The Magic City Jazz Festival will bring a number of talented musicians and guest artists to Minot Feb. 9 and 10 for a jazz-filled weekend.

The Friday evening concert will be held at 7 p.m. at Minot State University in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall. The concert will feature jazz music performed by the Memorial Middle School jazz band, the Central Campus Jazz band and the Magic City Jazz Band. Guest artists Jasmine Spitzer and Paul Nelson also will be performing that evening with The Swing Band of Minot.

Saturday afternoon the concert will be held at 3 p.m. in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall and will feature a variety of jazz tunes including, “Take Five” by the Erik Ramstad Middle School jazz band, “What a Wonderful World” by the Jim Hill Mystic jazz band, “Shuffle On Down” by 21 Jazz Street and many others by the Northwest Honors Jazz Band and MSU’s Big Dam Band.

Ticket prices are $10, $5 for ages 7-12 and free for ages 6 and younger.

Clinicians will work with groups on both days, followed by the festival concerts. Clinicians include Paul Nelson, trombone; Jasmine Spitzer, vocals; Pat Schwan, retired Minot Public Schools band director; and Tim Olson, local professional musician.

Nelson leads his own creative project, “Paul Nelson’s Big Ol’ Band,” a 17-piece orchestra featuring original music and arrangements. He also composes for a small group, “Paul Nelson and Friends.” As an educator, Nelson leads the big band at Burbank High School in California and maintains a private studio of low brass musicians and aspiring music producers.

He has shared the stage with bands and leaders such as Bob Mintzer Big Band, Dave Slonaker Big Band, Bill Holman, John Daversa, Ebi, the Santa Monica Symphony, Patrice Rushen, Futurebirds and Bret McKenzie. In 2020, Futurebirds’ album ‘Teamwork,” a record in which Nelson arranged the horn arrangements, was nominated by Downbeat Magazine as one of the best albums of 2020 and was mentioned by Rolling Stone Magazine for its “psychedelia and twang.”

Most recently, Nelson has appeared on commercial recordings, television shows, singles and albums by the likes of Ringo Starr, Troy Laureta, Shea Diamond, Billy Porter, Paramount’s “Rise of the Pink Ladies” and more.

Spitzer is a native of Minot who grew up in a family of music educators. She graduated from Minot High School in 2015 and earned her degree in music education from Ohio Wesleyan University in Central Ohio in 2021. Spitzer currently teaches a vocal jazz workshop for middle/high school students as well as one for adults. She is also the teaching artist for the Jazz Academy on Tour programming that presents informational concerts for students and families. Spitzer maintains an active performance calendar, including residencies at two of the largest jazz venues in Columbus. In 2022, she had the opportunity to perform with the Minot Symphony Orchestra, celebrating some of the most beloved compositions in jazz history.

Other schools participating in the festival are Beulah High School and Middle School jazz bands, Change of Pace Singers of Minot High School, Dickinson High School jazz band, Glenburn High School jazz band and combo, MSU jazz band, Surrey Senior High jazz band and Williston High School jazz bands.