and feature sets by UW-Eau Claire’s Jazz Ensemble I. For more information, head over to www.eauclairejazz.com.