New Jazz Ensemble concert to be held at CCU
The program will feature big band pieces written for small groups by jazz artists such as Sammy Nestico, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Bobby Watson, Tom Kubis and Doc Severinson.
The New Jazz Ensemble is under the direction of Chris Connolly, a trombonist/composer/arranger on the CCU music faculty, who has performed with the Long Bay Symphony and such performers as Vic Damone, Lou Rawls, Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under Buddy Morrow.
Student musicians in the New Jazz Ensemble include: Bobo Ferguson, tenor sax; Aaron Lavalle, trumpet; Robert Johnson and Hailey Palmer, piano; Jamey Lindblade, bass; Tim Forline and Micah Ray, drums and percussion.
The Jazz Combo is made up of outstanding members of the CCU Jazz Ensemble and is under the direction of Matt White. The quartet features Liz Kelley on vocals and guitar, Zachery Douglas on trumpet, McKinley Devilbiss on bass, and Wade McMillan on drums. Embracing the concept of music being "universal" and "genre-less," this ensemble performs pieces from across the musical spectrum and is in high demand for public and private performances both on and off campus.
The combo, which opened for Bass Extremes two weeks ago, will feature all new selections on this concert, including the music of Frank Sinatra, Wayne Shorter, Nicholas Payton, Wayne Tucker and Brittany Spears. Community musicians performing in the concert include Mike Cappetto, alto sax, and Mike Elliot, trumpet. Dan O'Reilly, instructor of music at CCU and a longtime sax performer on the Grand Strand, will also perform.
Wheelwright Auditorium is located at 108 Spadoni Park Circle on the CCU campus, in Conway.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Wheelwright Box Office at 843-349-ARTS (2787).