Our 44th Annual Frank Mantooth Jazz Festival at New Trier High School will take place on Saturday, Feb 6, 2027.

The New Trier Jazz Festival serves as a premiere educational event, bringing together student ensembles from across the country for a day of immersive musical development in a non-competitive atmosphere. The daytime portion features our wonderful participating schools performing for and working with amazing clinicians from around the country, master classes, a student jam session, special interest clinics, and additional performances by Chicago-area artists.

Registration for participating schools will open in Fall 2026. Please email Nic Meyer at meyern@nths.net with any questions.

On February 7, 2026, New Trier High School hosted The 43rd Annual Frank Mantooth Jazz Festival Featuring The Roy Hargrove Big Band with special guest, legendary alto saxophonist Bobby Watson!

Our 2026 Festival culminated in a highly anticipated evening performance by the world-renowned Roy Hargrove Big Band. Originally founded by the late, two-time Grammy-winning trumpeter in 1995, the ensemble carries forward Roy’s beloved musical spirit.

Hargrove was a singular voice in modern music, known for his deep respect of the jazz tradition while simultaneously bridging the gap to contemporary hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul. His own jazz records are considered modern masterpieces, but many will know his sound from iconic records like Common’s Like Water for Chocolate and D’Angelo’s Voodoo. Roy’s expressive tone, infectious melodicism, and fearless approach to genre-bending continue to inspire today's artists. The Roy Hargrove Big Band features many of his collaborators, along with several bright young talents, playing the joyful music that made Roy the defining jazz artist of his generation.   

Legendary alto saxophonist Bobby Watson (a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and an early mentor to Roy Hargrove) joined the band at this concert as a special guest!