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David Bankston Trio to perform original music at CCU

September 26, 2006

Coastal Carolina University music professor David Bankston, along with musicians Sam Favatta and alumnus Elise Testone, will perform a concert of original music and jazz standards on Monday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Wheelwright Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets may be picked up at the Wheelwright Box Office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or starting at 6 p.m. the day of the concert.

The program will feature jazz standards, tangos and original songs by Bankston, associate professor of music, who has also performed extensively in opera and musical theater, including leading roles in companies such as the Houston Grand Opera, Washington Opera and New Orleans Opera.

Special musical guests include Kurry Seymour on percussion, Bill Hamilton on piano, both of the CCU music faculty, and Denny Hess on the upright bass.

Steve Bailey, internationally renowned bass player and CCU Artist-in-Residence, will also be performing. Bailey, who has performed with legendary top artists of every style from Dizzy Gillespie to Willie Nelson, is renowned for his revolutionary use of artificial harmonics and chords, performed on electric six-string fretless and acoustic bass.

Bankston was first associated with the acoustic group Manchild, which signed to Capitol Records in the mid 1970s. After Manchild's breakup, he spent years performing in musical theater. He has since become a music educator and composer as well as an accomplished interpreter of American popular song. His autobiographical CD "Galvez Town" was named one of the "10 Best CDs of 2002" by The Sun News.

He was also involved in setting up "Guitars in the Classroom," a program that provides guitar and music instruction for students and teachers in area elementary schools.

Favatta performs with the Simon Harding Quartet, and Testone performs in clubs and restaurants across the Grand Strand in jazz ensembles. She covers a variety of blues, jazz and soul.

For more information, call the Wheelwright Box Office at 349-2502.