The 27th Annual Jazz and Arts Festival in Delaware Water Gap -- Sept. 10th thru 12th.

The Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts (COTA), founded in 1978, began the fest to raise appreciation for jazz.

Since then, it has grown from performances on a single, worn-down stage in the middle of the street, to a celebration drawing thousands of people, and costing thousands of dollars to operate.

The three-day festival will open on Friday with COTA's Musical Motif Show, a juried exhibition in the Antoine Dutot Museum.

2004 COTA Program/Music Schedule

Friday, 6 to 8 p.m. at The Dutot Museum:
Music Motif Art Show, Opening Reception

Friday, 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Presbyterian Church of the Mountain:
Calliope, Classical Wind Trio
Water Gap Players, Theatre
Anita Bondi and Company, Modern Dance
Kate and Richie Roche & Friends, Jazz

Saturday, Sept. 11: Main Stage, Delaware Avenue:
12:00 p.m., Ed Ludwig Trio
12:45 p.m., Nebulous B
1:45 p.m., JARO (Jazz Artists Repertory Orchestra)
2:45 p.m., Nellie McKay
3:45 p.m., The Orntette
4:45 p.m., John Coates Jr.
5:30 p.m., Urbie and Kathy Green with the Jesse Green Trio and special guest Nelson Hill
6:30 p.m., David Liebman Group Plays Music of Caris Visentin
7:30 p.m., Stephanie Nakasian with the Hod O'Brien Trio and Special Guest John Jensen
8:30 p.m., Franco Presents Rhythm & Bossa with Special Guest Percussionist Cafe

Strolling Musicians: The Dixie Gents
Children's Area: Bob Dorough and Steve Barger

Sunday at Main Stage:
10:00 a.m., Jazz Mass
12:15 p.m., Gary Rixner Trio
1:00 p.m., Nancy Reed and Spencer Reed
1:45 p.m., The Gaptime Ensemble 2:30 p.m., The 2004 COTA Cats: Volume XXIV
3:30 p.m., Bob Dorough - The Iridium Quartet
4:30 p.m., Five Plays Plus CD Release Celebration
5:30 p.m., The Nelson Hill Quintet
6:30 p.m., The Eric Doney Band with The One Flight Up Horns
7:30 p.m., Harvie S Band

Strolling Musicians: The Lost Ramblers
Children's Area: Rick Peoples

More info: http://www.cotajazz.org.