With more than 2,200 musicians, artists and performers on seven stages, the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival draws more than 200,000 patrons each year to the city’s Quakertown Park to enjoy culturally diverse music and art. This year’s festival – the 31st annual – is April 29 through May 1.

This year, the festival's Jazz Stage will feature a musical tribute to the late Leon Breeden on Friday night with special appearances by alumni Lou Marini, Tom "Bones" Malone ('69) and Marvin Stamm ('61). Breeden led the jazz program to international prominence as longtime director of jazz studies and the One O'Clock Lab Band.

The UNT Showcase Stage, sponsored by the university, will feature more than 20 ensembles and bands from the renowned College of Music. In addition to the nine lab bands, many genres of music will be performed including Latin jazz, mariachi, guitar, jazz singing and African drumming and dance.