TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Jazz impresario George Wein was one of the most visionary figures in American music. As founder of the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954, Wein changed how jazz was presented, moving it from clubs to large outdoor venues, creating a true festival experience that brought together legends, emerging artists, and passionate audiences to celebrate the music.
From legendary performances by Duke Ellington and Miles Davis to groundbreaking debuts by young innovators, Newport became a stage for history. Wein later launched the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, helping to preserve and elevate regional culture.
His vision shaped the festival model we see around the world today.
It showed that jazz could unite communities and attract large audiences.
This has been Rapp on Jazz—a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina. 148