Thirty years ago, Clark Terry made his first appearance at what was then known as the UNH Jazz Festival. This weekend, Terry returns to perform at the event that now bears his name. The festival, which culminates in a gala concert on Sunday, March 13 with a half dozen internationally known musicians, will also honor the memory of the late jazz pianist James Williams, who was a regular contributor to the event.

Clark Terry's association with the University of New Hampshire has been long and fruitful. He first visited for the 1975 Jazz festival, then performed with the UNH Jazz Band at the 1976 Montreaux Jazz Festival on an evening concert, the first time a university jazz group had been allowed to do so. Terry also appeared with the band on their European tours in 1983, 1987 and 1990. UNH honored Terry, a former member of the Count Basie Orchestra and featured soloist with Duke Ellington for nearly a decade, with an honorary doctorate in 1978, the first of many such honors he would receive.

Since 1987, Terry has made annual visits to the UNH Jazz Festival, as UNH Jazz Studies Coordinator David Seiler wanted to offer Terry's musical insights to UNH students on a regular basis. In 1989, the jazz festival was renamed in Terry's honor. That same year Terry was made an adjunct faculty member, and he began his twice yearly residencies in 1990. Terry's commitment to passing on the jazz language via education has been ongoing throughout his career. Now 84, Terry maintains an active concert and clinic schedule with his own groups and as a solo artist.

Among the guests joining Terry in concert on Sunday are George Robert, Stejpko Gut, Geoff Keezer, John Lockwood and Tony Reedus.

Swiss saxophonist George Robert is currently the director of the Swiss National Jazz Conservatory in Berne. A graduate of the Berklee School in Boston, Robert has recorded and toured with Tom Harrell, Lionel Hampton and Toshiko Akiyoshi. He's a soulful and fiery player in the vein of Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley. Stejpko Gut, who's made several appearances at UNH with Clark Terry over the last few years, is an active performer around Europe and teaches at the Graz Conservatory in Austria.

The late jazz pianist James Williams, whom the festival will honor, performed at the festival numerous times throughout his career. The rhythm section members all have strong ties to Williams. Geoff Keezer is a former student of Williams who's gone on to play with Art Blakey and Ray Brown. Bassist John Lockwood, a longtime member of the Boston jazz trio The Fringe, was a close friend and musical colleague of Williams. Drummer Tony Reedus, who has played with Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson, is Williams' nephew. Reedus is a remarkable musician who has a great ability to interact with the other players in an ensemble without being obtrusive. He's deserving of much greater recognition.

The festival is actually a weekend-long event, with junior and senior high school groups performing for judges throughout the day on Saturday, and clinics and performances offered to the students on Saturday as well.

To order tickets for the Sunday concert, contact the UNH Ticket Office at 603-862-2290 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $8 for general admission, $6 for students and seniors. For more info on the Clark Terry/UNH Jazz Festival, call the UNH Music Department at 603-862-2404.