Our Daily Show Interview! 21st Annual Miles Davis Festival Set for May 23rd
ALTON - The Miles Davis Jazz Festival invites the community to celebrate the famous jazz musician’s 100th birthday.
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At 6 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, the weekend kicks off with a free mini block party at the Miles Davis statue next to Catdaddy’s in downtown Alton. Attendees can enjoy music by Jim Manley and meet with the statue’s sculptor, Preston Jackson. Artist Michael Snider, who is creating a “Thousand Trumpets” tribute piece for Davis, will also be onsite. The kickoff is followed by a party at The Conservatory featuring the SIUE Jazz Band.
The main Miles Davis Jazz Festival is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Post Commons. Doors open at 5 p.m. A $40 ticket includes a catered meal, signature cocktails, and music by The Tim Jarden Band and The Anthony Wiggins Group. The evening will conclude with the announcement of four scholarships to Alton High School and Marquette Catholic High School graduating seniors.
“On a scale from one to 10, we’re at 100,” said Lee Barham with the Miles Davis Jazz Festival Committee. “We’re celebrating [Davis’s] 100th birthday, one of the greatest jazz trumpeters the world has ever known. Why not have his hometown celebrate it? Why not the people that are here celebrate him? Embrace what is ours.”
Barham joked that people from East St. Louis might “claim” Davis, but he was born in Alton. The Miles Davis Jazz Festival Committee and Pride, Inc. agree that this will be a fun weekend to commemorate the musician and Alton’s history.
Karen Wilson with Pride, Inc. shared that the organization previously partnered with the Miles Davis Jazz Festival Committee to commission and install the Miles Davis statue in downtown Alton. She shared that the only other statues of Davis are in Europe, so this was an exciting addition to Alton. Wilson and Barham agree that Alton’s history and culture deserve more appreciation.
“I think that was the big motivator for us, that, holy cow, we don’t have anything about Miles in his birth city or in the Western Hemisphere. So we’re pretty proud of that,” Wilson said. “I think sometimes we who have grown up in this area take this area for granted and how it looks when you come into town and all of our history and nature, the volunteerism. We’ve got a cool place to live.”
Barham echoed her, noting that Davis’s impact on music history is impressive. He believes Alton should honor its history and its contributions to the world, including Davis.
“[Alton is] enriched with a lot of history, good and bad,” Barham said. “We need to embrace it. We need to pass it along, because a lot of generations have forgotten who we are. Some of them just think we’re a sleepy town by the river. No, no, no. We were the first ones to have a federal prison here. For jazz, we’ve got Miles Davis. We’ve got Luther Ingram. The list goes on and on.”
Barham added that the festival is an opportunity to acknowledge this history and recognize Davis’s legacy. Additionally, proceeds from ticket sales will go toward the scholarship fund.
“What I love about the jazz festival is that it supports students who are interested in music. Now, we don’t just pick trumpet players. Miles had an impact on all music,” Wilson explained. “Miles was given a trumpet for his birthday. He learned at school how to play and his teacher gave him private lessons. So here we are, trying to continue that, because we know that’s important.”
Barham and Wilson agree that the festival and the Friday night kickoff should both be fun ways to celebrate Alton and jazz while contributing to the future of music in Alton. They encourage people to come out on Friday, May 22, for the kickoff. You can call 618-467-2375 or visit the official webpage to purchase your tickets to the festival on Saturday, May 23.
This Featured Article is sponsored by Pride, Incorporated. To get your business or organization featured on www.Riverbender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
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