The 40th annual UW-Platteville Jazz Festival was held on campus Feb. 6-8. The festival drew a number of people including renowned saxophonist Jeff Coffin.

Coffin has done a number of things in his 20 plus year career including winning a Grammy, and is now working with the Dave Matthews Band. Coffin kicked the jazz filled weekend off on Friday night with a concert in the Center for the Arts on UW-P’s campus.

A competition was held for middle and high school jazz bands that came from Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota on Saturday. Coffin gave a clinic in which he performed with his mu’tet and also answered questions from the crowd. Jazz I, the student jazz ensemble from UW-P, also performed a few of Coffin’s compositions with the saxophone player and his Mu’tet.

Joe Caploe, music professor, was the driving force behind this past weekend’s festivities.

Caploe said he made it very clear that the festival was organized every year with the hope of inspiring the young aspiring musicians that come and participate in the event.

Mike Lewis, faculty trombone player, said it was very important for the young people to see Coffin perform because being in Wisconsin, there aren’t many opportunities for people to see world class jazz musicians like there are in New York.

“I like the pep and jazz bands, however jazz adds a more relaxing atmosphere,” Matt Galusha, junior music education and music business major, said.