Media are welcome to cover the Northern Michigan University Jazz Festival on Friday, April 17. Nearly 30 middle school and high school band/combos are scheduled to participate. Their performances and clinics will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in various University Center rooms. A jam session for participants is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. in the Wildcat Den. Guest artist/violinist Regina Carter, who is headlining concerts Thursday and Friday night, will lead a Jazz Fest clinic at 4 p.m. Friday in Reynolds Recital Hall. For more information, contact NMU music professor Mark Flaherty at mflahert@nmu.edu or visit http://www.nmu.edu/music/node/29.