The year 2000 was dedicated to the jazz legend Louis Armstrong opening the April festival with Roy Hargrove Friday night , and Jon Faddis with Slide Hampton along with the Joe Chambers Quartet headlining Saturday night. The November celebration opened with the Clark Terry Quintet with Maynard Ferguson's Nouveau Bop Band continuing the celebration. The year 2001 Pieces of a Dream returned along with James Moody and Papa and Joey DeFrancesco in April followed by Chuck Mangione, McCoy Tyner, Ray Barretto and T. S. Monk headlining in November.

A major celebration took place in April 2002 with a "Tribute of the Music of Miles Davis" featuring 10 of Miles' musicians performing and 6 participating in a panel discussion "Miles and The Music". November 2002 continues with a "Dizzy Gillespie Celebration" featuring 8 of Gillespie's musicians performing and participating in a panel discussion"Gillespie the Man and the Music". The April 2003 festival honored Clark Terry with the Clark Terry Quintet performing Friday night with Jimmy Heath and Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton organizing a trombone choir and many more surprises that Mr. Terry has requested. The November 2003 festival celebrated the end of the 10th year, 20th festival with Maynard Ferguson, Little Jimmy Scott, Oscar Brown, Jr and Pieces of a Dream. April 04 honored exceptional pianists with Ahmad Jamal, Benny Green, Freddie Cole, Omar Sosa, Norman Simmons, Brian Trainor, Patti Wicks and George Mesterhazy. November 04 celebrated the Count Basie Centennial with the New Life Orchestra featuring Marlena Shaw, Regina Carter, Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band. April 05 paid Tribute to Ray Charles with David "Fathead" Newman, Marcus Belgrave, Howard Johnson, Cynthia Scott with the November 05 festival honoring the music of Herbie Mann. April 06 honored Little Jimmy Scott with Billy Paul performing for Jimmy Saturday night. Nov 06.”New Orleans Comes to Cape May” with 31 New Orleans musicians performing. April 07 Pat Martino, Teddy Royal Bob DeVos, Brian Betz paid tribute to Wes Montgomery along with headliner Terence Blanchard. November 07 “Favorites Return” will present the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Pieces of a Dream, Freddy Cole, Houston Person, Papa and Joey DeFrancesco, T. S. Monk and many more and promises to be the best yet!!. April 08 “The Next Wave” offered more contemporary music to attract a younger audience. The festival opened with Russ Freeman and The Rippingtons Friday night followed by Javon Jackson Saturday night. Christian Scott, the up-and-comer trumpeter from New Oleans, returned with Courtney Bryan a young pianist from New Orleans,. Also Chuchita Valdes, the son of Chucho Valdes rocked the house and will be returning in April 09 by popular demand. Drummer Winard Harper, another all-time favorite younger musician, was a wonderful addition. November 08 “The 30th Festival and end of 15th Year” paid Tribute to Maynard Ferguson with the internationally acclaimed, high-register trumpeter Jon Faddis soloing with a 16 piece big band from the tri-state area playing mostly Ferguson’s music with Pieces of a Dream returning for their 6th appearance opening up the Theatre Saturday night. Vocalist Jackie Ryan, another international star from San Francisco, opened up the Grand Hotel Ballroom Friday night. April 17-19, 2009, Festival “Legends…and more Blues” will open with a Tribute to Billy Eckstine and Sarah Vaughn Friday night featuring Steve Butler as Mr. B with the 16 piece B Swingers Big Band and Saturday night James Cotton Blues Band will perform. Please check out the website for details and sound bites for all of the musicians performing April 17-19, 2009, at www.capemayjazz.org.

Over the years the festivals have garnered a very respectful audience. This respect for the music creates an atmosphere of excitement between the musicians and the audience thereby pushing the musicians to give their very best and in return the audience demonstrates their enthusiasm with silence, applause and standing ovations. Musicians love performing at the Cape May Jazz Festivals …. festival goers go away saying “Cape May Jazz is so much fun” and returning over and over with their friends!!